Have you planned your spring break trip?
Indiana State Parks provide wonderful getaways where you can enjoy nature, good company, and have fun while making memories, naturally.
Reserve today for inns and lodges at IndianaInns.com or call 1-877-LODGES-1. For camping and family cabins, reserve at camp.IN.gov or call 1-866-6CAMP-IN.
Buy your solar eclipse glasses and T-shirts from DNR
It’s time to prepare for the April 8 solar eclipse, during which the moon will completely cover the sun over a significant portion of Indiana, causing darkness at mid-afternoon.
Four-packs of the glasses can be bought at ShopINStateParks.com for $10 each plus shipping and handling. You can also buy four-packs for $10 each at any Indiana State Park inn gift shop or property office or individual pairs for $3 each. A list of properties is at on.IN.gov/stateparks.
Commemorative eclipse logo T-shirts are also available online. The short-sleeve version costs $24.95, and the long-sleeve shirt costs $32.95, plus tax. Park offices and inn gift shops are also starting to stock eclipse shirts; call ahead for shirt and size availability.
Solar eclipse coming to Indiana April 8
The zone of totality, in which it will become almost completely dark, runs through a number of DNR properties. The eclipse will first be visible in Indiana in the Mount Vernon area, and through the afternoon it will progress across the state through regions that include Linton, Bloomington, Indianapolis, Shelbyville, Muncie, New Castle, Connersville, and Portland.
Print your own map, review FAQs, and find helpful tips.
Becoming an Outdoors-Woman registration opens March 1
Registration for the annual Becoming an Outdoors-Woman (BOW) workshop, which is open to women ages 18 and older, opens March 1.
This year’s BOW workshop will be held May 3-5, at Ross Camp in West Lafayette.
BOW is designed for women to learn outdoor skills in a relaxed, low-pressure environment. Participants will choose four activities from more than two dozen offerings, including fishing, archery, geocaching, wild edibles, wildlife tracking, shooting muzzleloader guns, and outdoor cooking.
Become an Indiana Conservation Officer
The role of an Indiana Conservation Officer is centered on being service oriented, concentrating on full-time police work focused on community needs within natural resource laws and rules. Those who become officers will experience interesting challenges that vary from day to day.
Spring into savings with Indiana State Park Inns
March 1 through May 23, 2024
Stay two or more consecutive nights (4 nights for Cabin Suites and Family Cabins) and get 25% off the Best Available Rate. Some restrictions may apply. Valid on new reservations only. Blackout dates may apply; contact the inn for more information.
Barn owls take residence at Goose Pond Fish & Wildlife Area nest box
A pair of barn owls have made a home in the property’s nest box, and you can watch this couple via a live webcam by going to the Goose Pond FWA camera page.
Barn owls are an endangered species in Indiana due to grassland habitat loss. Fewer than 50 nests are found annually in Indiana. To provide barn owls with secure nesting sites that are protected from predators, the DNR has built more than 400 nest boxes and erected them in barns and other structures with suitable habitat during the last 30 years.
Take a road trip to McCormick’s Creek State Park
Looking for a great day exploring Indiana? Check out McCormick’s Creek State Park in Owen County and explore the park’s spectacular limestone canyon, flowing creek, and scenic waterfalls. Stop by the Nature Center to learn more about the park and go hiking on the 3.7 miles of open trail. Family cabins can be reserved now, and the Canyon Inn is open and ready to welcome you for a stay or a great meal.
Indiana Recreation & Fishing Guides
Your latest guides to exploring Indiana’s great outdoors are now available at your fingertips and at a DNR property near you.
The 2024 Indiana Recreation Guide is available now at on.IN.gov/recguide.
And your 2024-2025 guide to Indiana fishing, the Indiana Fishing Regulations Guide, is available at on.IN.gov/fishingguide.
The DNR’s 2024 Indiana Recreation Guide is the source for information on state parks, state forests, lakes, fish & wildlife areas, nature preserves, state park inns, and other DNR properties. The guide includes a great facilities chart and information about accessibility and fees.
Soon, free printed copies of each will be available at local retail outlets, state parks, lakes, and other DNR properties.
Be on the lookout during National Invasive Species Week
As spring approaches, watch for invasive species! One pest that we’re unfortunately seeing more of Indiana is the spotted lanternfly. It’s a major concern across most of the country because of its adverse effect on fruit orchards, nurseries, and the logging and wine industries. With the insect’s eggs typically hatching in late April, DNR started scraping egg masses at affected sites in early February and has destroyed more than 540,000 eggs.
If you think you see the spotted lanternfly, immediately report it to 866-NO EXOTIC (866-663-9684) or DEPP@dnr.IN.gov, providing the county of the find.
Hoosier anglers can take Midwest Walleye Challenge
Indiana anglers are invited to participate in the 2024 Midwest Walleye Challenge, a virtual fishing tournament that offers the chance to win prizes and contribute to fisheries management while providing Indiana DNR fisheries biologists with valuable data on the state’s walleye, sauger, and saugeye.
The tournament begins March 30 and ends June 30. Only catches of walleye, sauger, and saugeye will count in the tournament.
The Midwest Walleye Challenge was piloted in Iowa during the past two years. This year it will be offered across the Midwest as part of a larger fisheries research project funded by the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies.
Reserved spring turkey hunt applications now open
Hunters can now apply for spring turkey reserved hunts by visiting on.IN.gov/reservedhunt.
The online method is the only way to apply. No late entries will be accepted. Applicants must possess a hunting license that is valid for the hunt for which they apply. Applications must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, March 17.
Indiana's outdoors in your mailbox
The March/April issue of Outdoor Indiana magazine features a cover story on Indianapolis’ White River State Park, how it came to be, and how it differs from DNR state parks. Other highlights of this issue are a feature on land acquired for conservation and a photo essay on some of Indiana’s unique courthouses. Subscribe for yourself, a friend or relative.
The Foundation celebrates and preserves Indiana’s natural legacy by raising funds to support the Indiana Department of Natural Resources and its programs.
