University of Iowa Recreational Services is hosting a wildlife camp this week at Lake Darling State Park.

This is the second year the university has hosted camps at various state parks, and this year is the first for Lake Darling, where they will offer educational activities such as studying mammals, insects, amphibians, birds, and geology; exploring the woodland, aquatic, and prairie ecosystems; and learning about the park’s history. Recreational activities will include hiking, kayaking, and canoeing. Park Ranger Zach Haworth shares how this camp will benefit Lake Darling, “It’s just going to bring some folks to this park who may have not ever been here before. You know some kids who are subject to what the park has to offer they might go home and tell mom and dad and sister and brother, ‘Hey! Come out to the park, I want to show you what I’ve learned throughout this week.’ And so I think it’s going to be more positive exposure for Lake Darling and really showcase what everyone worked so hard bringing this park back. It’s been a large project several years in the making.”

Haworth thanks the Washington County Riverboat Foundation for giving a $3,500 grant to the Friends of Lake Darling to help shrink the camp fee from $150 to $50. Camp activities will take place this Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.