To restore and preserve the park for quiet enjoyment, environmental education and research.

PROJECTS

Sat, May 02
Spring Foraging & Garlic Mustard Pull
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May 02, 2026, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Join us for a guided spring hike focused on seasonal foraging and hands-on conservation. Participants will learn to identify common edible spring plants while also helping protect native ecosystems by removing invasive garlic mustard along the trail. The walk is geared towards those 10+
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Sat, Apr 25
April 25; Spring ephemerals and bees at Big Rock park
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Apr 25, 2026, 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Big Rock Park is home to some unique bees and many spring flowers. Lean about them and enjoy the park with biologist Paulina Mena.
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Sat, Sep 27
Botanical Burlap
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Sep 27, 2025, 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM
Join the Friends of the library to go on a short walk and make a nature hanging. (Younger kids might need some assistance.) No ticket needed!
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Sun, Jun 08
Healing Through Nature: A Grief Walk
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Jun 08, 2025, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM
NO RSVP required Facilitated by Sherril Graham 1 pm Jun 8 Meet at the shelter at Big Rock Park sponsored by the Pella Community Foundation and Friends of Big Rock Park Rain Date is June 8, 2025 at 1 pm
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Sat, Mar 22
Bare Trees Walk
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Mar 22, 2025, 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Join botanist Dr. Paul Weihe and identify tres without their leaves and celebrate the arrival of spring. Meet at the shelter house. No ticket needed. Rain date, March 23 1 pm
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OUR LATEST NEWS

A Beautiful Day for Bees

Saturday April 25, 2026, was a beautiful day for the first program at Big Rock Park sponsored by the Pella Community Foundation. It was also a beautiful day for bees. Lead by biologist Paulina Mena of Central College, a sizeable crowd heard about Iowa’s native bees and went on a walk along the edge of the park. 10 am- 2pm is the ideal time to spot bees. The group met at 11 and the bees were active. Iowa’s native bees are solitary, arising from their underground burrows in the

20 hours ago

Programs upcoming!

It’s A Grant! People often ask us when we will have more educational programs and opportunities at Big Rock Park. The answer is: we’ll know when we get a grant. Friends of Big Rock Park is a non-profit run by volunteers. Our goal is to restore and preserve the park for quiet enjoyment, environmental education and research. To advance our goals, we offer programs focusing on nature and the environment. To be able to offer quality programs that are well-attended, we seek g

Nov 21, 2025