Partners for Conservation Foundation
Our Vision
Work diligently to enhance conservation, environmental education, and outdoor recreation opportunities for everyone.
Our Mission
To enhance the programs of the Des Moines County Conservation Board and generate conservation and outdoor recreation in Des Moines County, Iowa.
Burlington River Days
Join us in downtown Burlington for the inaugural Burlington River Days, a celebration of the town’s deep-rooted boating and river culture. The event will take place June 12-14, bringing live music, outdoor activities, and a community-focused fundraiser to the Mississippi riverfront.
The festival will feature live music, headlined by multi-platinum rock band Saliva on Saturday night. Additional performances include Jive Radio, Jake Clayton, Ghost of Judas, and Fivefold. Instead of traditional tickets, attendees can purchase a $40 All-Access Golden Ticket, which includes entry into a massive giveaway—with a boat as the grand prize—plus discounts, VIP perks, and participation in the River Days Olympics, a series of outdoor-themed competitions hosted by local conservation and recreation organizations.
Sponsorships, donations, and volunteers are still needed to bring the vision to life. For more information, visit www.BurlingtonRiverDays.com, follow Burlington River Days on Facebook, or contact BurlingtonRiverDays@gmail.com.
Help us build a "World-Class Park"
For decades now, we've worked with Des Moines County Conservation to create a park where families can go to lose themselves for a weekend outdoors. A place free from the distractions of everyday life and full of opportunity to play outside where families can make the kind of life-defining memories that are so important for so many reasons.
That park is Big Hollow, an 800-acre multi-use park near Sperry, IA. And we have big plans for its future. We want to turn it into the type of park that puts our county on the map. A place that residents are proud to have in their backyard. A place that draws visitors from far-off metros. A place that rivals any state or national park, not in size but in quality.
Expand & Improve Local Trails
We seek to grow and improve the local trails in our community. We have worked closely over the years with Des Moines County Conservation and the City of Burlington on many trail projects, most notably the Flint River Trail. We continue to seek contributions to keep these projects moving forward.
Connecting You to Nature
Another major area of focus is supporting local environmental education programs. Whether its the creation of the outdoor classroom at Aldo Leopold School or supporting summer camps and other education programs at Des Moines County Conservation's Starr's Cave Nature Center, we work hard to raise the funding needed to connect our community to nature through education.
The Big Muddy’s Building Feasibility Study
For years now, the iconic riverfront building that was Big Muddy’s restaurant has sat empty. But recently a group of local community-minded volunteers have banded together to dream of something more for the place.
Their dream?
More than just a restaurant. An eatery with a dash of environmental education for dessert.
Imagine an interpretive center with floor-to-ceiling aquariums with native Mississippi River fish swimming around. Displays and interactive exhibits interpreting the history and ecology of the Mississippi River and Burlington’s place on it. And the story of Burlington-born Aldo Leopold, the “Father of Wildlife Management” and key figure of the modern conservation movement.
We have no idea if the dream is possible, but we’ve commissioned a feasibility study to find out. With support from the Greater Burlington Partnership Economic Development Division and proceeds from Burlington River Days, we’ve hired the engineering firm Bolton & Menk to study the historic, environmental, and flood-proofing issues we would need to navigate if we move forward with this dream.
Want to help? Your support of Burlington River Days is the first step.