Nestled among shagbark hickories, sugar maples and grandfather oaks, Hartman Reserve Nature Center in Cedar Falls has been welcoming visitors since 1976. Rooted in environmental education and land stewardship, Hartman invites community members to participate in nature through public programming, workshops and trail usage. With over 300 acres of forest, prairie and wetland habitat, Hartman Reserve is a living classroom, open from dusk to dawn.
For a more in-depth look into nature, the Interpretive Center and adjacent Buckles Program Center, house interactive exhibits, live animal displays and a sugar shack that runs throughout the month of March. During this period, maple trees are “tapped” and the sap is boiled down until it is dark, viscous and perfect for a pile of pancakes. This annual, agricultural event is celebrated each year with a Maple Syrup Festival which is held on the first full weekend of March. Throughout this weekend, visitors can help collect sap, learn about the maple syruping process and indulge in a pancake breakfast. For more information on the annual Maple Syrup Festival, visit www.hartmanreserve.org.
Other family-based activities include: fall seed identification and apple cidering, watershed management through rain barrels/gardens and mussel restoration in the Cedar River.
Along with these activities Hartman Reserve Nature Center is working in conjunction with Silos & Smokestacks to offer spring and summer day camps for local youth. With their support, the 2009 “Prairie to Pasture” Summer Camp brought 100 campers to different partner sites throughout the Heritage Area. For more information about Hartman Reserve Nature Center, including current hours, call 319-277-2187.
Topics: Spotlight Site
