Events
Family fun days, festivals, nature walks and so much more!
September 22
September 23
Pedal into the Past
Hop on your bike for a journey beside the beautiful Elkhart River! Along the way, learn about the natural and cultural history of the river, some of the wildlife that call it home, and the people whose lives it has touched. To add to the sweetness of our trip, weβll enjoy a treat together at the halfway point. Presented in partnership with the Elkhart Environmental Center.
β’ πͺπππ§ π§π’ ππ«π£πππ§: This out-and-back trip covers about 3 miles on the River Greenway Trail between the Elkhart Environmental Center and Studebaker Park. The ride will begin at the River Greenway Trailhead.
β’ π¦π¨ππππ§ππ ππππ₯: Helmet & Water Bottle
September 24
Creatures of the Night: Spiders
As night falls, the places we spend time outdoors can feel like a very different place. Familiar trails melt into shadows, and the daytime soundscape is replaced with things that go bump in the night as nocturnal creatures come out to play. Join the Elkhart County Parks as we lift night’s veil to reveal the hidden lives of these creatures of the night, from spiders weaving webs to bats on the wing.
In September — We’ll step out to find one of the creepiest of crawlies β the spider. Come brave the dark and see this fascinating, phobia-inducing creature in action on a spider-seeking night hike. Join a team of naturalists to identify and share fascinating facts about this eight-legged creature and watch it literally wrap up our 2026 Creatures of the Night Season!
β οΈβ This program is weather-dependent. β Check the event page for updates before heading out.
β’ πͺπππ§ π§π’ ππ«π£πππ§: Come prepared for a 2-mile hike, starting at the Benton Dam in River Preserve County Park.
β’ π¦π¨ππππ¦π§ππ ππππ₯: Hiking shoes, flashlight/headlamp, and extra layers (if itβs a cooler night).
September 25
Flying Wild Educator Workshop
Educators who work with upper elementary and middle school aged kids are invited to take part in this training all about birds. Participants will receive the Flying Wild curriculum book, which is an educatorβs guide to celebrating birds. The book contains 43 example lessons, service-learning ideas, a bird festival planning guide, and adaptations for younger students. CEUs are also available. More info on the Flying Wild program can be found at https://www.fishwildlife.org/projectwild/flying-wild.
September 25
Streams of Power
Elkhart County is nourished by abundant natural sources of water. In this program, explore how water flows through the history of Elkhart County from the earliest Indigenous creation stories to settlers in the time of Edward Bonney and even into the 21st century. Participants will visit the banks of the St. Joseph River, be immersed in a new exhibit in the Elkhart County Historical Museum that focuses on water, and tour the 1830s Bonneyville Mill, a functioning water-powered flour mill. Participants will engage their senses; understand the power of water to shape lives and communities; taste baked goods made with Bonneyville flour; and receive a souvenir water bottle and bag of freshly-ground cornmeal.
β’ πͺπππ§ π§π’ ππ«π£πππ§: Begin at the Elkhart County Historical Museum for the first half of the program, then travel to Bonneyville Mill County Park 10 minutes away. ParticipantsΒ are responsible forΒ their own transportation. Portions of this program take place outdoors and include traversing paved paths and uneven ground.
September 25
September 29
September 29
North Woods Book Discussion
In Daniel Masonβs 2023 novel North Woods, we follow the story of one home and its inhabitants β human and otherwise β in the New England wilderness over the course of centuries. Journey into this sweeping story at the DeFries Homestead, which itself has stood for generations and served as a home to many. If weβre lucky, weβll even get to sample a famous Osgood Wonder apple.
