Loess Hills Prairie Seminar

Background Sketch
by Patricia D. Armstrong

June 1-3, 2012

Indoor space is reserved at West Monona High School in Onawa during the day on Saturday (beginning at 9:30am) if weather conditions force the seminar to be indoors.

The site on Sunday morning would be the Monona County Conservation Board Office in Onawa.
Loess Hills Wildlife Management Area, Onawa, Iowa

The Loess Hills Prairie Seminar is sponsored annually by Northwest Area Education Agency for educators, students, park and conservation persons, community leaders, and citizens. It's held in the Loess Hills Wildlife Management Area northeast of Onawa, Iowa (map).

The seminar is a living memorial to its founder, Carolyn Frerichs Benne, Western Hills Area Education Agency environmental educator. She started the seminar in 1977 as part of the Western Hills AEA's role in providing education and training for K-12 educators in the areas of conservation, environmental and science education. From 250 to 300 adults and students regularly attend the weekend event.

The philosophy and rationale is grounded in the concept of the "total village" – the belief that schools are part of the larger community that must come together to share and learn about the natural world and how to protect it.