The Ames Area Amateur Astronomers is a dynamic organization, with activities held year-round. On the third Saturday of each month (except December), we meet at 7:00 p.m. in the Story County Conservation Center at McFarland Park. Viewing nights are scheduled each month, both at our observatory at McFarland Park, six miles northeast of downtown Ames, and at members' homes.

Conservation boards are local natural resource management and outdoor recreation agencies whose responsibilities are the following: to acquire, develop, maintain and make available public museums, parks, preserves, parkways, playgrounds, recreation centers, forests, wildlife and other conservation areas, to encourage the orderly development and conservation of natural resources and to provide adequate programs of public recreation. Conservation boards also help educate local residents about the natural world in which we live, and administer roadside vegetation management programs. County conservation boards have been created in all of Iowa's 99 counties and are governed by Chapter 350 of the Code of Iowa.

Iowa by Trail is your guide to Iowa's destination trails! Iowa has hundreds of trail miles to help you discover our natural areas, rural landscapes and friendly communities. This site contains maps and information on 42 Iowa trails that you can search by name or locationplus local links for planning your complete Iowa trails adventure!

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is the government agency that leads Iowans in caring for their natural resources. It is responsible for maintaining state parks and forests, protecting the environment, and managing energy, fish, wildlife, and land and water resources in Iowa.

Iowas volunteer water quality monitoring program, empowers citizens to take a proactive approach to water quality. By monitoring the water resources in our backyards, we can ensure the protection, longevity and productivity of high quality water resources, as well as evaluate, assess, and improve those of lower quality.

NatureMapping is Iowa's volunteer-driven wildlife monitoring program. It is a hands-on environmental education program that is growing and evolving. NatureMapping involves the public in finding the pieces of the puzzle.

The "Skunk River Navy" (SRN) was formed as a community service activity for a freshman learning community at Iowa State University. The learning community is designed for students interested in biology and is called "BEST" (Biology Education Success Teams).  

The Skunk River Paddlers (SRP) are a group of Ames area paddlers, many of which are members of other paddling and conservation organizations. SRP members lead and participate in trips mostly within Central Iowa, Iowa, and the upper Midwest. We also organize and participate in paddling workshops and service activities. The Skunk River Paddlers promote conservation and environmental awareness through education and stewardship.

The mission of the Squaw Creek Watershed Coalition is to provide leadership in protecting and improving the environmental health of Squaw Creek Watershed by involving urban and rural residents in raising public awareness and promoting educational programs and activities.