Place/Event: Engeldinger Marsh – with Polk County Conservation
Location: 11961 NE 118th Ave, Maxwell, IA 50161 (Hwy 65 and NE 120th Ave)
Cost: free
Grade/age range: Prek-12
Group size: large or small
Hands-on: Yes
Stroller friendly: No
Bathrooms: No
Food: No
We enjoyed visiting the marsh as part of the conservation’s summer program. My daughter loved it so much that we returned a few weeks later with daddy for our own little family adventure.
The tall Iowa marsh grass can be sharp, so have children wear long pants. Yes, they will get wet but it’s better than getting cuts on their legs. Plan to bring water shoes, buckets, nets, towels, change of clothes, and a plastic bin to haul all the wet stuff home in. Older students can bring nature journals and take observational notes. The water is shallow and warm – perfect for a sunny summer afternoon!
baby dragon fly! It’s he cute?
She wasn’t afraid of the tall grasses
It’s something!
Following the Fearless Leader
Be brave mama’s – the kids are learning!
We were told that if you come around the 2nd weekend of August that you can find salamanders in the southeast area of the marsh. Park along the old paved road that is leading into the marsh; face the barricade at the end of the road and look to the left, far out to the southeast (you can see the pond in the above picture). Apparently, that’s where the salamanders are. We went the 1st weekend in August and couldn’t find any. I am not sure if that’s because we were too noisy or too early? If you find some, let me know when and where!
We will be back to visit this Iowa marsh for sure!