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 $184,500!
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:
Thank you to our grant partners! Iowa DNR 319 fund, Allamakee County Community Foundation, Upper Mississippi Gaming Corporation & Iowa Horse Council
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:
- Installed a 42-panel Solar Array at YRSF
- Streambank restoration and trout habitat improvements (four sites totaling more than 2,000 feet of streambank)
- Purchased four sound recording devices for forestry to monitor birds/wildlife
- Purchased ADA handrails for the restrooms
- Purchased 15 nets for children to use during educational programming
- Working to become an International Dark Sky location. YRSF is home to some of darkest skies in Upper Midwest we hope to preserve them for future generations working with the International Dark Sky Association
- Purchased prairie seed for prairie restoration
- Purchased pumper for UTV for spring burning
- Purchased a stream monitoring kit to ensure the health of our streams
- 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 $6,000 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 132 new picnic tables
- Purchased all new horse hitching posts
- 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!
- 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
- 35,000+ new YRSF maps
- Purchased thousands of dollars of gravel and lime screenings for trail improvement, maintenance and repairs
- Started annual 5k, 10k and half marathon trail run Mother’s Day weekend, working with local volunteers and businesses - 2025 will be our 7th year!
- Paid half the costs of youth campers to attend Iowa Wildlife Camp at YRSF this summer through University of Iowa for two years
- Installed Barn owl boxes
- Spring and fall volunteer days to pick up trash, paint what needs painting, etc.
- Events are posted on Facebook and on www.friendsofyellowriverstateforest.org
Thank you to our grant partners! Iowa DNR 319 fund, Allamakee County Community Foundation, Upper Mississippi Gaming Corporation & Iowa Horse Council
