Photo Gallery

NATIONAL TRAILS DAY

HITCHCOCK NATURE CENTER - June 2025

A HUGE thank you to all the amazing volunteers and Trail Stewards who made the Moonseed Trail reroute at Hitchcock Nature Center a reality! In honor of #NationalTrailsDay, our dedicated team logged over 280 hours of hard work—140 hours from our volunteers and another 140 from our long-time stewards, Wayne and Dana. Thanks to their incredible efforts, the rerouted Moonseed Trail is now open! With a beautifully winding path and a new rock stream crossing, visitors can now explore this scenic trail while helping protect water quality and staying dry. Come experience the new sights and sounds of Moonseed Trail and celebrate what community-powered trail work can achieve. Don’t forget your sunscreen and water bottle!

INTRO TO BACKPACKING CLASS

HITCHCOCK NATURE CENTER - MAY 2025

Backpacking Class Success! The Loess Hills Nordic Ski Patrol recently wrapped up a fantastic Introduction to Backpacking class at Hitchcock Nature Center. During the classroom session May 10, 2025, participants dove into gear tutorials, trip planning, and backcountry essentials. For the overnight field session May 17–18, 2025, participants put their knowledge to the test with a real backcountry experience — hiking, camping, and embracing the outdoors in the Loess Hills! If you’ve ever been curious about backpacking but didn’t know where to start, this two-part course is the perfect introduction to wilderness navigation, gear use, and outdoor comfort. Want to learn more or join us for future classes? Contact us at: loesshills.nsp@gmail.com

SPRING PATROLS

HITCHCOCK NATURE CENTER - APRIL-June 2025

The Loess Hills Nordic Ski Patrol recently wrapped up our spring courtesy patrols at Hitchcock Nature Center, running from late April through early June. While snow may be gone, our mission continues year-round. In warmer months, our patrollers serve as a second set of eyes for Hitchcock's Ranger and staff — checking trail and campsite conditions, clearing debris, picking up trash, making minor repairs, and assisting guests. We’re proud to support safe, enjoyable outdoor experiences for all.

SPRING TRAINING

HITCHCOCK NATURE CENTER - APRIL 2025

The patrol gathered the last weekend in April for our annual spring training at Hitchcock Nature Center. From brushing up on Stokes rescue litter assembly and medical response to sharpening navigation skills and refining rescue haul systems—our team is geared up to keep the trails safe, support guests year-round, and stay mission-ready for any local emergency.

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Mountain Travel & Rescue Level 2

HITCHCOCK NATURE CENTER - February 2025

This February, Loess Hills Nordic Ski Patrol members completed the National Ski Patrol's Mountain Travel & Rescue Level 2 (MTR2) course — right here at the Hitchcock Nature Center! Focused on Search and Rescue (SAR) Leadership, this advanced course challenges patrollers to lead SAR operations and demonstrate proficiency in mountain travel, navigation, survival, and team leadership — with minimal instruction. From daytime field work to star-lit night exercises and hands-on rope rescue skills, MTR2 at Hitchcock was both rugged and rewarding. A big shoutout to everyone who trained hard and leveled up their backcountry capabilities! We’re proud to serve our community with advanced skills, preparation, and passion — year-round.