Homeschool benefits and savings in Iowa County
Iowa County Conservation's naturalist will plan a program for your homeschool group from a 2026-2027 list of hands-on topics for preschool through grade 6 and up, or build one around your curriculum. Contact the naturalist to book; public naturalist programs are free unless noted.
Iowa County Conservation homeschool naturalist programs
Who qualifies
Is a homeschool or community group
Daycares, scout groups, homeschool groups, care centers, and other community groups can request a program.
Contacts the naturalist
Requests go to naturalist Mary Blair, who schedules the program and can adapt topics and grade levels.
Picks a topic and season
Each listed program has a season and a setting, such as indoors, prairie, woodland, or pond.
What you can book
Examples come from Iowa County Conservation's 2026-2027 school program list and descriptions; grade levels are suggestions.
- Preschool
- Insects, Prairie Adventure
- Kindergarten-grade 2
- Salamanders, Bats, Pond Study
- Grades 3-5
- Owls, Orienteering, Fish Iowa
- Grade 6 and up
- Canoeing, Water Quality Testing
- Special programs
- Atlatl, Archery, Snowshoe Hike
- Unlisted topic
- Built on request
Programs are free for Iowa County schools, but the page does not state a price for homeschool groups, so ask when you book.
How to book a program
- Before you call
Pick topics
Look through the 2026-2027 program list and descriptions for topics, seasons, and settings.
- To book
Contact the naturalist
Call or email Mary Blair with your group's ages, size, preferred dates, and topic.
- Program day
Meet at the agreed site
Programs run indoors or outdoors depending on the topic, such as a prairie, woodland, or pond.
What it includes
Included
- Hands-on naturalist lessons
- Live animals, furs, and specimens for many topics
- Programs adjusted to your group's ages
Who to contact about programs
Naturalist Mary Blair, at 2550 G Ave in Ladora, books group programs and builds custom topics.
mblair@iowacounty.iowa.gov 319-655-8466 Conservation education
Iowa County Conservation take-home activity kits
Who qualifies
Pre-registers online
Pre-registration is required and opens April 1 through Iowa County Conservation's events page.
Fits an age group
Kits follow the day camp groups: Storytime for ages 3-5, Nestling for ages 6-9, and Jr. Naturalist for ages 10-13.
Picks up at Lake Iowa Park
Your confirmation email gives the pickup times and location.
What the kits give you
These terms come from Iowa County Conservation's conservation education page.
- Take-home kit
- Free
- Kits available
- Limited to 15 campers
- Storytime
- Ages 3-5
- Nestling
- Ages 6-9
- Jr. Naturalist
- Ages 10-13
- Virtual resources and videos
- Sent by email
The kits are a summer offering and the page lists pickup at Lake Iowa Park from 9 a.m. to noon but also mentions Monday, so confirm the pickup day when you register.
How to get a kit
- April 1
Pre-register
Sign up on the Iowa County Conservation events page when registration opens.
- After you register
Read the confirmation
The confirmation email gives pickup times and location.
- Each summer week
Pick up the kit
Collect the kit at Lake Iowa Park; topics change each week.
- At home
Use the online extras
Virtual resources and videos for each topic arrive by email.
What it includes
Included
- Weekly nature activity kit
- Virtual resources and videos for each topic
Not included
- Kits outside the summer camp season
- Children over age 13
Who to contact about the kits
Naturalist Mary Blair answers questions about summer kits, camps, and registration.
mblair@iowacounty.iowa.gov 319-655-8466 Conservation education
Homeschool rules and statewide help in Iowa
You do not have to file a homeschool notice for independent private instruction.
Iowa sets these rules:
- Subjects: IPI must cover mathematics, reading and language arts, science, and social studies at all grade levels. CPI must provide at least 148 days of instruction annually, with attendance on at least 37 days each school quarter; its other rules depend on the option.
- Testing: No standardized testing required for independent option.
- Records: IPI must provide specified instructor, location, authority, and student information on written request; CPI reporting and record rules depend on the option.
- Teachers: Iowa does not require a teaching certificate or degree to homeschool your own child.
Read the Iowa homeschooling guide See statewide programs in Iowa
Questions parents ask
- Does an Iowa County Conservation naturalist program cost anything?
- It may. Programs are free for Iowa County schools and public programs are free unless noted, but the page gives no price for homeschool group requests, so confirm when you book.
- Our children span several ages. Will that work?
- Usually. Grade levels on the list are suggestions, and most programs can be adjusted for a similar age group.
- Can a homeschooled child get an Iowa County Conservation kit?
- Yes. Kits are offered by age group, not by school, so a homeschooled child in the right age range can pre-register.
- Are the take-home nature kits available during the school year?
- Not that the page says. It describes kits only as a summer offering that matches the day camp topics, so ask the naturalist about anything outside summer.
Turn support into your child’s next lesson
Put eligible education funds toward a curriculum that teaches the courses and grades the work. Check the program’s purchasing rules before paying.
$149/month per child after the trial.
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