IOU Meeting March 20th...

Introduction:

1. Name
2. Two truths and a lie.

Meetings:

1. Next Meeting April 17th at 7:00 at the West Des Moines Library, Hard Back Café. Last meeting at the Hard Back Café for the year unless bad weather forces us inside. Next months meeting Sara Hollerich and Cindy Reitz will talk about their trip to Costa Rica. Those interested to experience Costa Rica for themselves will be invited to join a trip being lead by Cindy Reitz next December/January. We will also talk about the Boundary Waters Canoe Trip.
   
2. May Meeting will be May 15th. We will be meeting with Chris Adkins and learning how to throw spears using an Atlatl. It should be fun. It will not be held at the library or Gray’s Lake as usual. A meeting place will be announced as soon as possible. June’s meeting will start our year at Gray’s Lake.
   
3. Ideas for future meetings. We would like to start doing something different with our meetings. We want ideas for workshops, talks, etc. Ideas include wild edibles, cooking, geocashing, mountain biking and shelter building.

Announcements:

1. Sign up for RAGBRI by Friday, March 24th he needs to know as soon as possible so he can set up the team ride. If no one wants to go as a team each person has to sign up for a raffel. If one team member wins the raffel then the whole team gets to go, if people sign up seperately and their name does not get drawn in the raffel they will not get to go. So it is better to go as a team. It is possible to purchase a day pass as well if you don’t want to do the entire trip. Contact Lee Hill for more information by email him at lee.hill@att.net or call 515-201-8370 and view Lee’s FAQ’s at http://iouragbri.blogspot.com/.
2. Iowa State University has several outdoor class opportunities some start as early as next week. Learn to climb, mountain bike, kayak and more all for a reasonable price. Check the schedule at http://www.recservices.iastate.edu/outdoors/workshops.php they also have some outdoor trips http://www.recservices.iastate.edu/outdoors/. Climbing classes start Monday, March 27th.
   
3. Emily Vaughn is looking for 4 volunteers for the Girl Scouts. March 30th from 8 to 10. Please contact here by Thursday if you can help. Call 515-360-1063 or email eev23@hotmail.com.
   
4. Sara Hollerich is looking for a roommate to share a two bedroom townhouse. Rent will be $400 a month plus half utilities. The townhouse is only 1 year old and has a nice large kitchen, 1 ½ baths, garage, walk in closet, loft, washer and dryer, dishwasher, small yard and patio. See or talk to her for more information (515) 669-7193 or email shollerich@peoplepc.com.
   
5. IOU Running club is starting up again. It will meet Monday nights at 6:00 at Gray’s Lake Park in Des Moines. Park in the North lot near the boat ramp and dock.
   
6. Is anyone interested in starting a Pilates in the Park group? Members of the group would need to bring bands and a weight to the class. Sara Hollerich can teach the class and we may be able to convince a couple other members to help. We would need to choose nights and a location.
   
7. IOU Blogs: Our blogs have been updated. See http://www.iowaoutdoorunlimited.blogspot.com/ for trip reports. Meeting minutes are now being posted on http://www.iouminutes.blogspot.com/.
   
8. IOU Web page: Be sure to check out the photos and calendar of events on our website http://www.iowaoutdoorunlimited.com/. Registered users may post events to the calendar, including events coordinated by other outdoors groups. You can register on the site.

Presentations:

Sara Hollerich and Melissa Ritter talked about Devil’s Lake.

Old Business:

Dues are due for those who have not paid. $10 per year. You get a CD of IOU’s yearbook. If you did not get your CD yet please see Sara for your copy.

Other Old Business?

New Business:

Calendar Planning, we will plan events throughout the next calendar year. We need more trip leaders please. Mike, Sara, Stacey, and Anna have planned most of the trips so far but we need your help to plan more. Some others have offered to help plan more trips this year and we are very thankful. Although some are not complex it still takes time and we would love to have some help.

Other new Business?

