Bonneyville Mill - Elkhart County Parks

Transcription

Bonneyville Mill - Elkhart County Parks
Elkhart County Parks | Information & Program Guide
July–October 2016
The Gathering at Five
Medals
Page 13
Stories of Childhood
at Bonneyville Mill
Page 12
Camp Cooking Recipes
Page 9
Upcoming Summer
Programs
Page 3
Elkhart County Parks
211 W. Lincoln Ave.
Goshen, IN 46526-3280
Phone 574-535-6458
Fax 574-535-6616
TDD 574-535-6420
elkhartcountyparks.org
info@elkhartcountyparks.org
Our Mission
The Elkhart County Parks Department mission is to enhance
the quality of life, preserve the County’s cultural, historical,
and natural resources; and provide educational and
recreational opportunities.
Ronda DeCaire
Superintendent of Operations
Bernard J. Cunningham IV
Superintendent of Parks
Elkhart County Park Board
Karen Mackowiak, President
Karin Frey, Vice-President
Klaus Mueller, Secretary
Larry Andrews
Jeff Burbrink
John P. Hardy
William Wilson
Elkhart County
Board of Commissioners
Terry Rodino, President
Mike Yoder, Vice-President
Fairy Door: This magical door is hidden in one of our parks.
Visitors young and old will be delighted to happen upon this
trailside surprise.
Photo by Annie Aguirre
Frank Lucchese, Member
Elkhart County Council Members
David E. Foutz, District 1
Randall Yohn, District 2
Darryl J. Riegsecker, District 3
David L. Hess, District 4
John K. Letherman, At Large
Thomas Stump, At Large
David M. Ashe, At Large
Friends of the Elkhart County
Parks Board Members
Marc Boyer
Judy Ferrell
Larry Ford
Bree Herring
Patricia Frank
Kay Bontrager-Singer
[2]
Administration Office Hours
Monday - Friday 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Closed weekends and County holidays
For all park-related information, shelter reservations or program registration call
the Elkhart County Parks’ Administration Office: 574-535-6458.
For information on a program’s status after regular business hours please call the
Ox Bow Park Gatehouse at 574-875-7422 or visit us on Facebook.
Park Hours
January, February, November, December March, October April, September
May, June, July, August 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.
9 a.m. - 7 p.m.
9 a.m. - 8 p.m.
9 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Park hours subject to change without notice.
The Currents Information and Program Guide is published three times a year. It is a
publication of the Elkhart County Parks, 211 W. Lincoln Avenue, Goshen, IN 465263280. Phone: 574-535-6458.
www.elkhartcountyparks.org
park news
Did You Know ?
This past spring park staff planted over
250 native tree seedlings throughout the
park system. Over 14 different species
including sugar maple, tulip poplar, red
oak, black elderberry, paw paw, and
prairie crabapple will become a part of the landscape
and forests of the Elkhart County Parks. Park staff plant
seedlings each year to offset those that need to be cut
that have been damaged by insects or disease.
• Among minor crimes, there is less graffiti, vandalism
and littering in outdoor spaces with trees as a part of the
natural landscape than in comparable plant-less spaces.
• Trees absorb carbon dioxide (CO2), removing and
storing the carbon while releasing the oxygen back into
the air. In one year, an acre of mature trees absorbs the
amount of CO2 produced by a car driven 26,000 miles.
• One large tree can provide a day’s supply of oxygen
for up to four people.
• Native oaks, willow, and cherry trees can host over
1400 butterfly and moth species which means food for
native birds and wildlife!
• The Tulip Tree (liriodendron tulipifera) became the
Indiana’s state tree in 1931. Prior to that the tulip tree
blossom was the official flower emblem of the state from
1923 to 1931. The leaf of the tree can be found on the
edges of the state seal of Indiana.
According to the U.S. Forest Service, mature healthy trees
add an average of 10 percent the value of property.
Welcome Annie!
The Elkhart County Parks welcomed Annie Aguirre
as its new Marketing and Events Coordinator in
mid-May. Annie brings a wide variety of skills to the
department including web
development and content
strategy, branding identity,
graphic production, and
design. She is a graduate
of Williamette University with
a B.A. in Japanese Studies.
While at Williamette, she
became a Web Developer
and Training Specialist.
For the past seven years,
Annie has also been doing freelance design and
illustration work with branding, web strategy and
several interpretive projects. One of her clients
included the Washington Department of Fish and
Wildlife.
Annie not only brings an array of great talent to the
department, she is a self-proclaimed ‘bird-nerd’
who thoroughly enjoys exploring the great outdoors.
She has volunteered with the Indiana Dunes State
Park as well as Salem Audubon Society. Art is
another passion she has and she brings excellent
photography and illustration talents.
The Marketing Coordinator position was previously
held by Jerry Good, who retired this past February.
Jerry was a long-time Elkhart County Park employee
who worked as a ranger and chief naturalist prior to
becoming the Marketing Coordinator in 2009. We
look forward to Annie carrying on many of the great
marketing projects.
New Feature: Find the Leaf!
Got an eye for detail? The Elkhart County Parks challenges readers to find our leafy
logo hidden somewhere in this issue. Spot the leaf and you could win free tickets for
you and your family to the Gathering of Five Medals festival!
Send in your description of the leaf’s exact location to aaguirre@elkhartcounty.com
between now and August 15, 2016 to enter the drawing.
On the Cover: Reenactors take a stroll at the Five Medals Festival. Photo by Schenkel Productions
Preservation • Recreation • Education
[3]
programs & events
JULY
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1 The Story of Maude Essig
This program will chronicle the career of
Maude Essig. Born on a farm west of Elkhart
in 1884, Essig was inspired by a Red Cross
poster to become a nurse during World War I.
She worked at hospitals in Indianapolis, New
York, and later went to France to help soldiers
on the front line. After the program, visitors are
encouraged to visit the traveling exhibit, The
Great War: From Ration Lines to Front Lines
from the Indiana Historical Society.
Date: Friday, July 1
Time: 1 p.m
Age: All
Cost: Free
Location: Elkhart County Historical Museum
5 Nature Nuts: Turtles
Learn about turtles of all shapes and sizes,
what they eat and where they live. There will
be LIVE turtles to see and touch.
