Family fair a chance for visitors to experience the outdoors

By Kelly Terpstra, kterpstra@charlescitypress.com

The bluebells weren’t quite in full bloom, but it was a beautiful day nonetheless for visitors to the Tosanak Recreation Area on Saturday.

Just two miles past Marble Rock in Floyd County, the 370-acre wildlife haven hosted an outdoor family fair where many families were able to partake in all kinds of fun and exciting things to do outside in nature. A 5K trail run kicked off the festivities.

Groups such as Pheasants Forever and the Charles City Ikes helped youth and adults try out outdoors-related activities and learn more about nature.

“That’s kind of the design of it — to have our vendors and participate in giving opportunities to visitors,” said Adam Sears, Floyd County Conservation director. “Not only to get them acquainted with what we’re doing with the vendors, just to get them used to being out here, knowing where we’re at and what we have available.

“There are people who haven’t been out here before, which is a big score for us,” said Sears, adding that 25 percent of the visitors to Tosanak typically have never been on the grounds before.

A marquee draw to the outdoor fair is the 30-minute trip around the park to witness nature’s beauty. Part of that tram ride included the chance to see the vast amount of violet-blue bluebell flowers, that can blanket the understory of a forest.

Heidi Reams, Floyd County naturalist, helped with the tram rides and she said in certain years the bluebells can be so thick that the forest floor appears to look like a lake of blue water.

The recreation area, which includes access to the Shell Rock River, was purchased by Floyd County through the Iowa National Heritage Foundation from the Winnebago Council of Boy Scouts in 2012.

Since Floyd County Conservation took over operation of the area, the open houses have offered an opportunity for other outdoors and nature groups as well to tell visitors what they have to offer.

The Ikes showed how to build bird boxes in the Redtail Shelter. Pheasants Forever planted prairie plugs in the Pollinator Habitat. Double C Archery gave lessons in how to shoot a bow on the archery range.

Julia Mannes, representing the Girls Scouts of Greater Iowa and Camp Tanglefoot on Clear Lake’s south shore, decided to set up a station at the fair this year. The Girl Scout station seemed to be a popular one for the kids. One featured attraction was s’mores being cooked over an open flame.

“I’ve never been here before so I’m very impressed with the facility,” said Mannes. “I’m going to explore a bit more before I leave today.”

Floyd County CERT (the Community Emergency Response Team) was a new vendor at the fair this year. NRCS (National Resources Conservation Service) also joined the fair this year as well as a first-timer.

A freewill donation lunch of pulled pork sandwiches was also served.

The sun came out around noon and made for a very pleasant and enjoyable spring day for all that attended the fair.

“We had like one cloud go over and it sprinkled on us this morning,” said Reams.