Events
Family fun days, festivals, nature walks and so much more!
June 1
June 3
June 4
Wed. Bird Walk: Countryside Nesters
Summer birds are moving into our area and beginning to nest! Stretch your wings and see countryside birds on an easy-paced hike along the Pumpkinvine Nature Trail. Summer nesting species we may encounter include bluebirds, mockingbirds, and meadowlarks. Step out to see some of these unique birds setting up summer homes on this special extended bird walk. The group will head out at 8 a.m. β please plan travel time accordingly.
πͺπππ§ π§π’ ππ«π£πππ§: Come prepared for a 2-mile hike.
π¦π¨ππππ¦π§ππ ππππ₯: Walking shoes, water, and breathable layers.
June 4
June 7
June 9
Flour Paint
Are you looking for an easy kids’ activity that you can make from your everyday supplies at home? Come check out our flour paint! A simple activity that could keep your kids entertained for hours. The best part is that since this paint is made from flour it is non-toxic so even your littlest can enjoy it!
June 10
June 13
Sweet Cycle Ride
What could be better than a nice summer ride with friends, family, and delicious ice cream? Riders will begin at Ox Bow County Park and will follow the Maple Heart Trail & Elkhart River Greenway Trail to the Vanilla Bean Creamery for a cool, refreshing free treat on us. Cyclists will return to Ox Bow giving riders a total of 11 sweet cycling miles.
June 14
Feature Grain Day
Blue Corn is the feature grain this month. Blue cornmeal has a nuttier flavor than yellow cornmeal and is great for any cornmeal recipe. All feature grain days in 2025 will highlight a grain that is not a normal part of our line-up. The resulting flour/meal will be a LIMITED EDITION, product available for a short time. Make sure to attend to get yours before itβs gone. Grinding demonstrations of Blue Corn will take place between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.
June 16
June 16
June 17
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
June 17
Hiking Club
Hiking Club meets once per month to hike for health, friends and fun. The hike takes place in a different location each month but is always on the third Tuesday of the month at 6pm. The June hike takes place at The River Preserve County Park. We will meet at the Benton Spillway parking area. Learn about our parks, meet new people and let the fun begin. This hike has mostly flat terrain and is about 1.75 miles in length.
June 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 of 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.
June 19
Yoga in the Park
Join Registered Yoga Teacher Amanda for an hour of empowering yoga in the parks. Enjoy guided practice welcoming of all skill levels in a relaxing park environment. Participants are encouraged to dress for the weather, bring water and their own mats – a limited number of mats will be available for use. Participants must register in advance.
June 19
Guided Painting Class
Get expert instruction in painting a scene from one of the Countyβs most beautiful places: Bonneyville Mill County Park. Participants will be encouraged to choose a landscape within the park that inspires their creativity and will receive guidance on how to execute their painting on canvas. All materials provided.
June 21
Elkhart County Stand Down
Join Goodwill Industries of Michiana, Veteran Affairs, Goshen City Parks, Elkhart City Parks, Elkhart County Health Department, and the Elkhart County Parks in a resource fair for veterans and their families. Veterans will be able to connect with VA resources, talk with their county veteran service officer, and learn more about what the community has to offer, including fun activities for kids and families.
June 26
Creatures of the Night: Rodents of Unusual Size
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.
Join the Ox Bow Naturalist Team at Baintertown Dam for an exciting night of exploration as we search for the oversized creatures of the night: muskrats, otters, mink and beavers. Weβll guide a group of night adventurers through the damβs habitat, looking for signs of these elusive animals -tracks, scats, slides, and downed trees. Come discover the hidden world of nocturnal wildlife and learn about their fascinating behaviors in this hands-on moonlit journey!
πͺπππ§ π§π’ ππ«π£πππ§: Come prepared for a 1-mile hike in uneven terrain. This hike is weather-dependent. Please check the event page for updates before heading out.
π¦π¨ππππ¦π§ππ ππππ₯: Hiking boots and weather-ready layers.
June 27
The North American Beaver
Hike with a naturalist in search of the beaver lodge built into the bank and the craftsmanship that only a beaver can produce all along the trail. Using a taxidermy beaver, we will also look at the amazing adaptations of the beaver to better understand how and why they have made the park their home.