Space is limited.
Date: Tuesday, July 5
Time: 9:30 a.m.–11 a.m.
Age: 3–5
Cost: $
4/child
$3/additional
sibling
Call: 574-535-6458
Preregister by: Tuesday, June 28
Location:Ox Bow Haus Shelter
Ox Bow County Park
7 Give Me Millstones for $50:
Jeopardy Night at the Mill
Join us for a rousing game of Jeopardy.
Test your knowledge of various topics related
to historical milling, grains and water power
and win some great prizes. Topics and
questions are for older teens and adults.
Date: Thursday, July 7
Time: 6–8 p.m.
Age: Older Teen–Adult
Cost: Free
Call: 574-535-6458
Preregister by: Friday, July 1, by 4 p.m.
Location: Bonneyville Mill County Park
[4]
16
PLEIN AIR IN THE PARKS
The Elkhart County Parks is partnering with the Goshen Painters Guild to
offer a special program that features the artistic talents of local painters.
This event is a six-week-long opportunity for artists to open air paint in
throughout the Elkhart County Park system. To participate, artwork must
be painted in the locations listed between June 13–July 23. In addition,
a one-day Quick Paint Competition will be held at DeFries Gardens on
Saturday, July 16. The paintings will be entered into a juried show and
featured at a reception and silent auction during the August First Friday
at the Goshen Painters Guild.
For more information on competition, rules, and registration, visit:
goshenpaintersguild.org
9 Kellogg Bird
Sanctuary
Join us for a walking tour of
Kellogg Bird Sanctuary in
Kalamazoo. This beautiful
sanctuary features hundreds of
waterfowl, raptors and game birds,
including an up close view of
owls and bald eagles undergoing
rehabilitation. Limited space
is available in the park van or
participants can car pool. Please
bring binoculars, camera, and
money for lunch.
www.elkhartcountyparks.org
Date: Saturday, July 9
Time: 9 a.m.
Age: All
Cost: $10/person (Limit 11)
Call: 574-535-6458
Preregister by: Thursday, July 7
Location: Ox Bow Haus Shelter,
Ox Bow County Park
programs & events
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Agenda:
18 Science Sleuths:
Monarchs
PLEIN AIR IN THE PARKS
Discover the amazing monarch
lifecycle, their migration journey
and tips for helping them
from local monarch
expert, Audrey
McGuire.
Space is limited.
Date: June 13–July 23
Park Hours: 9 a.m.–9 p.m.
Location: Bonneyville Mill, Cobus
Creek Park, Ox Bow Park, Treasure
Island Park, and River Preserve Park
(DeFries Garden, Baintertown Dam,
Benton Spillway)
Registration Cost: $20 (Includes
up to 2 paintings, $10 for each
additional painting up to four total)
Date: Thursday, July 18
Time: 1:30 p.m.–3 p.m.
Age: 6–9
Cost: $
4/child
$3/additional sibling
Call: 574-535-6458
Preregister by: Monday, July 11
Location: Ox Bow Haus Shelter,
Ox Bow County Park
QUICK PAINT COMPETITION
Date: Saturday, July 16
Registration: 8:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.
Time: 9:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Location: DeFries Gardens
Registration Cost: (See above)
27 Weekday Warriors:
Museum Deep Clean
Get involved and help support your
Elkhart County Parks – become a
Weekday Warrior. This month we will
work on cleaning the museum, with
special focus on sensitive areas within
exhibit galleries.
Date: Wednesday, July 27
Time: 10 a.m.–12 p.m.
Age: Adults
Call: 574-535-6458
Preregister by: Wednesday, July 20
Location: Elkhart County Historical
Museum
JURIED ART SHOW
& SILENT AUCTION
Date: Friday, August 5
Time: 5–9 p.m.
Location: Goshen Painter’s Guild
Call: 574-535-6458
12–15 Adventure Day Camp
Attention, young adventurers! Adventure
Day Camp offers swimming, canoeing,
crafts, games, petting zoo and water
park field trip, and an overnight
campout.
Date: Saturday, July 12–15
Time: 9 a.m.
Age: 10–13
Cost: $65/person (Limit 13)
Call: 574-535-6458
Preregister by: Thursday, July 7
Location: Ox Bow Haus Shelter,
Ox Bow County Park
28 Hiking Club
The July meeting of the Hiking Club
will be at Cobus Creek County Park.
Participants will hike the loop trail that
is about 1.3 miles long.
Date: Thursday, July 28
Time: 6 p.m.
Age: All (Participants 18 and under
must be accompanied by an adult)
Cost: Free
Call: 574-535-6458
Preregister by: Wednesday,
July 27 by 4 p.m.
Location: Cobus Creek County Park
29 Reptiles and
Amphibians at the 4-H
Fair
Join us at the Fair for an informative
program featuring live reptiles and
amphibians of Elkhart County. This fun,
hands on program is part of Green
Earth Education Day.
Date: Friday, July 29
Time: 1:30 p.m.
Age: All
Cost: Fair Gate Fee
Call: 574-535-6458
Location: Park Stage in the Elkhart
County 4-H Fair Grounds. Also
visit our fair booth next to Young
McDonalds Farm July 22-30
30 The Old General Store
During the 1800’s and early 1900’s,
the general store was an important
part to community’s success. It
served as a place where people
could buy needed items, but also
was used in many other ways. In this
museum guided tour, learn about the
importance of the general store to
a community, and the roles it would
serve for a town.
Date: Saturday, July 30
Time: 1 p.m.
Age: All
Cost: Free
Location: Elkhart County
Historical Museum
Preservation • Recreation • Education
[5]
programs & events
AUGUST 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
2 Nature Nuts:
Bubbles
Join us as we have
fun with bubbles!
Discover how to make
them, a few games to
play with them and just
have a blast blowing and
popping them. Space is limited.
Date: Tuesday, August 2
Time: 9:30 a.m.–11 a.m.
