LRWP offers free nature recreation and education programs for children, adults, and families year-round. These include regular weekly and monthly nature hikes, occasional night hikes, night nature presentations, a monthly nature presentation and light breakfast for seniors 50+, and more.
School groups and other children's groups are welcome at our preserves. Teachers, our trained trail guides are familiar with meeting Indiana State Standards. Just let us know what you’re studying and we can tailor a program that’s relevant to the classroom and also hits many of the standards for your grade level. Please call to make arrangements for a guided field trip—it’s free! Trips are arranged on a first come, first serve basis.
Scouts, our staff and volunteers are available to work with you to meet requirements for different badges. Please make arrangements in advance to make sure we will have someone available to help you.
Apply to bring a children's group to a LRWP preserve.
Adult groups may also wish to visit our preserves or attend stewardship events. Please call us if your employee group, club, hiking group, birding group, church, or other community group is interested in a guided visit or stewardship event.
Offsite presentations can be given about our preserves and programs to businesses, clubs or other community groups through special arrangments by our staff or volunteers. Classroom presentations on wetland topics may also be arranged on a limited basis.
For more information or to sign up click on any event below, call 260-478-2515, or email crc@lrwp.org.
Special Events
Frogapalooza
Friday, September 10, from 6:00pm to 9:00pmJoin us at Sweetwater Sound for dinner, silent/live auctions, and an evening of froggy fun to celebrate LRWP's 20th anniversary and honor philanthropist Ian Rolland for his contributions to conservation in Indiana. Tickets $100. Please contact us at frogapalooza@lrwp.org or visit our Frogapalooza page for more information.
Volunteer and Member Appreciation Day: Native Heritage of the Little River Valley
Saturday, October 9, from 12:00pm to 2:30pmMeet at the Eagle Marsh barn. The Little River Valley has been an important site for Native Americans since antiquity. As a thank-you to our volunteers and members, LRWP will provide a light lunch and educational program given by members of the Miami nation at Eagle Marsh. Afterward, there will be a hike at the preserve. If you are a LRWP member or volunteer-or if you want to join-reserve your place for this event by Monday, October 4. For more information, please contact Betsy Yankowiak or call 260-478-2515.
Stockbridge Audubon Society Birding Field Trip to Eagle Marsh
Saturday, October 9, from 8:00am to 12:00pmMeet at the Boy Scout office. Walk Eagle Marsh with expert birders and prepare to be amazed at the diversity of bird life on the preserve! Bring binoculars for optimal viewing and be prepared for the weather. Please contact execdir@lrwp.org">Betsy Yankowiak for information at 260-478-2515.
Saturday Hiking
Magical Mushrooms
Saturday, October 2, from 1:00pm to 3:00pmMeet at Eagle Marsh barn. A very important part of any ecosystem, fungi break down dead materials, recycle them and make their nutrients available for the next generation of trees and plants. On this hike, we'll search for and identify fungi and their fruiting bodies, mushrooms. Rubber boots are recommended and be prepared for the weather.
Little River Ramblers
Little River Ramblers
Every Tuesday, from 9:00am to 11:00amJoin our intrepid group of hikers to explore and record what’s happening with the flora and fauna of Eagle Marsh. Hiking boots or rubber boots (best) are recommended after rain or snow. Meet at the Eagle Marsh Barn and make sure to dress for the weather.
Breakfast on the Marsh
Where the Wild Things Were
Thursday, September 9, from 8:00am to 10:00amMany species populations are in a state of change at this time. Some are mysteriously declining, while others are blossoming. Still others are experiencing success with the aid of human intervention. Learn about the state of our "wild things" from an expert at this presentation.
The Federal Wetlands Reserve Program
Thursday, October 14, from 8:00am to 10:00amWetland habitats are highly productive natural ecosystems vital to water quality and flood water retention. The federal government's Wetlands Reserve Program encourages landowners to restore wetlands and maintain these important functions. Learn more about this program from Sherman Leichty, District Conservationist with the Natural Resources Conservation Service, at this Breakfast on the Marsh presentation.
Volunteer Opportunities
Honeysuckle Removal
Saturday, September 18, from 9:00am to 11:00amOnce recommended for erosion control, honeysuckle now threatens to out-compete native shrubs for space in our restoration. Bring your work gloves and water to drink to help us control this invasive species. Wear rubber boots or shoes that can get wet and meet at the Eagle Marsh barn. Please contact Betsy Yankowiak at 260-478-2515 or execdir@lrwp.org for more information.
Seed Gathering
Saturday, October 16, from 9:00am to 11:00amMeet at the Eagle Marsh barn. Seed heads will be ripe for the picking, so come out to Eagle Marsh to help us gather these native species for later use in our restoration. Bring work gloves and water to drink. For more information, contact execdir@lrwp.org">Betsy Yankowiak or call 260-478-2515.
Directions
Boy Scout Office Parking Lot
Turn off at Olde Canal Place Road (the Verizon Exit on W. Jefferson Blvd.) and proceed to the end of the road.
Eagle Marsh main gate (open during scheduled events)
From West Jefferson Boulevard, turn east on Engle Road. Travel approximately 1/2 mile and turn south on gravel road. Travel down the gravel road to the red and tan barn.
Arrowhead Marsh
From U.S. 24 turn south on Redding Dr. Aboite Road T's into Redding Dr., turn south. Arrowhead Marsh is on the
east side of Aboite Rd. just past the chicken barn. Park in the grassy lot adjacent to the metal Arrowhead Marsh
sign.
Note: Arrowhead Prairie is closed to the public to maintain areas for wildlife only. Use caution
during wet seasons as the Arrowhead Marsh parking area may be inaccessible.
Do not park along Aboite Road - it is illegal.
Cancellations
Please Note:
All programs are cancelled if Southwest Allen County Schools close due to inclement weather. Our hikes are cancelled if the wind chill is 10 °F or colder.
