November 3rd Annual Ox Bow Tower Run The 3rd Annual Ox Bow Tower 5K Run/ Walk and 1 Mile Elementary Cross-Country Challenge is hosted by the Two Rivers Running Club in conjunction with the Elkhart County Parks Department. All proceeds from this run/walk will be used to help rebuild the tower at. Dates: Sunday, November 4. Times: 12:45 1:45 p.m. Packet Pick-up and Registration 2:00 p.m. One Mile Elementary Cross-Country Challenge begins 2:30 p.m. 5K Run/Walk begins Age: 1 Mile Elementary Cross- Country Challenge: 2nd - 6th grades 5K Run/Walk: 14 & under, 15-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60+ Cost: 1 Mile Elementary: $15 5K Run/Walk:$25 Preregister by: www.2rrc.org or on race day. Location: Fisherman s Shelter, Ski trail at Nature Nuts: Nuts & Seeds Learn the importance of nuts and seeds for plant populations and for food. We will also go for a hike and look at seed dispersal. Date: Tuesday, November 6 Preregister by: Tuesday, October 30. Holiday at the Mill Looking for a unique gift for someone? Come to Bonneyville Mill for some early holiday shopping during the second annual Holiday at the Mill. Pick up some Bonneyville Mill whole grain flour products to bake those holiday treats for your family and friends or visit the gift shop and find unique items for that special child or adult. Enjoy hot drinks and other goodies during your visit to Bonneyville Mill. Date: Saturday, November 10 Time: 10 a.m. 3 p.m. Location: Bonneyville Mill, Science Sleuths: Food Chains Take a closer look at our local flora and fauna and how they are all related through food chains. We will play a food chain game, so wear shoes to run in. Space is limited Date: Monday, November 19 Preregister by: Monday, November 12. December Nature Nuts: Pinecones Get creative with pinecones as we learn about the different kinds of cones, what their purpose is and how we can make unique gifts with them. Date: Tuesday, December 4 Preregister by: Tuesday, November 27. Buttr -n- Jam When I was a kid we got milk directly from the cow, churned it and watched the beads of water cascade down the butter as each slice was cut. Today it is pasteurized/ homogenized and made with corn or soybean oil. Join us as we experience pioneer nostalgia with the best tasting butter your taste buds ever tasted. You will make your own butter right here in Ox Bow Park to enjoy with our homemade jam on pioneer corn bread made from Bonneyville Mill flour. Wash it all down with a bottle of homemade root beer. Date: Saturday, December 8 Time: 9-11 a.m. Cost: $4/person Preregister by: Thursday, December 6
Science Sleuths: Natural Ornaments Learn and practice the art of making beautiful ornaments from natural items like pinecones and seed pods. Everyone will make and take an ornament. Date: Monday, December 17 Preregister by: Monday, December 10. 17th Annual Elkhart County Christmas Bird Count The South Bend-Elkhart Audubon Society and the Elkhart County Parks are calling upon volunteers to participate in this annual citizen science project. Observers can count birds in yards or waterways, or assist with field counts assigned in area parks or along roads, or join in on a local bird walk at area parks. Bird watchers can gather data all day or just for an hour. Date: Saturday, December 31 Time: Dawn to Dusk Preregister by: calling 574-535-6458 or e-mail info@elkhartcountyparks.org Location: throughout Elkhart County January Nature Nuts: Animal Tracks Discover the fun and excitement of tracking animals by following their footprints. We will also make an animal tracks book and have a snack. Date: Tuesday, January 8 Preregister by: Tuesday, January 1. Science Sleuths: Snow Get excited about snow as we make snow crystals, eat a snowy snack and learn all about those amazing and delicate flakes. Please dress for the weather. Date: Monday, January 28 Preregister by: Monday, January 21. In Search of the Camouflaged Looper Tired of walking in the woods and seeing the same birds and butterflies? Join me as I show you how to find animals that most people never see. Presented by Tom Arendt. Date: Saturday, January 26 What Makes a Print Award Winning Adding the Finishing Touch Learn to apply those finishing touches using Photoshop Elements that can make a print stand out among the rest. Discover valuable points about composition and