Age: 3–5
Cost: $4/child, $3/additional sibling
Preregister by: Tuesday, July 26
Location: Ox Bow Haus Shelter,
Ox Bow County Park
4 Museum After Dark:
Scavenger Hunt
If you can’t come to the museum
during the day, here’s your opportunity
to bring your family and enjoy our
great exhibits, and research library at
night! As part of the event, you can
search for clues and see if you can
reach the end in a new scavenger
hunt that takes you through the
museum!
Date: Thursday, August 4
Time: 6 p.m–8 p.m.
Age: All
Location: Elkhart County
Historical Museum
12 Bug Night
They’re creepy, they’re crawly and
they’re back at this insect-enthusiasts
event! Look at a grasshopper through
a lens, tromp through the grass in
search of a firefly or taste a chocolatecovered cricket! There will be crafts
and activities for all ages. Bring the
entire family for an evening of buggy
fun! Snacks, balloons and caricatures
will be for sale.
Date: Friday, August 12
Time: 6:30 p.m.–8:30 p.m
Age: All
Cost: $2/adult, $1/child (12 & under)
Location: Ox Bow Haus Shelter,
Ox Bow County Park
Do you have a favorite memory about
flour sack clothes? Come share it with
others at Bonneyville Mill! Delve into
the history and reuse of the Lowly Flour
Sack. If you have a household item or
clothing made from flour sacks, bring it
along for show and tell.
Date: Thursday, August 18
Time: 6:30 p.m–8 p.m.
Age: All
Cost: Free
Call: 574-535-6458
Preregister by: Friday, August 12
by 4:00 p.m.
Location: Bonneyville Mill
MUSIC LINEUP
August 16
August 30
September 27
Anna Hagen, Harpist
Anna will delight visitors
young and old with her
blend of stories and music.
rampgascandypop
Band
This band features the
guitar, banjo, and
drums and a wide
variety of 60’s/70’s
pop and rock.
Suite Strings
Come listen to the sweet
sound of the dulcimer
and other wood and
string instruments.
Listen to the sounds of
yesteryear!
TOWER TUNE
TUESDAYS
The Elkhart County Parks will be hosting a
casual summer music series on the first level of the
Ox Bow Park Tower this summer. Visitors are
welcome to bring their lawn chairs or blankets and a
picnic to the lower field and listen to the melodies of
summer in the park. Each concert will begin at 6 pm
and last approximately 1 to 1.5 hours. Admission is
$2.00 per vehicle, so bring your family and friends!
[6]
18 The Lowly Flour Sack
www.elkhartcountyparks.org
programs & events
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18 Hiking Club
Hiking Club will explore the Ox Bow
Park in August. This trail will follow the
outer boundaries of Ox Bow Park and is
2.1 miles long.
Date: Thursday, August 18
Time: 6 p.m.
Age: All (Participants 18 and under
must be accompanied by an adult)
Cost: Free
Call: 574-535-6458
Preregister by: Wednesday,
August 17 by 4 p.m.
Location: Fisherman’s Camp Shelter,
Ox Bow County Park
20 Back to School
As students get ready to return to
school, they begin the schoolyear like
many generations have done in the
past. This guided tour will take a look
at how one room schoolhouses are
similar and different from our schools
today. Also, learn how men and women
became teachers and the types of rules
and regulations they had to follow.
Date: Saturday, August 20
Time: 1 p.m.
Age: All
Cost: Free
Location: Elkhart County
Historical Museum
22 Science Sleuths:
Properties of Water
Learn about the properties of water
in fun, “Olympic” events such as the
pole vault, backstroke and the balance
beam. Space is limited.
Date: Monday, August 22
Time: 1:30–3 p.m.
Age: 6-9 years
Cost: $4/child, $3/additional sibling
Call: 574-535-6458
Preregister by: Monday, August 15
Location: Ox Bow Haus Shelter,
Ox Bow Park
26 Summer Constellations
Summer Constellations are spectacular
and easy to identify if you know what to
look for. Learn about Roman and Greek
mythology. Make a map to the night
skies! This star chart will help you know
where constellations are at any time of
the year. Learn the constellations for
fun or for education Find the North
Star while eating a hot dog or roasting
a marshmallow with cool drink. Bring
your binoculars or your telescope!
Date: Friday, August 26
Time: 9 p.m.
Age: All
Cost: $3/person (Limit 20)
Call: 574-535-6458
Preregister by: Thursday, August 25
Location: Ox Bow Haus Shelter,
Ox Bow County Park
27 Cast Iron Cooking Tips
Program and Dutch Oven
Gathering (D.O.G.)
All Dutch Oven enthusiasts and
spectators are invited to attend the
annual DOG. A DOG is a come
and cook Dutch Oven pitch in meal.
This is a non-competitive friendly
gathering of Dutch oven cooks.
There will be a 45-minute cast iron
cooking tips and technique program
followed by the DOG.
Date: Saturday, August 27
Time: 6 p.m.
Age: All
Cost: $3/person per observing
attendee (kettle corn and cinnamon
rolls provided)
Call: 574-535-6458
Preregister by: Friday, August 26
by 4 pm
Preservation • Recreation • Education
31 Weekday Warriors –
Gathering at Five Medals
Event Prep
Get involved and help support your
Elkhart County Parks – become a
Weekday Warrior. This month we will
work at clearing brush from areas
in preparation for Gathering at Five
Medals event.
Date: Wednesday, August 31
Time: 10 a.m.–12 p.m.
Age: Adults
Call: 574-535-6458
Preregister by: Wednesday,
August 24
Location: Benton Dam Parking
Lot (just south of Benton
Elementary on C.R. 31),
River Preserve Park
[7]
programs & events
SEPTEMBER 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 2 0 21 2 2 2 3 24 2 5 2 6 2 7 2 8 2 9 3 0
6 Nature Nuts: Snakes 17 Fall Nature Walk
28 Weekday Warriors:
Cobus
Stream Restoration
Find out what snakes live in
Discover the beauty of the season as we
& Invasive Removal
Elkhart County, what they eat look at leaves, seeds and fruits along
and what they do. A snack,
craft and hike will be a part
of the program. Space is
limited.
Date: Tuesday,
September 6
Time: 9:30–11 a.m.
