Jester Park Nature Center

09/07/2026

🌟 Happy Labor Day! 🌟

Celebrate the long weekend at the Jester Park Nature Center and the Outdoor Recreation and Wellness Center! Enjoy a day filled with exploring our interactive exhibits, hiking the scenic trails, or challenging yourself on the bouldering wall. Ready to hit the water? You can rent paddling equipment right at the ORWC—and don't forget to treat yourself to some ice cream while you're there! 🍦🧗‍♂️🚣‍♀️

Don’t miss out on the chance to relax, unwind, and appreciate nature together! 🌼🌞

See you there!

08/29/2026

Our Environmental Education staff spent some time over at the Outdoor Recreation and Wellness Center this week preparing the bouldering wall for a route reset!

During this process each hold is removed, cleaned, sanitized, and set out so that our friends at Climb Iowa can rework our wall to keep all of our climbers on their toes!

Stop by this weekend to try out our new routes, and don't forget to snag some Picket Fence Creamery ice cream or our newest concession item: canned soda + water! Check out our hours and pricing below.

Fall Hours
Saturday | 10 AM - 4 PM
Sunday | 12 PM - 4 PM

Concessions
Ice Cream | $3/cup
Canned Soda/Water | $1/can

For more information about our paddling rental availabilities and other indoor activity offerings visit our website: https://www.jesterparknaturecenter.com/outdoor-recreation-wellness-center/

08/25/2026

🎒 Backpacks are packed and the school bells are ringing! Big luck to all the kiddos, parents, and teachers heading back to the classroom this week. You’ve got this!

With schedules shifting, the Jester Park Outdoor Recreation & Wellness Center is officially moving to Fall & Winter Hours. Weekend adventures are still wide open—come burn off that extra after-school energy with us on Saturdays and Sundays!

🍁 Our Fall/Winter Hours:
⏰ Saturdays: 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
⏰ Sundays: Noon – 4:00 p.m.

Whether you're hitting the indoor bouldering wall or renting a canoe for a weekend reset, we're here to help the whole family recharge. Have a fantastic start to the school year, and we'll see you this weekend!

08/20/2026

If you're headed out to the Nature Center this week, don't forget to stop by the Outdoor Recreation & Wellness Center!
This is their last week of weekday hours:
- Thursday | 10 AM - 4 PM
- Friday | 10 AM - 4 PM

They transition into their fall hours next week:
- Saturday | 10 AM - 4 PM
- Sunday | Noon - 4 PM

The ORWC offers bouldering (ages 4+), archery (ages 10+), paddling rentals and ice cream! Learn more here: https://bit.ly/3KMkmIV

08/20/2026

Join the Jester Park Lodge at the Des Moines Wedding Show on Sunday, August 30!

11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. The Scottish Rite Consistory, Downtown Des Moines

For tickets and more info: www.desmoinesweddingshow.com

Plan to spend the day, planning your special day!

08/18/2026

🌅 It’s hard to believe, but the grand finale is already here! 🌅

Get ready to soak in the tunes one last time, because the final Prairie Stomp Summer Music Series concert of the season is happening this week! We’ve had an incredible summer of live music and community under the open sky, and we want to go out with a bang. 🎸✨

Join us for a fantastic evening featuring the sounds of Joshua Sinclair! 🎶

Grab your friends, family, lawn chairs, and picnic blankets, and let's give this summer the send-off it deserves!

👇 Here are the details:

📅 When: Thursday, August 20, 6:30 - 8:30 pm
📍 Where: Jester Park Nature Center
🍔 Food & Drink: Bring your own! Picket Fence Ice Cream will be
available for purchase
🎟️ Admission: FREE

Let’s make this last stomp the best one yet. See you out on the back patio! 🤠🌾

08/14/2026

This month for Women in the Woods with Wine, we are going back to basics as we play with sticks!

After a refreshing walk, each participant will decorate a custom hiking stick. This program is for women ages 21+ who are interested in getting outside and becoming more comfortable and knowledgeable about the natural world as you unwind and have fun.

This program is $15/person and registration is required by August 16th: https://secure.rec1.com/IA/polk-county-ia/catalog?filter=c2VhcmNoPTQyMDgyNTg=

08/11/2026

Nature is the ultimate artist, but we have some incredible human creators on display, too! If you haven't strolled the Jester Park Sculpture Trail lately, August is the perfect time to explore how public art beautifully blends into our natural landscapes.

Stop by the back patio of the Nature Center to check out the temporary outdoor exhibits, and don't forget to step inside to view our current indoor gallery feature before it rotates. Art and fresh air—the perfect combination.

Which sculpture along the trail is your personal favorite?

08/04/2026

School starts soon, but summer isn’t over yet! If you are looking to squeeze in one more screen-free adventure with the kids this week, we’ve got your perfect afternoon planned—and it’s entirely FREE.

Here is your ultimate Jester Park Nature Center August Checklist:
☀️ Dip your toes in the outdoor streamscape.
🪵 Challenge the kids to the Natural Playscape log balance beams.
🦌 Say hi to the resident elk and bison herds.
🦎 Cool off inside with our live turtle exhibits.
🍦 BONUS STOP: Swing by the Jester Park Outdoor Recreation & Wellness Center next door to grab a delicious ice cream treat to top off the afternoon!

Come make some last-minute summer memories before the school bells ring! What's your family's favorite park tradition?

08/04/2026