Fine day to work inside
When the weather’s frightful
-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen Webster County Conservation trail technician Adam Moeding works on some of the selfie signs that will be posted in the spring as part of a Iowa Tourism Office project to help encourage people to visit their Iowa parks. It’s one of many indoor projects the Conservation staff is working on over the winter months.
-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen Webster County Conservation vegetation specialist Andy Stanberg looks over some of the new woodduck houses staff has been building in the shop during the cold season.
-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen Webster County Conservation trail technician Adam Moeding works on some of the selfie signs that will be posted in the spring as part of a Iowa Tourism Office project to help encourage people to visit their Iowa parks. It’s one of many indoor projects the Conservation staff is working on over the winter months.
-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen Webster County Conservation vegetation specialist Andy Stanberg looks over some of the new woodduck houses staff has been building in the shop during the cold season.
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During the more temperate times of the year, when Iowa isn't colder than Antarctica, it's pretty easy to find Webster County Conservation's staff outside working.
Even if a visitor won't find them there during the current deep freeze, they'll still find them working.
There's still plenty to do.
Tuesday wasn't too far from typical.
"There's one of the rangers working on the Bob Huen Shelter doing maintenance today," Conservation Director Matt Cosgrove said. "We've got one at Camp WaNoKi working on some of the additions to the lodge."
Trail Technician Adam Moeding did have to spend part of his day outside - in a heated cab.
"He was out plowing the trails today." Cosgrove said.
Cosgrove has plenty of work to do as well.
He's got a drift of paperwork, grant applications for supplemental funding, projections for the upcoming year, policies, job descriptions and fees to update and he's helping get everything ready for an upcoming event.
Then there's the wood ducks.
We fix things that broke and replace things that were at the end of their service lives. There's no such thing as a not busy season.
As tenants, ducks can be hard on their homes. New nesting boxes are built during the winter months. Frozen bodies of water also make it possible to reach existing ones for cleaning, repairs and monitoring how the birds are doing.
There are also repairs that have had to wait a bit.
"We fix things that broke and replace things that were at the end of their service lives." Cosgrove said.
It's just different tasks than the temperate months.
"There's no such thing as a not busy season." Cosgrove said.
As needed, snow has to be plowed and staff takes turns being on-call for that and other chores such as opening the shelter as a warming house when the public shows up to sled.
Moeding has been making some signs to put up in various areas under Webster County Conservation management. It was one of his projects Tuesday after he finished plowing the trails.
They're for taking selfies with. For the generation that didn't grow up permanently attached to a smart phone, they will even include written directions for taking a selfie for those who don't selfie just yet.
Cosgrove said it's part of an Iowa Tourism Office project called "99 Parks, 99 Counties." Signs are posted, visitors take selfies with them and submit them online. The signs' locations will be shared on Conservation's Facebook page once they're placed in the parks.
Staff is also working on getting everything ready for the upcoming Call of the Wild event on Feb. 23.
The fundraiser will be held at the Opera House at the Fort Museum and Frontier Village and will feature outdoor trivia, a silent auction and dinner. Tickets are $25 and can be reserved by calling Webster County Conservation at 515-576-4258.