Age: 3-5
Cost: $4/child,
$3/additional
sibling
Call: 574-535-6458
Preregister by: Tuesday, August 30
Location: Ox Bow Haus Shelter,
Ox Bow Park
10 Megafauna of Elkhart
County
For thousands of years massive animals
inhabited the area that we now live in. This
guided tour documents animals that were
here like Mammoths, Mastodons, and
Musk Ox. Learn about the characteristics
of these animals, what they tell us about
the environment of the time period, and the
reasons why we think they went extinct.
Date: Saturday, September 10
Time: 1 p.m
Age: All
Cost: Free
Location: Elkhart County
Historical Museum
15 Hiking Club
Hikers will walk a section of the Pumpkinvine
Nature Trail this month. This trail is 1.8 miles
one way and 3.6 miles total length. The park
van will be available to those who wish to
hike only the 1.8 one way trail section.
Date: Thursday, September 15
Time: 6 p.m.
Age: A
ll (Participants 18 and under must be
accompanied by an adult)
Cost: Free
Call: 574-535-6458
Preregister by: Wednesday,
Septemeber 14
Location: Dairy Queen (Middlebury
location), 416 N Main St.
[8]
the trail. Dress for the weather, as we
will be outdoors the entire time.
Date: Thursday, September 17
Time: 10 a.m.
Age: All
Cost: Free
Location: Benton Hydro Parking Lot
(C.R. 127), River Preserve
Park
20 Ox Bow Atlatl Night
Learn about the megafauna that
roamed Elkhart County 12,000 years
ago, and experience the tool that
Paleoindians used to hunt. The atlatl
was used to throw spears which allowed
for more effective hunting at a safer
distance from the large animals of the
time. Discover if you would have been a
good hunter thousands of years ago by
testing your skills at hitting targets and
throwing for distance.
Date: Tuesday, September 20
Time: 6 p.m.
Age: All
Cost: Free
Location: Ox Bow Haus Shelter,
Ox Bow Park
26 Science Sleuths:
Habitats
Explore different habitats that can be
found in the park and what plants and
animals need to survive.
Space is limited.
Date: Monday, September 26
Time: 1:30–3 p.m.
Age: 6-9
Cost: $4/child, $3/additional sibling
Call: 574-535-6458
Preregister by: Monday,
Septemeber 19
Location: Ox Bow Haus Shelter,
Ox Bow Park
www.elkhartcountyparks.org
Get involved and help support your
Elkhart County Parks – become a
Weekday Warrior. This month we will
work on stream restoration projects and
invasive plant removal. Projects might
include bank stabilization, creating
fish and wildlife habitat or oriental
bittersweet removal.
Date: Wednesday, September 28
Time: 10 a.m.–12 p.m.
Age: Adults
Call: 574-535-6458
Preregister by: Wednesday,
September 21
Location: Cobus Creek Park
30 Panning for Gold
Join us as we pan the St. Joseph River
and learn about the history of panning.
Learn how to pan for gold and other
treasures. All materials are included.
Date: Friday, Septemeber 30
Time: 6 p.m.
Age: All
Cost: $2/person (Limit 15)
Call: 574-535-6458
Preregister by: Thursday,
Septemeber 29
Location: Treasure Island Park just
off Indiana Avenue, 56225
Armour Ave, Elkhart, IN
programs & events
OCTOBER
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 2 0 21 2 2 2 3 2 4 2 5 2 6 2 7 2 8 2 9 3 0 31
1 From France to Statehood
Learn about our region’s past, starting
with the arrival of the French and ending
in 1816 with the state of Indiana entering
the union. As staff chronicle this time
period, learn about the importance of
trading as a business and cultural tool
as well as Potawatomi Chief Five Medals
and other prominent historical figures
whose presence impacted what would
become Elkhart County.
Date: Saturday, October 1
Time: 1 p.m.
Age: All
Cost: Free
Location: Elkhart County
Historical Museum
4 Nature Nuts:
Grasshoppers
Discover the fun of jumping like a grasshopper, looking at them closely and exploring where they live. Each child will get
a bug jar and net to take home. Space is
limited.
Date: Tuesday, October 4
Time: 9:30–11 a.m.
Age: 3-5
Cost: $4/child, $3/additional sibling
Call: 574-535-6458
Preregister by: Tuesday,
September 27
Location: Ox Bow Haus Shelter,
Ox Bow Park
15–16 Gathering at Five
24 Science Sleuths:
Selected as an Indiana Bicentennial Legacy Project, join us for the 10th annual
Gathering at Five Medals. This living history event explores life in the Great Lakes
region from 1670 to Indiana becoming
a state in 1816. You’ll experience a fur
trade reenactment, learn about the life
of Daniel Boone, and hear music from
the time period. New this year, you will
witness an encounter between Chief Five
Medals, Tecumseh, and William Henry
Harrison, and see reenactors participate
in a live fire musket competition.
Date: Saturday, October 15–16
Time: Saturday 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
Sunday 9 a.m.–4 p.m.
Age: All
Cost: $5 for adults,
$3 for children (12 & under)
Location: Benton Spillway,
River Preserve Park
Fashion your very own doll from dried
corn husks the way it was done in years
past. A story and snack will also be presented. Space is limited.
Date: Thursday, October 24
Time: 1:30–3 p.m.
Age: 6-9
Cost: $4/child, $3/additional sibling
Call: 574-535-6458
Preregister by: Monday, October 17
Location: Ox Bow Haus Shelter,
Ox Bow Park
Medals
20 Hiking Club
Hiking club will meet at Elkhart County
Historical Museum in Bristol this month.
The actual hike will be at Lieber Nature
Preserve but due to parking limitations
we will carpool from the Museum parking
lot. It will be a short hike this time with
the distance of about 1 mile even.
Date: Thursday, October 20
Time: 6 p.m.
Age: A
ll (Participants 18 and under must
be accompanied by an adult)
Cost: Free
Call: 574-535-6458
Preregister by: Wednesday, October
19 by 4:00 p.m.
Location: Elkhart County
Historical Museum
Corn Husk Dolls
26 Weekday Warriors:
Pumpkinvine Trail Work
Get involved and help support your
Elkhart County Parks – become a
Weekday Warrior. This month we will
work on invasive plant and brush removal
along the trail.
