50th Annual Loess Hills Prairie Seminar

On May 10, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. in the Betty Strong Encounter Center auditorium, leaders of the 50th Annual Loess Hills Prairie Seminar will discuss and show images from the fifty years of preserving and enjoying the beautiful unique ecology of our Loess Hills. Admission is free, but freewill donations encouraged. Conservation educators, naturalists, hikers, campers and nature enthusiasts will be packing their gear for the 50th annual Loess Hills Prairie Seminar set for May 29-31, 2026. The free outdoor education weekend is held in the Loess Hills northeast of Onawa, Iowa. The weekend has seasoned conservationists leading nature hikes, wildflower walks, ecology programs, wildlife discussions and outdoor skills demonstrations along with campfire cooking, outdoor education, geology / history lessons, and kids experiences. Tyler Ruge, event coordinator Monona County conservation. naturalist and park ranger and Dianne Blankenship, former event coordinator and seminar board member, and a member of the seminar planning committee will cover the story of how the seminar got started, how it evolved over the decades, and where the seminar is now and how things have changed. They will share images of the beautiful nature preserve, high in the scenic Loess Hills from past presenters and attendees. Tyler will share about the current state of the seminar and the future of the seminar. They will answer questions and give any other information people are interested in.