"Going Nuts!" Fall Family Weekend

Choose the window of time you want to bring your family to Iowisota for a laid-back weekend exploring nature and nuts (literally). Programming will be flexible to meet participant needs, but may include campfires, almost-full-moon hike, finding nuts and talking about trees in the woods, processing acorns and walnuts, and/or making acorn flour crackers. Iowisota has 4 guest bedrooms and the cabin available for the weekend; cost structure is variable depending on how many rooms you need and how many nights you want to stay.

Location: on-site at “Iowisota”, 2472 IA-26, Lansing, Iowa.

Programming is included at no extra cost. Participation is optional and flexible. Your hosts will be available all weekend to make age-appropriate learning experiences available for your family. Your hosts are foresters and foragers… on-site adventures can include learning about trees, the forest, and preparation of foods from the forest. Over two miles of trails on the property lead to amazing overlooks and natural features. You may also want time to explore local sites, including a visit to the ACCB Driftless Center https://www.allamakeecountyconservation.org/driftless-center, the town of Lansing, and several other fun attractions in the area. We can make sure you find as much or as little to do as your family needs!

Overnight “B&B” stay: You choose how many rooms and how many nights you want to stay to meet your family needs.

· This is “MEA weekend”; all Minnesota schools have no classes on Oct 17 and 18, so we made those days available as part of this opportunity. You can choose the timeframe you want within the window of October 17 through October 20.

·  Starting at $75/room/night. Two-bedroom suite or use of cabin is $150/night. 25% discount for additional nights.

· Lodging taxes will be added.

· Breakfasts are included.

· The "gathering room" and a full kitchen are common spaces for all guests (plus there is a kitchenette and small livingroom in the cabin).

· There are multiple options for other meals you might need, including BYO to warm in the full kitchen, BYO to grill on-site, or go out to local restaurants. There is a refrigerator available, and all cooking equipment and essentials.

· More about the rooms… Look at the accommodations tab on the website to see the spaces. There are 4 guest bedrooms and 2 guest bathrooms in the main house, plus 2 bedrooms and a bathroom in the cabin. We anticipate that each family unit would have one of the bathrooms designated for use by only their family.

· To reserve a space, fill out the Registration form.  Then we will communicate via email to find out your specific needs before we send an invoice.

What to expect from an overnight stay: The setting of Iowisota includes nearly 200 acres of private forest and many trails to hike and explore. The sleeping rooms are a delightful blend of historic, rustic, and modern. The “gathering room” with its stone fireplace, expansive windows, and comfortable seating provides a place to hang out and chat with the hosts and other guests.

About your hosts: Linda and Dennis Haugen both recently retired from careers as forest health specialists with the US Forest Service. Linda grew up on the Iowisota property, moving here with her parents in 1968. Dennis and Linda built the new residence/retreat center and moved back to northeast Iowa in 2023. They have a wealth of knowledge about natural resources in general, and about the Iowisota property specifically.  They live downstairs in their own private space (the guest spaces have a separate entrance on the 2nd floor).

How to sign up and pay: We have 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms available in the “house”, plus the cabin with its own bedrooms, bath, and kitchenette. We envision this as 3 suites, but there is some flexibility based on guest needs. Click the link to Register, and then fill out the registration form. This will hold your space. Once you have completed the form we will confirm that we have the right spaces available for your needs, then we will email you an invoice that you can pay by check, credit card, or PayPal.