Date: Wednesday, October 26
Time: 10 a.m.–12 p.m.
Age: Adult
Call: 574-535-6458
Preregister by: Wednesday, October
19
Location: Meet at parking area on C.R.
35, Pumpkinvine Nature Trail
27 Halloween Campfire
and Hayride
Join us for this annual popular Halloween
event. Thursday will be the traditional
fun filled non-scary night that is perfect
for families with young children. Friday
evening will add some ‘scary’ elements
along the hayride trail. Snacks will be
served both evenings.
Date: Thursday, October 27–28
Time: 6 p.m, 6:30 p.m, 7 p.m., 7:30
p.m., 8 p.m.
Age: All
Cost: $3/person (Limit 30 per wagon)
Call: 574-535-6458
Preregister by: Tickets go on sale the
day of the rides after 11:00 a.m. Stop by
the Ox Bow Park gatehouse for tickets.
Location: Ox Bow Haus Shelter,
Ox Bow Park
[9]
Preservation • Recreation • Education
Camp Cookout
Summertime is the time for
picnics and campouts. There is
no better way to enjoy outdoor
cooking and eating than to get
out the cast iron cookware.
Cooking in cast iron will make
your picnics and campouts come
alive with flavors that will please
everyone.
Ideas for Your Summer Campout
Each August, the Elkhart County
Parks offers an educational
program that focuses on the ins
and outs of cooking with cast
iron. Guest cookers help to
make this program special by
presenting some of their favorite
cast iron recipes.
The following recipes are some
of the favorites that have been
presented through the years.
So dust off the old dutch oven
and prepare one of these dishes
for rave reviews at your outdoor
gathering this summer.
easy peach
dump cake:
tator tot
casserole:
• 2 cans of sliced peaches
• 1 yellow cake mix
• 1 stick of real butter
–or–
• 2 pints of blueberries
• 1 double chocolate cake mix
• 1 stick of real butter
• 6 lbs of frozen tater tots
• 2 small cans of cream of chicken
or mushroom soup
• ½ cup melted butter
• 1 large onion (diced)
• 1 cup of sour cream
• 2 cups of shredded cheese
• 1 cup diced green chilies
• 2 cups diced ham or browned
ground pork
Grease a 10 inch deep dutch oven. Place
the fruit on the bottom of the oven. Dump
the dry cake mix evenly on top of the fruit.
Cut the butter into small pieces and scatter
them evenly over the cake mix. Place the
lid on the dutch oven. Place 15 burning
charcoal briquettes on the lid of the dutch
oven and 8 briquettes under the oven.
Bake for 45-60 minutes. Lift the lid and
check every 10 minutes after the first 40
minutes. Serve hot with whipped cream.
Favorite of dutch oven cooks everywhere.
[ 10 ]
Grease a 12 inch deep dutch oven. Mix all
ingredients into the dutch oven. Place the lid
on the oven. Place 20-25 burning charcoal
briquettes on top of the lid and 10 briquettes
under the oven. Bake for about 45-60
minutes. Serve hot. Submitted by Cliff Rivers of Middlebury, IN.
www.elkhartcountyparks.org
Nature’s Calendar
by Andy Langdon, Interpretive Naturalist
July
• In the northern hemisphere July is considered
the hottest month of the year but in the southern
hemisphere it is winter.
• The American Goldfinch begins building its
nest. This late nester waits for the down
of the thistle and the soft cattail fuzz to
appear before building a small nest.
• If you’re around wetlands watch for
the round, white flowered balls of the
buttonbush this month.
A u g u st
• The annual Perseids meteor shower
peaks on August 9th through the 13th.
This is one of the most spectacular of all
the meteor showers throughout the
year.
• Goldenrod flowers begin
to bloom. The dried or
green leaves make
a refreshing tea.
S e pt e m b e r
• Enjoy the last bit of summer, fall begins September 22.
Along with summer goes the monarch butterfly on its
annual migration south toward Mexico.
• Elderberries begin to ripen. These small berries make
up for their size by growing in large clusters. They make
great jams, jellies and wine. The flowers may be dipped
in batter and fried.
Oc t ob er
• Watch for woolly bear caterpillar as they are in the
process of finding a place to spin a cocoon for winter.
Folklore says black caterpillars forecast a bad winter
whereas woolly bears with a wide red band dictate a
mild one. In reality this is only a phenomenon called
genetic variation.
VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT: MERIT LEARNING CENTER
by Sherry Bowen, Park Services
Ox Bow Park staff would like to recognize Merit Learning Center students
for their many contributions to the park over the 2015-2016 schoolyear.
Merit students have been partnering with Ox Bow Park staff to engage
in various Service Learning projects. Service Learning combines hands
on work experiences with in the field teaching. Pete Miller, teacher,
leads his students to the park each month to assist staff with: grounds
maintenance (trail trimming/chipping, shelter/parking lot maintenance,
litter removal, tear down and removal of obsolete structures), winter
activity preparations (snow fence installation, sledding hill preparations,
firewood splitting), invasive species removal (garlic mustard, bull/canada
thistle, bush honey suckle, autumn olive), tree planting/maintenance
(Arbor Lane Memorial tree replacements and woodland area tree replacements, edging/mulching Arbor Lane trees), and erosion
control efforts (created terraced steps up the big sledding hill, dragged limb debris onto undesired trails to thwart usage). Each
student contributes 2.5 hours per month. This school year they have accrued over 300 hours. Thank you Merit Learning Center
students for all of your assistance! We look forward to seeing you again next school year.
Preservation • Recreation • Education
[ 11 ]
A Perfect
Partnership
by Krista Daniels,
Interpretive Naturalist
In 2013, Elkhart
County Park staff and
Ox Bow Elementary
School administrators
met to discuss ways to
build a sustainable and
educationally-engaging
partnership. From
that initial discussion,
came plans for every
Kindergarten to Fouthgrade student to visit Ox Bow Park multiple times each year. These visits would include teacher-led hikes and naturalist-led
programming covering topics from owls to water quality and everything in between.