Upcoming Events:

April:

April 8th - IOU Clean-up Brown’s Woods….
Polk County Conservation Board is sponsoring at clean up day starting at 9am this Saturday April 8th at Brown's Woods: Located just west of 63rd Street in West Des Moines.Trail: Front Loop, .4 miles Description: The giant oak trees shading this trail create a solid canopy of leaves penetrated by dancing rays of sunlight.Difficulty: Moderate
see http://www.conservationboard.org/Pages/hiking.aspx
Fore more information check out the Polk County Conservation Boards website at http://www.conservationboard.org/Pages/CalendarTemp1.aspx.

April 10th - Lead Rope Climbing in Ames… Cost $20.00. Check out their website at http://www.recservices.iastate.edu/outdoors/

April 10th – Outdoor Recreation Equipment Sale... 6:00 p.m. at Lied Recreation Center in Ames. http://www.recservices.iastate.edu/outdoors/Equipment-Sale-PUBLIC-NOTICE-06.pdf

April 15th - Run for the Egg… If interested more info on the website http://www.leadingyououtdoors.org/PDFs/Runfortheegg.pdf $25 to register 5 mile run/walk their are prizes awarded and you get a COOL t-shirt.

April 22 - Cache Bash Saturday… 8:00 am - 4:30 pm Jester Park Lodge For more information, call Polk County Conservation at (515) 323-5300. Never heard of geocaching or always wanted to give it a try r maybe you?re a cacher search for over 25 geocaches hidden in Jester Park for this special event. Participants will be given coordinates for the geocache locations as they arrive. At each cache, participants must stamp their passport. At the end of the day, turn in your passport for a chance at prizes. Geocachers will be on hand to teach newcomers how to use a GPS and the ins and outs of geocaching. GPS units will be available for check out. Participants can come and go throughout the day. A catered lunch will be available for participants at the Jester Park Lodge. This event is held in cooperation with Great Plains Geocaching and Iowa Geocachers Organization.Fee: $15 for the first person on your team and $8 for each additional team member (children ages 4 and under free of charge). $10 fee for teams/individuals who do not want lunch. Pre-registration required by April 14. All ages welcome. Walk-ins may not receive included lunch. T-shirts are available for the event by ordering ahead of time. See http://www.rivercityphototransfers.com/geo for more information.

April 22 - Wild Edibles Workshop… 9:00 am - 5:00 pm Jester Park Lodge To register, call Polk County Conservation at (515) 323-5300 Spend a day foraging for wild edibles, including greens, flowers, shoot vegetables, roots, tubers, and mushrooms. Identification, habitat, conservation, harvest methods, and preparation will be discussed. Participants will have the chance to get some hands-on collecting experience along with instruction, and at the end of the day we will prepare a delicious meal from things we have gathered Pre-registration required, deadline is April 7. Bring a sack lunch. Minimum age 15. Fee: $25 http://www.leadingyououtdoors.org/Pages/CalendarWild.aspx


April 29th IOU Yellow Banks… Backpack in and camping, clean-up sites. More information to come.

May:

May 13th - Full Moon Float with CIP… At Lake Red Rock, contact Scott for more information email sevans@kach.org. Bring your own canoe or kayak.

May 13th - Asian Heritage Festival Tournments… For more information contact Scott Murphy at smootermuff@yahoo.com. There are several different tournments including Volleyball, Kartor/Sipa, Soccer, Cricket, and Kite Flying from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

May 19th – 21st Devonian Fossil Gorge Camping Trip…
Email: shollerich@peoplepc.comCamping at: Sugar Bottoms Group Camp Ground at the Coralville Lake Cost: $20 to $30 EstimateOther Activities: Hiking, Mountain Biking, Boating (Canoe and Kayak), and the Devonian Fossil GorgeWebsite References: Devonian Fossil Gorge InformationDevonian Fossil Gorge - Campground, Hiking, and Biking MapsCoralville Campground Information
(Members signed up so far Delite Primus?, Karen Sol, Carolyn Szezepanski, Jen Ritter, Duane Hammen, Melissa Ritter?)