framing. Participants may bring a photo on a USB flash drive to be worked on as an example. Presented by Danny Graber. Date: Sunday, January 27 Time: 2 p.m. Nature and Photography You don t need to go to an exotic destination to capture breathtaking nature photography. Some of the best photos can be taken right here at home. Learn how in this informal study of capturing nature photos in the Elkhart County Parks or your own backyard. Presented by Lyman Hug, ShutterHugs Custom Framing. Date: Monday, January 28 Reptiles and Amphibians Got nature? We do. Come and see live examples of our area reptiles and amphibians. Learn all about these interesting animals and the important role they play in nature. Presented by Courtney Franke, Elkhart County Parks. Date: Tuesday, January 29 Preservation Recreation Education
February What Can Your Historic Photos Tell You Join Museum Curators to learn what historical photographs can teach you about your past and the history of your community. Presented by Matthew Schuld & Elizabeth Haeuptle, Elkhart County Historical Museum. Date: Wednesday, January 30 Our Furry Friends Join a naturalist as we learn all about our native mammals, their behaviors and their many amazing adaptations to help them survive. The entire program will be hands-on, so bring the family for a fun evening with our furry friends. Presented by Krista Daniels, Elkhart County Parks. Date: Thursday, January 31 Time: 7:00 p.m. 33rd Annual Elkhart County Parks Photo Contest Display January 25 - February 1 Nature Nuts: Nature s Valentines Through stories, crafts and other fun activities, we will learn about animal courtship and some of the interesting behaviors to look or listen for as we approach spring. Date: Tuesday, February 5 Preregister by: Tuesday, January 29. Winter Constellations The public is invited to join us for a presentation with your favorite stars. Learn about telescopes and stars and put together your own star chart. Learn about Roman and Greek mythology and enjoy a hotdog and hot chocolate. Bring your telescopes and/or binoculars for a spectacular view of the heavens. Date: Friday February 8 Time: 7-9 p.m. Age: All ages Cost: $3 Pre-register by: Wednesday, February 6 River Otters Back by popular demand! Learn the amazing history of the elusive river otter in Indiana and discover how abundant they have become in Elkhart County by looking for tracks and scat around the wetlands. The entire program will be outdoors, so please dress for the weather. Date: Saturday, February 9 Time: 1:30 2:30 p.m. Location: Baintertown Park, River Preserve County Park Backyard Maple Syrup Making Program participants will learn the art of making maple syrup at home. Just a few dollars worth of equipment and a single maple tree are all you need to make delicious maple syrup at home. Everything you need to know will be discussed at the program. Backyard Sugarin Kits will be available for purchase. Pancakes, maple syrup, sausage and drinks will be available during the program. Date: Saturday, February 23, Cost: $3.50 per person (breakfast included) OR $1.00 per person (without breakfast) Kits available for $15.00 each Preregistration by: Please preregister by 1 p.m. Friday, February 22. Location: Baldwin Schoolhouse, Science Sleuths: Maple Syrup Learn the art of making maple syrup. We will spend our time out in the park learning to identify a sugar maple, how to tap a tree and how to turn sap into real maple syrup. Date: Tuesday, February 26 Preregister by: Tuesday, February 19. Concord Mall Community Room
Historical Programs November Holiday at the Mill Looking for a unique gift for someone? Come to Bonneyville Mill for some early holiday shopping during the second annual Holiday at the Mill. Pick up some Bonneyville Mill wholegrain flour products to bake those holiday treats for your family and friends or visit the gift shop and find unique items for that special child or adult. Enjoy hot drinks and other goodies during your visit to Bonneyville Mill. Date: Saturday, November 10 Time: 10 a.m. 3 p.m. Location: Bonneyville Mill, Elkhart County Historical Society Annual Meeting Join the Elkhart County Historical Society for an evening of food and historical discussion. Hear an exciting talk by George Ironstrack on the Myaamia Project which aims to preserve the Miami language and culture. Date: Thursday, November 15 Time: 6 p.m. Cost: $15, includes dinner Preregister by: November 12 Call (574) 848-4322 December Exhibit Opening: Endangered Heritage Indiana s collecting institutions are at risk of losing many Hoosier memories, and the threat to thousands of historical artifacts and documents in Indiana is real and ongoing. Large and small historical organizations across Indiana face similar challenges about how to preserve the objects and documents that are a part of Indiana s heritage for future generations. Endangered Heritage gives examples of some of the most common dangers to objects and documents in Hoosier history collections. The exhibit focuses on the needs of heritage collecting organizations for humidity and temperature controls, adequate storage, and funds to care for their collections. Fortunately, there are solutions to the problems facing Indiana s heritage collections, and Endangered Heritage suggests ways to help. Visitors to the exhibit will learn how they can assist in preserving Indiana s history. Dates: Friday, November 16 Saturday, December 15 Time: Normal Museum Hours, Tues - Sat 9 a.m. 5 p.m. Cost: FREE, donations gratefully accepted Endangered Heritage: A Guided Tour of the Indiana Historical Society s Traveling Exhibit Join Museum Curator of Collections Liz Haeuptle for a guided tour of the Indiana Historical Society s newest traveling exhibit, Endangered Heritage. Learn about examples of the dangers to objects in the Elkhart County Historical Society s collections and information about how you can help protect them! Bring an example of an object or document you want to preserve, and museum staff will direct you to the right resources. Dates: Saturday, December 1 Time: 1p.m. Cost: $1/person Movie Night at the Museum: Historical Documentarian Larry App Meet local documentarian Larry App and catch a sneak peak of several of his documentaries on the history of Elkhart County and its residents. Larry App has created documentaries covering the history of the City of Elkhart, Italians in Elkhart, and the Lerner Theatre. App will be on hand to discuss his work, and full versions of the documentaries will be available for purchase. Date: Thursday, December 6 Cost: $1/person Preservation Recreation Education
Historical Programs January Tuesday Tours Begin Learn about the history of Elkhart County by taking a guided museum tour. The museum will begin offering tours each Tuesday covering a variety of topics, from Native American History to Elkhart s booming band instrument industry. Visitors will be guided through several exhibit rooms and have a chance to ask questions of museum staff. Each tour will be approximately 40 minutes. Check the museum website (http://www.elkhartcountyhistory.org) for specific tour information or call 574-848-4322 to hear a schedule of upcoming tour subjects. Dates: Tuesdays, January 8-29 County Holidays excluded Time: 1 p.m. Cost: $2/person, meet at the front desk. Historic Photo of Bonneyville Mill Circa 1938 Quilt Study Day Be a part of Elkhart County s quilting story by bringing in your family quilt to be documented in the Elkhart County Quilt Registry. Sit back and relax as you view and learn more about the history of the beautiful quilts brought in by other members of the community. Date: Saturday, January 19 Time: 11 a.m. 2 p.m. Preregister by: Friday, January 18. Recommended only if you plan on documenting your quilt. Call (574) 848-4322. February Tuesday Tours Continue Learn about the history of Elkhart County by taking a guided museum tour. The museum will begin offering tours each Tuesday covering a variety of topics. See January 8 for more details. Dates: Tuesdays, February 5-26 County Holidays excluded Time: 1 p.m. Cost: $2/person, meet at the front desk. Valentine s Day at the Museum: Local History Forum We want to show our admiration for the Elkhart County community! Stop into the museum for a community forum on the value of local history and how the museum is working to bring Elkhart County s past to life. To do this, the museum needs your input. Museum staff will lead a discussion on how the role of local history institutions within the community is changing. The museum is here for the public, so bring your ideas about how this we might better serve the community. Date: Thursday, February 14 Time: 6:30 p.m.