With shared goals of education, student engagement and encouraging sense of place, this partnership has provided incredible
benefits for all involved, such as:
Unique Experiences - Many students had never had the
opportunity or felt comfortable to walk in the woods or catch
insects before. When given the chance to interact and learn
about the nature in their backyard, children create a sense of
place and have lasting memories to help guide their future
decisions and interactions.
Sense of Community – Through frequent trips to the
park, students learn about the importance of parks in their
community. The hope is that as students grow up and
settle in the area, they will remember their experiences and
continue to support and use our community parks
and the outdoors.
Enhanced Learning - Since 2013, park naturalists have
provided 236 programs for Ox Bow Elementary students. The
topics of these programs have been intentional and designed to
benefit the students’ academic growth. As students get excited
about their learning at the park, they are more excited about the
work that continues in the classroom.
Service Opportunities – Over the years, Ox Bow
Elementary students have given support to the park through
projects such as creating educational bulletin boards, raising
money to rebuild the tower, planting trees and learning how
to care for the plants and animals living here.
Ox Bow Elementary raised $6240 for the rebuilding of the
tower through their Tower Tuesday initiative and fuel
for the Sole 5k.
Out of this partnership, many kids attend the Science Sleuths
after school program. This allows interested kids a chance to
learn more about some of their favorite nature topics in a unique
way.
For example, after a bat presentation by a park naturalist,
the excitement for learning about bats took over. Students
read about them, researched different kinds, watched flight
patterns, wrote about them and even built a bat house to be
placed at the school.
Many students, because of an introduction to the park
through school, already bring their parents to picnic and
explore outside of school. They are helping to spread the
love and appreciation of parks.
Ox Bow Park staff is very excited about this incredible partnership with Ox Bow Elementary School and the success we’ve had in
working together. We look forward to many more years of collaborative opportunities, shared benefits and chances to “plant a seed
of wonder” in young, inquiring minds along the way.
[ 12 ]
www.elkhartcountyparks.org
M
illstone
As the Turns...
Memories of Bonneyville Mill
The following article is a condensed version of one printed in a 2013 edition of Currents. It was written by Mr. Dick Hummel, a freelance
writer, native of Elkhart, and descendent of past owners of the Bonneyville Mill:
I was born and reared in Elkhart, Indiana by Elton and Jane
Hummel I was about 35 years old before I first learned an amazing
fact at a family picnic at Bonneyville Mill one summer. The thought
occurred to my dad to mention that his father had been reared on the
mill’s grounds because his grandparents (my great grandparents) had
owned and operated Bonneyville Mill from 1878 to 1892, the longest
continuous ownership in its existence. How could I not have heard of
this? My mother knew. My father knew. They were almost totally
devoid of interest in family history and I had not stumbled onto the
facts on my own.
Enough parent bashing, I concede. What have I turned up about my
ancestor’s experiences? My great grandparents, Ensign and Sarah
Jane Hummel purchased the mill in 1878 for $6000, operated it for
14 years, and sold it for $2000 in 1892. The mill once included a saw
mill, operating for 50 years, that was dismantled in 1888. The grain
milling services provided flour for family cooking and ground corn
for animal feed. Where/how they found the capital for the $6000
purchase price remains an unknown.
My grandfather, Barton Hummel, was born in 1879 at the mill
and spent his first 13 years of life there. But then they sold out.
Tantalizing questions bedevil my imagination. Did they fall
victim to economic recession? Mechanized flour milling? Perhaps
advancing age blunted my great grandfather’s enthusiasm for the
miller’s life, although he was only 46 when they sold the mill?
Ensign and Sarah Jane’s third child, Effie, was born in 1891, the year
before the mill was sold. A cousin who knew Effie in her later years
recalls that Effie claimed the time at the mill was the hardest period
her parents ever lived through. Why? What? When did the business
implode? I wonder if any evidence of their 14-year tenancy survives.
Advertisements in local papers? Records of transactions?
Th an k y ou!
RoseMary McDaniel, a local Bristol historian, looked into newspaper
archives. She offered a concise summary of what might have
happened.
“A Bristol Milling Co. was selling buckwheat flour by a patented
process, not the old way of grinding in the shuck with the flour. Its
ad read ‘6-1/2 lb. sack 20 cents or 3 cents a pound. Ask your Grocer for
it.’ I think this was the old Boyer Mill, one of several other mills in
the area, besides Bonneyville. Bonneyville of course ground flour the
old way.
In addition, the price of grain (flour) in 1892 was at one of the
lowest points ever; the railroads were offering discounts and
rebates to the bigger customers, and many smaller shippers
couldn’t afford to ship grain or flour because shipping cost more
than the flour could be sold for. So, the farmers and millers
couldn’t pay their bills, and the banks weren’t lending money.
In the fall of 1892, William Henry Harrison, the President
(from Indiana) was defeated by Grover Cleveland who wanted
to kill the gold standard which caused much financial unrest,
and of course was all followed by the Panic of 1893.
So, although I can’t find out why the Hummel’s sold the mill
for less than they paid for it, I would suspect a combination of
factors: low flour/grain prices, expensive shipping, inability to
earn enough to pay their bills, and last of all, competition from
mills using the “new” process may have all contributed to the
decision.”
I have an abiding fascination with Bonneyville Mill and try to
imagine my grandfather’s boyhood at the mill. What a wonderland
to inhabit! I am passionate about moving waters, however small.
The thought of living beside a millstream, mill race, mill pond is
entrancing, mesmerizing. The underwater turbine drive of the mill
mutes sounds of machinery. Just the soothing riff of moving water,
ever-changing, clear and pure.
New Bench Donated to Bonneyville Mill
The Elkhart County Parks would like to thank Dick and Kathy Hummel for their gracious
donation of a beautiful sitting bench, memorial plaque and concrete work.
The bench has been placed in front of Bonneyville Mill. Visitors to the mill are able to
relax in the shade of the maple tree and enjoy the peaceful solitude of the mill valley
and reminisce about days gone by.
Preservation • Recreation • Education
[ 13 ]
historic Journal
Gathering at Five Medals
by Kelby Rose, Museum Manager
200
once.
A STATE
only turns
This year, as we celebrate Indiana’s
bicentennial, hundreds of events around
the state have been endorsed as Indiana
Bicentennial Legacy Projects by the statewide Bicentennial Legacy Commission.
