60th Anniversary Event July 10 - 11, 2009

Effigy Mounds Begins Summer Programs

With a Fee Free Weekend

and a Junior Ranger Program

June 20-21

EffigyMounds National Monumentwill offer daily ranger led hikes and other public programs beginning Saturday, June 20^th and lasting through Labor Day on September 7^th. The visitor center will be open daily during this period from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.  The weekend of June 20^th is also the first of three “fee-free” weekends offered by the National Park Service throughout the United States this summer. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced that “fee-free” weekends are being offered to encourage Americans seeking affordable vacations to visit our national treasures. There are 391 national parks spread throughout the country in 49 states.

“During these tough economic times, our national parks provide opportunities for affordable vacations for families,” Salazar said at a press conference at Cuyahoga Valley National Park. “I encourage everyone to visit one of our nation’s crown jewels this summer and especially to take advantage of the three free-admission weekends.”

“National Parks also serve as powerful economic engines for local communities and we hope that promoting visitation will give a small shot in the arm to businesses in the area,” he said.

The 147 National Park Service sites across the country that charge fees for entry will waive these entrance fees during the weekends of June 20-21, July 18-19, and August 15-16, 2009, Salazar said. EffigyMounds National Monumentwill waive its entrance fee of $3.00 per person on each of the three nationwide fee-free weekends.

This Saturday learn about “Frogs and toads and puppy dog tails.” Take a hike with a ranger through the marsh and wetlands of Effigy Mounds National Monument on Saturday, July 20, 2009 at 10:00 a.m.. We will look at the amphibians of the Mississippi River back waters. Meet at the visitor center and dress appropriately for the weather. The hike will return to the visitor center to create frogs and test the children’s creativity with a short frog jumping contest. Participants will earn National Park Junior Ranger certificates and badges. The hike along A.D.A. accessible the Yellow River Boardwalk Trail is suitable for visitors of all hiking abilities and is less than a mile round trip. 

This is the first of the Junior Ranger Saturdays which will be held at Effigy Mounds National Monument this summer. Summer programs will include animal tracks and tracking, hiking, nature detective, natural art, archeology, scavenger hunts, and coloring contests.

Ranger guided hikes will also be offered twice each day beginning June 20^th through September 7^th, departing from the visitor center at 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. In addition to the daily scheduled programs, the park will add new programs throughout the summer and bring back old favorites. These  “Ranger Specials” and short impromptu programs will be advertised in the visitor center on the day they are presented. 

Check the calendar of events link below for summer programs:

>Calendar of Events 2009 pdf
>Schedule of Events Web Page

* For Bald Eagle Day Information - open the pdf file of the poster linked to the image on the right...

Historical Listings from 2007 & 2008:

>Annual HawkWatch Weekend Page

* Effigy Mounds' visitor center is open daily and is located 3 miles north of Marquette, Iowa and 22 miles from Waukon, Iowa on Highway 76.

Effigy Mounds National Monument preserves prehistoric American Indian mounds including “effigies” or mounds in the shape of animals. For more information, call 563-873-3491, or visit the website at www.nps.gov/efmo.