Rock Island District / Missions / Recreation / Saylorville Lake / Education

Saylorville Lake

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Saylorville Lake Visitor Center

Located along the southeast corner of the lake, the Saylorville Lake Visitor Center offers a wide variety of environmental education opportunities including interactive displays and a theater room with multiple educational videos and the ability to seat up to 30 guests.

Scheduled Events

Saylorville Lake Park Rangers and volunteers offer a wide variety of free educational programs available to organized youth groups. These programs can be scheduled by contacting our Park Office at 515-276-4656. 

Watch our Saylorville Lake Facebook page for planned scheduled events around central Iowa. 
For more information about a specific event, please email us at SaylorvilleLake@usace.army.mil.

Programs

Teachers, Boy Scout Leaders, Girl Scout Leaders, 4-H Leaders, FFA Advisors, etc.  
Educational programs are available and presented by Park Rangers and Volunteers. Most programs are 30-45 minutes in length and are given at the project site. Water safety programs may be scheduled off-site at a designated location. Programs must be scheduled at least one month in advance and have 5-25 participants (larger groups can be split into sections). To schedule an educational program fill out the Request for Program form and email the form to SaylorvilleLake@usace.army.mil.   

For more information contact Park Rangers at 515-276-4656.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Expand List item 4675Collapse List item 4675  How do I schedule a date to bring my class/group to Saylorville Lake for an educational program?

Rangers and Volunteers give numerous educational programs to local school groups, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, youth groups, ect.  To schedule a program please fill out a Request for Program and email it to SaylorvilleLake@usace.army.mil. For additional information or questions call 515-276-4656.

Expand List item 4680Collapse List item 4680  I see the Visitor Center is directly adajcent to the Neal Smith Trail, am I allowed to park at the Visitor Center?
There is ample parking at the Visitor Center for trail users.  It is also very common for trail users to make a stop into the Visitor Center to use the restroom or grab a drink of water.
Expand List item 4678Collapse List item 4678  I would like to bring my class/group to the Saylorville Lake Visitor Center, is there a self guided tour or set of activities I can do with my group upon arrival?

Within the Visitor Center is a movie theater which allows your to watch up to 4 different movies relating to the history of Saylorville Lake, Water Safety, and land mangement/caring for the environment.  The theater room has seating for 30.  Stop in the Visitor Center and see the new educational displays on fish identification, different environmental commnuties and a 3D laser map showing locations of recreation areas located at Saylorville Lake.  Be sure to bring a penny when you visit as we have added a Penny Press machine with Saylorville Lake specific designs.  If you need assistance while at the Visitor Center it is always staffed with a volunteer who is willing to help.

If the weather is nice and you would like to get outdoors feel free to take the Neal Smith Trail  a short distance to the Butterfly Garden. With over 20 different flower beds, enjoy the beautiful flowers as well as the different species of butterflies in the garden.  There are interpretive signs at the garden to learn about the plants and butterflys in the garden!

As you walk back  take a hike on our trail through the timber adjacent to the Visitor Center and identify tree species, plant species, do some bird watching or just hike the trail for some excersize.

Expand List item 4677Collapse List item 4677  I would like to volunteer at the Saylorville Lake Visitor Center, how do I sign up?    
There are many volunteering opportunities available at Saylorville Lake.  Full time volunteers who work a minimum of 21 hours a week receive a full hook-up site.  For more information on volunteering please email us at SaylorvilleLake@usace.army.mil or call our office at 515-276-4656.
Expand List item 4679Collapse List item 4679  Is there a gift shop at the Visitor Center?

There is a gift shop at the Visitor Center with everything from puzzles to t-shirts to stuffed animals...of course everything relates to nature.  Currently there are no food or drinks items sold at the gift shop. The gift shop is ran through a partnership with the Iowa Academy of Science.

Expand List item 4676Collapse List item 4676  Will a Ranger or Volunteer come to my school or oganization to do an educational program?
Rangers or Volunteers will only come to a school or an off site location to give a Water Safety program.  All other programs will require the interested group to travel to Saylorville Lake.

Visitor Center Hours

April 1 to May 24
Daily: 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

May 25 to September 1
Daily: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

September 2 to October 15
Daily: 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

October 15 - March 31
CLOSED - Except on Fridays from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. for pass sales only. 

Location and Contact Info