This prestigious distinction highlights
the best of Indiana as we celebrate our
state’s history and culture. We are proud
to announce that The Gathering at Five
Medals, our region’s premier celebration
of local history, has been endorsed as
an official Indiana Bicentennial Legacy
Project. This endorsement recognizes the
significance of our annual living history
reenactment as a unique and immersive
way to experience history.
2016 also marks the 10th anniversary of the Gathering at
Five Medals – a milestone for local history preservation.
To celebrate Indiana’s bicentennial, the 2016 Gathering
at Five Medals will be bigger and busier than ever. We are
excited to debut two wonderful new experiences at the event.
First, a live musket shooting competition will feature spirited
competition between expert marksmen as they compete for
bragging rights and a special prize. Visitors at the Gathering
at Five Medals will watch throughout the day as the
competition intensifies, the shots get tougher, and finally a
winner emerges. Expect friendly teasing, trick shots, and lots
[ 14 ]
of smoke. Competitors will take increasingly difficult shots
to try and hit a specially carved and painted wooden target
called a schuetzen. In the end, a winner will take home the
schuetzen, holes and all, which will be signed by all fellow
competitors. You won’t want to miss this good-spirited
competition held in the natural beauty of River Preserve
County Park.
The second new event will be a lively theatrical performance
of a meeting between three important historical figures.
Visitors will witness a dynamic interaction between local
Potawatomi Chief Five Medals, the great Shawnee leader
www.elkhartcountyparks.org
historic Journal
Tecumseh, and Territorial Governor and Major General
William Henry Harrison. Each of these three men
played enormously important roles in shaping our
local history, though each had very different goals
and motivations. Watch the drama unfold as these
three figures meet and attempt to reconcile the many
differences between them.
Each has their own dogmatic political agenda that does
not coincide and each has suffered in some way at the
hands of the others. Tensions will be high, tempers
will boil over, and history will be alive in this dramatic
performance.
The Gathering at Five Medals continues to grow
each year. Now in its 10th year, the annual living
history event will feature more than 175 highly skilled
reenactors portraying diverse groups and activities
including a Woodland Native village, French voyageurs,
Dutch traders, explorers, blacksmiths, storytellers,
natural dyeing, leatherworking, craftspeople,
frontiersmen, trades people, militia’s, Merchant’s Row,
New France, hunter’s encampments and much more!
Go to gatheringatfivemedals.org and check out the
Gathering at Five Medals on Facebook for official
schedules so you won’t miss any of the action!
The Great War: From Ration Lines to Front Lines
Explores Indiana During World War I
Throughout July, the Elkhart
County Historical Museum will
be the home of a new traveling
exhibit from the Indiana Historical
Society. The exhibit, The Great War:
From Ration Lines to Front Lines
examines the Hoosier state during
World War I. Both in Indiana and
in Europe, men and women of
Indiana contributed greatly to the
war effort. The exhibit explores these
various ways, including the demand
steel, machinery, and equipment
had on local towns like South Bend
as well as the towns of Gary and
Indianapolis. Another main point of
the exhibit are the consequences of
the war which include discrimination
of people of German heritage, and
how African Americans and women
used the contributions in World War
I as a platform to advocate for civil,
social, and political equality.
The exhibit, which will be at the
museum throughout the month of
July, also covers the construction of
Preservation • Recreation • Education
the American Legion building as
well as the Indiana War Memorial.
In downtown Indianapolis, the
memorial is part of a 5 block park
that honors veterans from World
War I and wars before. The exhibit
is a highlight of a month of events
that celebrate World War I at the
museum, which will also include
a program on Maude Essig, an
Elkhart County native who became
a nurse during World War I and
served on the European front.
[ 15 ]
Park Information
Bonneyville Mill
Park
53373 C.R. 131 • Bristol, IN
Ox Bow Park
23033 C.R. 45 • Goshen, IN
Cobus Creek Park
30680 C.R. 8 • Elkhart, IN
River Preserve Park
67380 C.R. 29 • New Paris, IN
[ 16 ]
Regional history and natural beauty can be found at Bonneyville Mill County
Park. The park’s 223 acres form a background for the picturesque Bonneyville
Mill. Seven miles of hiking trails provide a chance to view wildlife and wildflowers.
The Little Elkhart River offers anglers a variety of fish throughout the season.
Several miles of mountain bike trail runs through the park. In winter, cross-country
skiers can enjoy miles of challenging terrain and beautiful scenery. The park’s
two sledding hills provide hours of winter fun for the whole family. Picnic tables
throughout the park are available for use. Five open-air and one semi-enclosed
shelter can be rented for family gatherings, group activities and company events.
The Baldwin One Room School, located within the park, is a reconstructed turnof-the century school house. The lower level can be reserved and includes a small
kitchen, restrooms, tables, chairs and a wood-burning fireplace.
Located on the banks of the Elkhart River, Ox Bow Park’s 200 acres are a
reflection of Elkhart County’s natural beauty. The park provides four seasons
of outdoor activity. Seven open and one enclosed shelters are available for
picnicking and rentals. Volleyball courts, horseshoe pits and playgrounds can be
found throughout the park. Other features include a paved bike trail, archery
range, athletic fields, canoe launch, open-air chapel and an 18-hole disc golf
course. During the winter, groomed trails for cross-country skiing, two sledding
hills and a warming house offer hours of snow-filled fun.
Cobus Creek County Park’s 84 acres contain a variety of natural habitats
including meadows, woods and wetlands. Cobus Creek, a cold water trout
stream, runs through the property providing views and fishing opportunities.
Hard-packed and natural surface hiking trails lead visitors around the five-acre
pond. An open-air shelter is available for rent which includes a small kitchen
with roll-top window and serving counter. The shelter has electricity, picnic
tables, charcoal grill and a fireplace. Wood for the fireplace is not provided. The
shelter is handicapped accessible. The park features a fishing access structure,
playground and a sensory garden filled with the sweet scents, sights, sounds,
tastes and textures of nature.
