The Cedar-Mt. Auburn Fire Department will be holding a fundraising event on Friday, July 26 from 5-7:30 p.m. at the Mt. Auburn Fire Station. Bring the whole family and enjoy visiting with friends to support your volunteer fire department.

Taste of the Wild Camp will take place on August 15th, from 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. at Benton County Nature Center.The cost is $30 per camper.Have you ever eaten cricket cookies or sipped sumac-ade? This camp is a day for “wild” snacks and a foraged lunch.

Whether you are a naturalist, an artist, a feminist, a mental health advocate, a nonconformist, a history lover, a judicial reformer, or just an amateur student of human nature, Lulu Berry’s story is a lulu.

Natural Inks & Dyes August 10th, 10:00 -11:30 a.m. at Benton County Nature Center$5 per person Come learn about and use natural inks and dyes. Participants will take a brief walk around the nature center to collect plants that can be used to make inks and dyes, learn about the process of making inks and dyes, and then have a chance to dye a canvas tote bag and paint with the inks.

The annual Ice Cream Social at the Lutheran Living Communities will be this Sunday, July 21st, from 2-4:00 p.m. The public is invited to come and show their support while enjoying pie, ice cream, sloppy joes, musical entertainment, children’s area, cake walk, raffle drawing, much, much more.

Toddler Time: Colors in Nature August 9th, 10 a.m. at Benton County Nature Center Free Our smallest nature explorers will observe their environment to search for as many colors as they can find.

Mark your calendar! Iowa State University Insect Zoo will be at the Vinton Public Library on July 23 from 1-2pm! This visit is made possible thanks to a generous patron donation during our Red Carpet Party!!Join the Iowa State University Insect Zoo as we showcase over 100 living arthropods.

Wildlife of Irvine Prairie August 7th, 10AM at Irvine Prairie (1174 55th Street, Dysart, IA)Free Join a Naturalist and explore Irvine Prairie! We will be looking for animals, signs of animals and learning about plants! Dress to walk through tall grasses.

On Thursday, July 25 beginning at 6:30 pm a presentation sponsored by the Benton County Historical Society, will be held at the Vinton Railroad Depot, 612 2nd Avenue, Vinton.

Click to watch this short video: https://fb.watch/tl3UI-pxV8/The Firefly Festival will take place on Saturday, July 20th, from 4:30 to 9:00 p.m. at the Benton County Nature Center; This event is Free! Bring your family & friends out for a magical evening filled with fireflies, laughs, delicious food and beverages, games, art, firefly education, & live music from local artists! Local organizations attending this event include Tanager Place, Benton County Historical Society, 42° North Winery, Craivin’ Shavin’s Shaved Ice, Beast & Bird, Antonio's Mexican Grill and the Vinton Guild of Fine Arts.