June:

June 3rd – Dam to Dam Run… For more information go to http://www.damtodam.com/ .

June 1st or 2nd to the 4th - IOU Devil’s Lake State Park Wisconsin…
Cap 18 people. Please see http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/land/parks/specific/devilslake/ for more information. The deadline for sign up is the April meeting. $25 deposit.
People signed up are Sara Hollerich, Mike Coonan, Melissa Ritter, Karen Sol, Emily Vaughn, Carolyn Szezepanski, Jennifer Ritter, Doug Palmer, Lee Hill, and Duanee Hammen?, Ken Hunt?, Scott Murphy.

June 9th – 11th - IOU Loess Hills and Desoto National Wildlife Refuge…
Email: tawhipple@mchsi.comDates: June 9-11 (leaving in the afternoon/evening on June 9 and returning anytime on June 11)Itinerary: We will camp both nights at Wilson Island State Recreation Area. We will visit DeSoto NWR early in the morning of June 10 and picnic for lunch. Saturday afternoon and/or Sunday we will drive the Loess Hills Scenic Byway and explore the Loess Hills State Forest, Preparation Canyon State Park, and Sylvan Runkel State Preserve.Camping at: Wilson Island State Recreation Area, Missouri Valley, IACost: $30-$40 (estimate for splitting gas, campsite, park admission, food)Other Activities: Nature-hiking, birdwatching, touring 19th century steamboat wreckWebsite References: Desoto National Wildlife RefugeWilson Island State ParkLoess Hills Informaiton
Members signed up so far: Tim Whipple, Anna Whipple, Karen Sol, Doug Palmer, Emily Vaughn, Dunae Hammen?, and Sara Hollerich.

June 17th - IOU Great Race around Des Moines Metro... More to be announced contact Emily Vaughn for more information eev23@hotmail.com.

June 17th to the 24th - Project AWARE… Attend any days you wish. See http://www.iowadnr.com/volunteer/aware/index.html for info.

July:

July 4th - IOU a 4th of July Celebration and Fireworks… More to be announced. Email shollerich@peoplepc.com if interested in helping.

July 3rd – 9th Camping trip to Northern Minnesota and Canada… If you are interested please contact Emily Vaughn eev23@hotmail.com.

July 8th – Boon Bash River Dash… C&K Races go to http://www.boonebashriverdash.com/ for more info.

July 8th – Full Moon Float with CIP… Raccoon River overnight. Contact Lynn at laldridg@uhl.uiowa.edu or Bob at fatherrobt@yahoo.com.

July 22nd – 29th – RAGBRI… Contact Lee Hill for more information lee.hill@att.net some people will be doing the entire bike ride while others may only go for a day or two.

July 21st – 23rd – Camping and Caves… TBA

August:

August 5th – 11th – Boundary Water Canoe Area… More to be announced at the April Meeting.

August 25th – 27th –Camping Trip Location… TBA

September:

September 7th - Full Moon Float... Lake Red Rock contact Scot at sevans@kach.org

September 16 – Monarch Banding… Cost $5 to $10. It should be fun and a cool way to help the monarchs out.

September 24th - Brushy Creek Fall Cruise... Contact Jim at jdodd50@hotmail.com.

September 29 to October 1 – IOU Great Race Around Central Iowa… TBA

October:

Trip to Utah? TBA. Please let Melissa Ritter know if your intersted iamsmelly79@yahoo.com .

October 13 – 15 - Loess Hills fall trip... TBA

October 28th - Race for the Cure… TBA

October 28th – Halloween Party… TBA

November:

November 18th - Living History Farm’s Race… More information to come.

December:

December 16th – Hike, Bike or Ski… TBA

December 18th – Holiday Party instead of Meeting... Location and time TBA.

December 26th 2006 – Janurary 04, 2007 – Costa Rica… Find out more at the April meeting. Destination, activities, cost and itinarry to be announced. Need at least 7 people to go.