Located on the Elkhart River, the River Preserve is a perfect spot to discover
the natural beauty of Elkhart County’s rural countryside. The park covers over
1,000 acres with access sites along its length. Miles of hiking trails will take you
along canals, past the dams and foundations of early milling and hydroelectric
operations. Rich in wildlife, it is listed as an Indiana Wildlife Viewing Area. The
park provides visitors excellent opportunities for picnicking, fishing, canoeing,
hiking and nature study. Sites include: Baintertown Hydro and Park, Benton
Hydro, Spillway, and Landing, and DeFries Gardens. Two open-air shelters are
available for rent. Both shelters offer picnic tables, charcoal grills, open areas for
recreation, accessible latrines, drinking fountains, fishing and small boat access.
www.elkhartcountyparks.org
Park Information
DeFries Gardens
17477 C.R. 46 • New Paris, IN
Treasure Island
56225 Armor Ave. • Elkhart, IN
Lieber Nature
Preserve
51602 C.R. 23 • Bristol, IN
Pumpkinvine
Nature Trail
1302 E. Lincoln Ave • Goshen, IN
Nestled in the River Preserve County Park, DeFries Gardens is a reminder
of our human connection to the environment. This 13-acre site was once a
private homestead and hosts an 1880s Victorian-style home surrounded by
perennial gardens and woodland plantings. The site also hosts the enchanting
Calendar Garden. This one-acre showpiece is a giant circular garden and
flowering calendar. Its design features the solstices and equinoxes with unique
structures marking each. Native and horticultural plantings follow the seasons
throughout the year. A 365-foot circular path marks each day as it leads
visitors through seasons of bloom. The site also provides a drinking fountain,
modern restroom facilities and a hiking trail. The garden is handicapped
accessible.
Treasure Island is a four-acre site located west of Elkhart on the St. Joseph
River. Treasure Island provides beautiful views of the river and its surrounding
environment. Facilities in the park include picnicking, fishing, nature observation
and canoe access to the river.
The preservation of Pipewort Pond and the surrounding property is a partnership
with the Indiana Division of Nature Preserves. The preserve features a cranberry
bog, wildlife viewing and a variety of Indiana’s endangered and threatened plant
species. The site is open to the public for hiking and nature study.
The Pumpkinvine Nature Trail is a linear park and greenway, mainly on the former
Pumpkinvine railroad corridor. Over 16 miles of the trail are complete, featuring
both asphalt and packed limestone surfaces suitable for narrow-tired bicycles.
The trail is a delight for walkers, runners, roller bladers and bikers as they travel
through urban areas, small towns and agricultural communities. The countryside
along the Pumpkinvine Nature Trail includes the third largest Amish community in
the United States.
Preservation • Recreation • Education
[ 17 ]
R
historical sites
Bonneyville Mill
53373 C.R. 131 • Bristol, IN
Elkhart County
Historical Museum
304 W. Vistula St. • Bristol, IN
Working antiquity and picturesque beauty await you at Bonneyville Mill. This water
powered mill is the oldest continually operating mill in Indiana, producing quality
flour for over 150 years. Historical interpreters are on duty to lead visitors through
the “daily grind” while the massive grist stones vibrate under their feet. While
you are there, purchase freshly ground flours and visit the Barn Gift Shop where
you will find a variety of unique historical and natural items for sale. Bonneyville
Mill is open to the public 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday from May
through October.
The Elkhart County Historical Museum features over 22,000 artifacts reflecting
the county’s cultural heritage in its twelve permanent galleries. Temporary or
touring exhibits are also frequently hosted. Its research center and genealogy
library contain photos, diaries, family records, plat maps, census lists and more
to help researchers discover their past. Over 30 events are hosted annually.
The museum is open Tuesday thru Saturday from 9 a.m.–5 p.m., closed
Sunday and Monday.
Park Amenities Legend
Fishing
Hiking
Cross-Country
Ski Trails
Sledding Hills
Playground
Interpretive
Services
Biking
Observation Tower
Disc Golf
Picnic Area
Lieber Nature Preserve
Cobus Creek
County Park
Elkhart County
Historical Museum
Elkhart
Bristol
Treasure
Island
Bonneyville Mill
County Park
Middlebury
Ox Bow
County Park
Nature Study
Goshen
Pumpkinvine
Nature Trail
Shelter
Archery
Boat Landing
Boat Launch
[ 18 ]
River Preserve
Wakarusa
DeFries
Gardens
Handicapped
Accessible
Restrooms
New Paris
Nappanee
www.elkhartcountyparks.org
Millersburg
O
River Preserve Park
1
2
Ox Bow County Park
3
5
4
6
rent a shelter
Park shelters are a great place to build family memories.
Shelters are rented for birthday parties, baby showers, small
weddings, anniversary celebrations, family reunions, and many
other events. They are a great place to bring family and friends
to gather for those special moments in our lives. One of the
benefits is plenty of parking spaces and no need to clean your
house before or after the party. Just bring the food and party
favors and have a good time enjoying the outdoors.
To reserve a shelter, call the Park Administration Office,
574-535-6458 Monday–Friday 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (EST).
Reservations for 2017 rentals will begin October 3, 2016.
Reservations made Monday–Thursday with the exception of
holidays are half price. Shelters not already reserved can be
used on a first-come basis.
Visit elkhartcountyparks.org for current prices and descriptions.
7
8
River Preserve
1. Baintertown
2. Benton
Ox Bow
County Park
9
10
Bonneyville Mill
11
12
3. Fisherman’s Camp
4. Coffee Tree
5. Honey Locust
6. Black Maple
7. Cottonwood
8. Stable
9. Ox Bow Haus
10. Hickory Hill
Chapel
Bonneyville Mill
11. Meadow
12. Lookout
13. Kum Mol Rie
14. Briar Patch
15. Feedlot
16. Schoolhouse
(Lower Level Only)
Cobus Creek
17. Cobus Creek
Elkhart County
Historical Museum
18. Auditorium
cobus Creek
County Park
17
13
14
Elkhart County
Historical Museum
15
16
18
[ 19 ]
Friends of the Elkhart County Parks
211 W. Lincoln Avenue
Goshen, IN 46526-3280
www.elkhartcountyparks.org
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