Events
Family fun days, festivals, nature walks and so much more!
May 12
A Walk in the Woods
Explore the sights and sounds of different habitats during an afternoon walk with a naturalist along Cobus Creek. This guided hike will wind along the prairie, creek, and through the woods with stops to admire the beauty of the parks’ flora and fauna along the way.
This hike is in conjunction with the exhibit “A Walk in the Woods: The Poetry of Landscape” at the Midwest Museum of American Art in Elkhart. Learn more here.
NOTE: Participants are required to register in advance, wear a face covering, and practice social distancing (6 ft apart) during the hike.
May 15
Hoosier Riverwatch Training
This basic training is an introduction to the Hoosier Riverwatch program and will include different hands-on water quality monitoring methods. Participants will learn about aquatic habitats and will be trained in chemical and biological assessment techniques. The training will include portions both indoors and outdoors. All interested participants ages 18+ are welcome to attend this free class. Register for the class here.
NOTE: Participants are required to wear a face covering and practice social distancing (6 ft apart) during the class.
May 15
Volunteer Work Day
Learn new skills, care for the environment, meet new friends, and be a part of something big – sign up for a Volunteer Work Day! Lend a helping hand assisting park staff in cleaning and prepping the garden beds at DeFries for the growing season. Plan to bring water and work gloves. Advanced registration required.
Love the Parks? Find out more ways to lend a hand.
NOTE: Participants are required to wear a face covering and practice social distancing (6 ft apart) during the volunteer event.
May 15
Volunteer Work Day
Learn new skills, care for the environment, meet new friends, and be a part of something big – sign up for a Volunteer Work Day! On 5/15, assist in woodchip spreading along trails at Ox Bow County Park.
Love the Parks? Find out more ways to lend a hand.
NOTE: Participants are required to wear a face covering and practice social distancing (6 ft apart) during the volunteer event.
May 17
Trail Trekkers: Wild Edibles
Taste the seasonal delights of nature on this informative and fun hike at Bonneyville Mill County Park. Budding Naturalists (ages 6-9) will learn how to identify and responsibly harvest a few common wild edibles as they explore.
NOTE: Participants are required to wear a face covering and practice social distancing (6 ft apart) during the program.
May 18
Hiking Club
Join our Hiking Club to explore a different park trail every month, make new friends, and glimpse the bounty of nature around every curve and corner. Hiking Club meets on the third Tuesday of each month (March – October).
This month, hikers will enjoy a hilly, 1.25 mile hike through the beauty of Bonneyville Mill County Park. Meet at Briarpatch Shelter on C.R. 8.
NOTE: Participants are required to wear a face covering and practice social distancing (6 ft apart) during the hike.
May 19
Open House at the Schoolhouse
Grab your schoolbooks and step back a century as you explore the One-room Schoolhouse at Bonneyville Mill County Park. Imagine yourself a student sitting in one the small wooden desks, practicing your handwriting on the heavy slate boards, while keeping warm next to the wood-burning stove. As you catch a glimpse of what life was like for the average run-of-the-mill student, staff will be on-site to answer any questions you may have during these open hours.
Visitors are required to wear a face covering and practice social distancing (6 ft apart) while touring the Schoolhouse.
May 20
Museum LIVE: Claiming the Land Tour
Bring the museum into your home! In this virtual tour experience, our museum curator will guide you through key moments of the “Crossroads of Elkhart County: Claiming the Land” exhibition.
As diverse peoples of the Indigenous, European, and early pioneer colonies crossed paths, their cross-cultural conflicts and connections transformed the region in dramatic ways. Come hear the compelling encounters between these communities, and how their interactions shaped their lives, the land, and the Elkhart County region we know today.
HOW TO WATCH LIVE
Tune in 5/20 at 7 p.m. for the live Facebook event. To watch, simply visit the Elkhart County Historical Museum page, or click the “Discussions” tab on the Facebook event page for the video link.
May 21
A Walk in the Woods
Stroll through lush lowland woods and along the historic canal on a laid-back guided walk with a naturalist. Enliven your senses as you take in the sights and sounds of spring.
This hike is in conjunction with the exhibit “A Walk in the Woods: The Poetry of Landscape” at the Midwest Museum of American Art in Elkhart. Learn more here.
NOTE: Participants are required to register in advance, wear a face covering, and practice social distancing (6 ft apart) during the hike.
May 28
Wild Edibles Hike
Spring provides a wonderful display of delicious wild edibles just ripe for the picking. Join a naturalist for identification tips and a taste of what the season has to offer.
NOTE: Participants are required to register in advance, wear a face covering, and practice social distancing (6 ft apart) during the hike.
