Stay in the Loop
About Us
Friends of Yellow River State Forest is made up of dedicated volunteers who protect and preserve treasured natural resources, raise funds and make improvements. We assist and support the DNR's mission, operations and programs at YRSF. We are a non-profit 501(c)3. All funds raised are invested back into Yellow River State Forest - to date we have reinvested more than $75,000!
Our board and dedicated volunteers have already put in hundreds of hours making YRSF a better place since we held our first public meeting in 2019.
A partial listing of accomplishments thus far:
* The fire tower was added to the National Register of Historic Places
* Built an observation/ photo blind in wetland area on Donahue Road
* Purchased more than $3,500 worth of trees for campgrounds, helped to plant 100+ additional trees
* Battery operated lights in all latrines
* Ice and firewood sales to campers
* Purchased a utility trailer
* Purchased 20 new picnic tables and helped assemble another 30 tables
* Purchased a wood splitter, chainsaw and accessories through funding from the Allamakee Community Foundation, and purchased a second wood splitter and chainsaw with our own funds. Selling firewood to campers is our main fundraiser
* Purchased and installed 24 new horse hitching posts, partnering with the Iowa DNR, a local business and the Iowa Horse Council
* Programming for visitors and community members including outdoor cooking, photography, horse massage, youth scavenger hunts, shooting star watch party, fly fishing, bird ID, tree ID, fly tying, the History of Iowa's State Parks, a First Day Hike, snowshoe hikes, etc. Have an idea for programming? Let us know!
* Four trail cams and memory cards per request of the park ranger to assist with law enforcement
* Worked with local businesses to print brochures, print decals and t-shirts, and stayed local with our other purchasing as much as possible
* Eight fire rings for backpack camping areas
* 10,000+ new YRSF maps
* Gravel for YRSF staff to use for trail improvement and new parking lot in Paint Rock Unit
* Gravel and excavator work for trail repair from flood damage summer 2021
* Started annual 5k, 10k and half marathon trail run Mother’s Day weekend, working with local volunteers and businesses
* Spring and fall volunteer days to pick up trash, paint what needs painting, etc.
Events are posted on Facebook and on www.friendsofyellowriverstateforest.org
Our board and dedicated volunteers have already put in hundreds of hours making YRSF a better place since we held our first public meeting in 2019.
A partial listing of accomplishments thus far:
* The fire tower was added to the National Register of Historic Places
* Built an observation/ photo blind in wetland area on Donahue Road
* Purchased more than $3,500 worth of trees for campgrounds, helped to plant 100+ additional trees
* Battery operated lights in all latrines
* Ice and firewood sales to campers
* Purchased a utility trailer
* Purchased 20 new picnic tables and helped assemble another 30 tables
* Purchased a wood splitter, chainsaw and accessories through funding from the Allamakee Community Foundation, and purchased a second wood splitter and chainsaw with our own funds. Selling firewood to campers is our main fundraiser
* Purchased and installed 24 new horse hitching posts, partnering with the Iowa DNR, a local business and the Iowa Horse Council
* Programming for visitors and community members including outdoor cooking, photography, horse massage, youth scavenger hunts, shooting star watch party, fly fishing, bird ID, tree ID, fly tying, the History of Iowa's State Parks, a First Day Hike, snowshoe hikes, etc. Have an idea for programming? Let us know!
* Four trail cams and memory cards per request of the park ranger to assist with law enforcement
* Worked with local businesses to print brochures, print decals and t-shirts, and stayed local with our other purchasing as much as possible
* Eight fire rings for backpack camping areas
* 10,000+ new YRSF maps
* Gravel for YRSF staff to use for trail improvement and new parking lot in Paint Rock Unit
* Gravel and excavator work for trail repair from flood damage summer 2021
* Started annual 5k, 10k and half marathon trail run Mother’s Day weekend, working with local volunteers and businesses
* Spring and fall volunteer days to pick up trash, paint what needs painting, etc.
Events are posted on Facebook and on www.friendsofyellowriverstateforest.org
