5 Reasons to Support ICON Water Trails with Your Year-End Giving

December 13, 2021

As 2021 comes to a close, many individuals and families are considering what organizations to support with their year-end giving. There are hundreds of fantastic causes that you can invest in, and of course, one of those is ICON Water Trails. Whether you’re passionate about safeguarding our natural resources…

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Vamos a Pescar Grants Help Engage Hispanic Communities in Fishing

November 29, 2021

Fishing is a fun activity that the entire family can enjoy together, from kids to grandparents. It’s a wonderful way to get back to what’s important. Participation in fishing also helps fund fishery management so our lakes and rivers have robust fisheries. The Des Moines River in Downtown Des Moines…

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Q&A With Wild Prairie Showdown Contestant, Joey Taylor-moon

October 21, 2021

Our partners at the Great Outdoors Foundation are hosting the first-ever Wild Prairie Showdown, a pseudo pageant featuring four everyday advocates competing to raise funds, awareness and support for conservation and outdoor recreation initiatives throughout Central Iowa. We sat down with Joey Taylor-Moon, Vice President of Marketing…

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Shoreline Signals, Heads Up!

August 31, 2021

As we re-imagine our relationship to our creeks and rivers through ICON, so too will we reimagine the role of the arts in our community. In 2020 the National Endowment for the Arts awarded a grant to our region for Shoreline Signals. Shoreline Signals will use public…

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Creating an ICON is About Creating Connection

July 30, 2021

What you need to talk about is how you’re bringing together a confluence of different cultures. – BIPOC Interviewee Des Moines is not only the confluence of two rivers but also the confluence of different people, cultures, identities, and lifestyles. While creating a unified and connected water trail system…

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Iowa Project Aware Draws Hundreds For Service, Education Opportunity

June 22, 2021

Iowa Project AWARE is bringing families, friends and a cavalcade of educational programming to the lower and middle Raccoon River watershed July 11-16 with the return of this annual event. After a pause in 2020, N-Compass Inc. is busy preparing for hundreds of volunteers to gather in local parks…

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Dew Tour Brings International Attention To Des Moines

June 8, 2021

Late last month, skateboarders from around the world dropped into Lauridsen Skatepark for the Dew Tour. It was a long-awaited weekend for both Dew Tour athletes and everyone that played a part in making the new Lauridsen Skatepark a reality. Athletes from 38 countries flocked to Des Moines…

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Tales From The Riverbank

March 17, 2021

When I was asked to write a little piece about outdoor activities that I enjoy, at first, I wondered what I would write about? It took about two seconds for me to realize I could talk about the great outdoors all day…if allowed. Being a wildlife photographer, I…

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