The Fundraising Committee for the Tama County Nature Center has been busy planning the annual spring fund-raiser for the facility. The event, to be held on Saturday evening, March 29, has become known for a fun evening offering a delicious buffet meal, interesting program and many diverse and beautiful offerings in the silent and open auctions.

A new attraction for this year’s event will be a chance for attendees to view the new riparian diorama at their Nature Center. A few bugs remain to be worked out with the diorama but folks will be impressed with its beauty and message.

This year’s event promises to be another fun evening for county residents. The evening will include a wonderful dining event served by “My Mother’s Place” including an “all you can eat” buffet which will include two meats, vegetable, salads, homemade rolls and beverage. No one will go away hungry.

This year’s program is entitled “Wildlife Rehabilitation- Joys and Challenges” and will be presented by Linda Nebbe, Cedar Falls with the Black Hawk Wildlife Rehabilitation Project.

Nebbe, who has a professional career in guidance and counseling, has had a passion for wildlife rehabilitation and animal/nature assisted therapy & activities for over three decades. She is a licensed wildlife rehabilitator and yearly takes in many orphaned or injured wild animals. Linda helped organize a non-profit group of local volunteers that help with rehabilitation, the Black Hawk Wildlife Rehabilitation Project.

Linda will share her passion and knowledge of wildlife rehabilitation in an interesting and educational program for the audience.

“Linda is an interesting and passionate wildlife rehabilitator” states Bob Etzel, Director for the Tama County Conservation Board. “She has years of experience in wildlife rehabilitation and has been a valuable resource in our area for all things wild.”

Following the program will be the open and silent auctions. As in past years an important component to the success of the evening will come from generous supporters and talented persons from across the county. “We have been very fortunate to have so many residents interested in the Nature Center project”, adds Etzel. “It is exciting to see people share their talent and resources to make the Nature Center a success. The Fundraising Committee and the Conservation Board are very grateful for this support.”

The committee is asking anyone in the county with a special talent to consider sharing their talent to benefit the Nature Center. “We have had all kinds of neat items donated to the silent and open auctions in the past,” comments Cathy Wieck of Dysart. “Kolaches, wood working, bird houses, pies, jewelry, quilts, dried flower arrangements, photography….. have all been donated by talented Tama Countians. If anyone would like to donate something for the auction please let one of the fundraising committee members know or give Bob a call at (641) 484-2231.”

The spring fund-raiser has been successful in raising over $82,000 to date and funds environmental education programming as well as ongoing construction of the nature center at Otter Creek Lake and Park.

Since a dinner is being served ADVANCED TICKET SALES ARE REQUIRED. Tickets can be purchased by calling Bob at the Nature Center office at (641) 484-2231 or evenings at home at (641) 484-5764 or by contacting any of the fundraising committee or conservation board members. Those members are: DYSART: Cathy Wieck; GLADBROOK/GARWIN/LINCOLN AREA: Kay Lowry, Kory Staff, Nathan Wrage; SOUTH TAMA AREA: Allan Atchison, George Corum, Ellen Graff, Bob Etzel, Nikki Novak, and John Keenan; TRAER/BUCKINGHAM AREA: Carolyn Adolphs and Gayle Kucera; CHELSEA, CLUTIER, VINING, ELBERON: Daryl Bazal and Craig Wise.