Photo Credit: Jeremy Stiltz
What's Happening
Nature Tales - Larchwood Public Library, October 8th, 2026
Larchwood Public Library
1020 Broadway Street
Larchwood, IA
Map to Event
October 8, 2026 to January 1, 3000
4:00pm · 12:00am
Get ready for a prehistoric adventure as we travel back in time to the Ice Age and the Mesozoic Era! Step into the boots of a paleontologist to unearth the secrets of massive woolly mammoths, mighty Tyrannosaurs, and the incredible giants that once ruled the Earth.
What You'll Experience:
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Become a Fossil Detective: Inspect replica dinosaur teeth, and real plant fossils under magnifying lenses to uncover how these prehistoric beasts lived, hunted, and survived.
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The Ice Age vs. Dino World Challenge: Compare the massive scale of an Ice Age mammoth to the largest dinosaurs—test your footprint size against a life-sized T. rex track and feel the weight of prehistoric armor!
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Excavation Station: Try your hand at careful fossil extraction techniques.
Put your scientist hat on, grab your field log, and prepare to dig deep into history—this is one mammoth-sized library event you won't want to miss!
Where: Larchwood Public Library
When: October 8th at 4:00 PM
Admission: FREE! No registration required.
Bring your energy, bring your family, and get ready to get digging!
Octoberfest at Lake Pahoja 2026
Lake Pahoja
1831 Buchanan Ave
Inwood, IA
Map to Event
October 10, 2026 to January 1, 3000
10:00am · 7:30pm
Win a FREE week of camping. Our campers do a great job decorating and getting into the festivities. Conservation employees will vote and award one free week of camping to the winner.
FREE nights of camping. Campers handing out 800 pieces of candy to the kiddos will stay free October 7, 8, 9, & 10th.
10am - 2pm Lyon County Nature Center will be open.
3-6pm East Shelter
- Horse rides
- Rides around the Lake
- Train rides
- Raffles
4-6pm Pork Loin Meal at East Shelter (Thanks to the generous donations from Lyon County Pork Producers & Whye's Choice)
6-7:30pm Trick-or-Treat in the Campground Come trick-or-treat the campgrounds.
All proceeds will go to Lyon County Conservation Foundation.
Nature Tales - Rock Rapids Public Library, October 13th, 2026
Rock Rapids Public Library
102 S Greene St.
Rock Rapids, IA
Map to Event
October 13, 2026 to January 1, 3000
4:30pm · 12:00am
Get ready for a prehistoric adventure as we travel back in time to the Ice Age and the Mesozoic Era! Step into the boots of a paleontologist to unearth the secrets of massive woolly mammoths, mighty Tyrannosaurs, and the incredible giants that once ruled the Earth.
What You'll Experience:
-
Become a Fossil Detective: Inspect replica dinosaur teeth, and real plant fossils under magnifying lenses to uncover how these prehistoric beasts lived, hunted, and survived.
-
The Ice Age vs. Dino World Challenge: Compare the massive scale of an Ice Age mammoth to the largest dinosaurs—test your footprint size against a life-sized T. rex track and feel the weight of prehistoric armor!
-
Excavation Station: Try your hand at careful fossil extraction techniques.
Put your scientist hat on, grab your field log, and prepare to dig deep into history—this is one mammoth-sized library event you won't want to miss!
Where: Rock Rapids Public Library
When: October 13th at 4:30 PM
Admission: FREE! No registration required.
Bring your energy, bring your family, and get ready to get digging!
Nature Tales - Little Rock Public Library, October 14th, 2026
Little Rock Public Library
402 Main Street
Little Rock, IA
Map to Event
October 14, 2026 to January 1, 3000
3:00pm · 12:00am
Get ready for a prehistoric adventure as we travel back in time to the Ice Age and the Mesozoic Era! Step into the boots of a paleontologist to unearth the secrets of massive woolly mammoths, mighty Tyrannosaurs, and the incredible giants that once ruled the Earth.
What You'll Experience:
-
Become a Fossil Detective: Inspect replica dinosaur teeth, and real plant fossils under magnifying lenses to uncover how these prehistoric beasts lived, hunted, and survived.
-
The Ice Age vs. Dino World Challenge: Compare the massive scale of an Ice Age mammoth to the largest dinosaurs—test your footprint size against a life-sized T. rex track and feel the weight of prehistoric armor!
-
Excavation Station: Try your hand at careful fossil extraction techniques.
Put your scientist hat on, grab your field log, and prepare to dig deep into history—this is one mammoth-sized library event you won't want to miss!
Where: Little Rock Public Library
When: October 14th at 3:00 PM
Admission: FREE! No registration required.
Bring your energy, bring your family, and get ready to get digging!
Little Sprouts - Fall 2026 Sessions - 10:00-10:50 AM
Lyon County Nature Center
1651 180th Street
Inwood, IA
Map to Event
October 16, 2026 to December 18, 2026
10:00am · 11:00am
Welcome to Little Sprouts: Wild Animal Adventures!
Is your little one curious about nature? Join us for Little Sprouts, an exciting 45-minute 3 month animal discovery program designed specifically for 3 - 5 year-olds!
Each month, our youngest explorers will meet live animals—including turtles, toads, snakes, and salamanders—alongside real taxidermy mounts. Every 45-minute session combines live animal encounters with high-energy movement games, and a fun, theme-matched healthy snack!
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October 16th: Home Sweet Home
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November 20th: What’s for Lunch?
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December 18th: Hide & Seek in Nature
Give your child the chance to touch, build, taste, and learn in a safe, interactive environment!
Space is limited to keep groups small and hands-on—register your Little Sprout today!
Lake Pahoja Recreation Area is a 300 acre highly developed multi-use recreation area. It offers a wide variety of activities for all seasons.
A few of the features at Lake Pahoja include 6 open picnic shelters with modern restroom facilities and drinking water available, three playgrounds, two volleyball courts, a basketball court, and horseshoe pits. Two enclosed lodges are also available - each containing four to six picnic tables, a fireplace, and outdoor pedestal grills.
