Education & Outreach - Pheasants Forever Linn County

Iowa's Next Pheasant Hunters

Welcome to the next generation of conservationists.

To ensure the future of upland habitat and wildlife conservation, our chapter is committed to helping today’s youth play an active role in Pheasants Forever’s mission. We provide meaningful opportunities for young people to learn about conservation, outdoor stewardship, and the values behind Pheasants Forever.

Across Iowa, youth benefit from conservation education materials, firearm safety training, and mentored youth hunts—especially for those who may not otherwise have access to these experiences. We invite you to explore our youth events and learn how you can help shape the next generation of Pheasants Forever members.

Linn County Pheasants Forever proudly supports Iowa Hunter Education and safety programs, while also investing in local youth shooting sports and educational initiatives. Over the past several years, our chapter has supported multiple school districts and community programs, including:

Local shooting sports teams that volunteer with our chapter
Ely American Legion – Air Rifle Marksmanship
Marion Trap team
Coe College Shooting Sports
Corridor Clay Crushers
Hawkeye Area Boy Scouts

We encourage you to explore the events listed below or consider joining our Youth Committee. Volunteers help with youth education projects, habitat and tree-planting initiatives, and youth shooting sports events alongside Linn County Pheasants Forever. Together, we’re building skills, confidence, and conservation leaders for the future.

Examples of Youth Habitat Projects

Our Events

Assists with youth shooting sports

Pheasants Forever of Linn County partnered with Corridor Outdoor Adventures to host a trapshooting tournament at Otter Creek in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

The 2025 event featured Singles, Handicap, and Doubles competitions and welcomed student-athletes ranging from 6th grade through high school seniors. A trophy was awarded to the high overall athlete, with medals presented to the top three competitors in each age division.

Friendship with Local Bike Clubs: Education about Habitat

Linn County Pheasants Forever has built strong partnerships with the Iowa Bike Coalition and two Cedar Rapids cycling groups - the Wednesday Night Bike Club and the Meet Me at the Market crew.

Through these collaborations, we’ve created pollinator and milkweed seed balls and gathered multiple times to disperse them along ungroomed areas of nature and bike trails throughout Linn County. These efforts help support pollinators while enhancing local green spaces.

We are grateful for the outreach, advocacy, and shared commitment to pollinator conservation that these groups bring to our community.

Linked below are highlights from a couple of these events:

Cedar Rapids Bike Club

Meet me at the Market - Czech

Youth & Adult Hunter Safety and Education

While we all like to have fun in the field and chase pheasants for miles, safety is the primary focus while hunting. We promote and encourage hunter safety both in and out of the field. Through these classes and education, we show both youth and adults basic survival skills, proper ways to hold, carry, proper firearm care, and how to communicate with landowners. Getting those who are not familiar with hunting tools, comfortable and capable. For more information when or where our hunting safety classes can be found, please follow the events link.

The Linn County Pheasants Forever also supports the following groups and activities:

More Events

Linn County Conservation and our Pheasants Forever Chapter

For the benefit of the public, Linn County Conservation manages 28 areas, over 100 miles of multi-use trail, 320 campsites, a regionally significant observatory, a learning center, a modern shooting range, a historic schoolhouse, an arboretum, a watercraft rental facility and offers high-quality educational programming.

The Linn County Iowa parks department has parks, trails, playgrounds, camping, hiking, geocaching, horseback riding, cross country skiing, fishing and hunting are just a few of the reasons that the Linn County Conservation Board is involved with 7,000+ acres throughout the county. Linn County Conservation owns and manages a tremendous diversity of public resources: 28 areas, over 100 miles of trail, 320 campsites, a regionally significant observatory, an award-winning learning center, an arboretum, a watercraft rental facility, a modern shooting range, and offers high-quality educational programming.

Click the below areas for details on:

Linn County Conservation and Linn County Pheasants Forever have an active and successful relationship with working on projects together. Interested in helping the Youth Committee with Linn County PF to volunteer for seed or tree plantings? Click "Contact" and let us know you are interested!

Iowa DNR Camps & Workshops

The Linn County Pheasants Forever and the State of Iowa Pheasants Forever have support the Iowa Department Of Natural Resources (DNR). The Iowa DNR offers many opportunities for families and youth to participate. Camps and Workshops sponsored by the Iowa DNR include:

BOW - Becoming an Outdoors-Woman (ages 18 & older) (held annually in the spring and fall)
Fly Tying & Fishing (held annually in October)
OJ - Outdoor Journey for Girls (ages 12 -15) (held annually in June, July and August)
Youth Hunter Education Challenge (held annually in June)
Iowa YHEC (Youth Hunter Education Challenge) is a weekend-long and takes place at the Natural Resources Center in Madrid, Iowa.
Workshops for Educators

For details on any of the above events, click this link - Iowa DNR Camps-Workshops.

Shooting sports in the state of Iowa is very popular. With nearly 4000 student athletes competing from ages ~10 to 23 years of age, youth shooting sports has been recognized by the Iowa athletic association . Contact this Linn County chapter for details or click this link from the Iowa DNR to learn more.

Events and organizations that are specific for females in the Outdoors include:

Iowa Women in Natural Resources

Education in the Outdoors

Sharing the Upland Tradition with Future Generations

For individuals across the country who may have limited access to hunting opportunities, this program offers a welcoming introduction through educational experiences and mentored outdoor training sessions. These events are designed to build skills, confidence, and a lifelong appreciation for the upland tradition.

Reach out to us today to learn more or get involved.