5 Reasons Why Fall is the Best Season to Get Outdoors

September has arrived! We have spent the summer busy spending time with our family and friends, eating ice cream, BBQing, camping and enjoying the starry skies. Before we know it, fall will be here in all its glory, and we can go outdoors without sweating or swatting mosquitoes. Polk County Conservation would like to lead you outdoors for this great season of recreation and beauty.

Here are five reasons why fall is the best season to get outdoors with Polk County Conservation!

Reason Number ONE: The Colors!

Green, red, orange, gold, yellow … Fall is a kaleidoscope of colors and a photographer’s dream. Everywhere you look, trees are in different stages of change, making for some truly breathtaking sights. Join us for a fall wagon ride at the Jester Park Equestrian Center, explore the trails with a naturalist at Chichaqua Bottoms Greenbelt or Yellow Banks Park or ground yourself in the beauty of Jester with Sunset Yoga on the back patio of the nature center.

 

Reason Number TWO – Enjoy the Bounty of the Parks!

Join Django and Polk County Conservation for a special dinner event on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024 at Jester Park! Celebrate the bounty of Iowa’s natural lands with a menu highlighting wild ingredients prepared by the Django team. Barn Town Brewing (West Des Moines) will be providing beer, including a special fruited sour made just for this meal with Jester Park’s wild blackcap raspberries. Get your tickets today for this unforgettable event!

Reason Number THREE – Get in touch with your creative side!

Falling leaves are a quintessential symbol of autumn and they have been used in art for centuries. Learn how to capture the beauty of fall with our Intro to Photography class or Intro to Watercolor class. Dabble in paper making, stained glass or bring the kiddos out for fall leaf crafts.

Not into creating, but want to support local makers, artisans, and/or handcrafters? Join us for the Fall Makers Market on Thursday, Nov. 24 at Jester Park. With more than 60 local vendors, you are bound to find something for everyone on your list. The Fall Makers Market is a FREE admission, family-friendly event.

 

Reason Number FOUR – Fires to warm your soul! 

Sure, there is a chill in the air. But this is the best time to go camping. It means you can finally be outside and not sweat! You can enjoy a hike and layer to keep warm and don’t need to worry about overheating or freezing. On the nights that get a bit too chilly, you can cozy up to a campfire and roast s’mores with the family. There is nothing like watching the fire burn on a cooler fall evening, embers floating up into the night sky.

Reason Number FIVE – Get in the Spooky Spirit!

What is fall without Halloween? We have all kinds of merry — not scary — ways to celebrate spooky season. Visit the Jester Park Nature Center after dark for storytelling, crafts and a short program. Learn all about Iowa’s bats and build a bat house of your own. Celebrate Day of the Dead with us. During this event, you will learn the history of the tradition, explore nature connections and take part in themed crafts and activities. Two weeks leading up to the program to the day of, drop off a photo of a loved one who has passed away to add to our Nature Center ofrenda (alter).

Take a moment and head out to our family of parks this fall. See our full program guide here, polkcountyiowa.gov/conservation/events, or adventure on your own.

The Greater Des Moines Partnership calendar of events is a one-stop resource for activities taking place throughout the region. Find networking information for Greater Des Moines (DSM) businesses, including Chamber luncheons, roundtables and ribbon cuttings. You can also find live music happening each week thanks to the “Live Music This Week in DSM” blog series.