Events
Family fun days, festivals, nature walks and so much more!
July 2
Wed. Bird Walk: Rainbow Bingo
Go over the rainbow and see Bluebirds fly! Start the day off seeking out a spectrum of colorful birds at Cobus Creek. We’re adding some fun to this rainbow tour with a birding bingo challenge. Let’s see how many birds our group can find on a walk through the woodlands, waterways, and meadows of Cobus Creek. A few vibrant birds we’re likely to encounter include Indigo Buntings, Baltimore Orioles, and Scarlet Tanagers. With an eye for color and a little luck, bird bingo players may just win a little rainbow of their own as a prize! The group will head out at 8 a.m. — please plan travel time accordingly.
𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗧𝗢 𝗘𝗫𝗣𝗘𝗖𝗧: Come prepared for a 2-mile hike.
𝗦𝗨𝗚𝗚𝗘𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗗 𝗚𝗘𝗔𝗥: Walking shoes, water, and breathable layers.
July 2
July 4
Red, White & Blue Cornbread Day
Celebrate the 4th of July at Bonneyville Mill County Park. Mill staff will be serving Red, White and Blue Cornbread to help make your visit special. We’ll be using red corn, blue corn and white corn to make the cornmeal for the cornbread. Visit the mill and watch a grinding demonstration. Enjoy some patriotic cornbread before you head to the fireworks show.
July 5
July 7
Adventure Bike Camp
Embark on an adventure along bike-friendly trails at our cycling camp this summer. Each day will bring new discoveries for cyclists, ages 9-13, as we seek out fun destinations and activities together. Each day will also have different start and end locations where we will swim, eat sweet treats and experience the fun and adventure Elkhart County has to offer. All you need is a bike, helmet, water bottle, backpack, and sense of adventure!
July 7
July 11
Books & Boots
The Elkhart Public Library has teamed up with the Elkhart County Parks to offer a book club for kids! Each meeting will include a book discussion followed by a park-led activity exploring one of the book’s environmental themes. Activities could include hikes, live animals, and more.
Visit the Elkhart Public Library’s website to check out a copy of this month’s book.
July 11
Paleo Night
Get a taste of what life was like before recorded history! Join us for a night of family-friendly activities to learn how people lived and interacted with their environment during the Paleo period 15,000 years ago. Activities include: “hunting” for mammoth, sampling Paleo-era foods, tool-making demonstrations, and craft stations.
July 15
July 15
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. This Hike begins at Kum Mol Rie Shelter in Bonneyville Mill County Park. Learn about our parks, meet new people and let the fun begin. This hike has mostly flat terrain and is about 1.6 miles in length.
July 16
July 17
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.
July 21
July 24
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.
July 26
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 to the Chief Ice Cream shop for a cool, refreshing treat on us. Cyclists will return to Ox Bow giving riders a total of 10 sweet cycling miles.
July 31
History Bike Hike
Pedal into Elkhart County’s past on this guided historical biking tour. Learn about the history of Middlebury, the RV industry, the Pumpkinvine Nature Trail itself, and more! We’ll set off from Krider World’s Fair Garden in Middlebury. The turn-around point of this 9-mile roundtrip tour will be Mooey’s Ice Cream Shop – bring your sweet tooth and some extra cash!
𝗦𝗨𝗚𝗚𝗘𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗗 𝗚𝗘𝗔𝗥: Helmet & Water Bottle
July 31
Creatures of the Night: Bats
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 July — Join us as we gather in amazement to observe bats fly about on their evening dinner run. Participants will learn about the different species of bats found locally, why Indiana’s most common bat is now state endangered, and myths about the world’s only flying mammal.
𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗧𝗢 𝗘𝗫𝗣𝗘𝗖𝗧: Come prepared for extended time outdoors.
𝗦𝗨𝗚𝗚𝗘𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗗 𝗚𝗘𝗔𝗥: Seasonal layers, as needed.
