Hope everyone is having a good summer! Well it’s that time of year again when we are getting ready for the Hoosier Outdoor Experience (HOE) taking place at Fort Benjamin Harrison State Park on Sept. 15 and 16th from 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. The goal of the event is to get Hoosier families and children outside and enjoying the beautiful natural areas and outdoor activities that are available throughout the state. This is a wonderful event to help children get excited about being outside and we need your help!

More information about the event can be found on the HOE website at http://www.in.gov/dnr/5009.htm.

We had a great booth the last two years with a butterfly display and release of Monarch butterflies by Reni Winter and Ann Richardson. We are hoping to have them again this year. We also had a butterfly and host plant puzzle, short native plant ID hikes, and invasive plant removal demonstrations. I am hoping to add another activity this year to help children learn about the different parts of plants and why they are such an important part of the environment!

Please let me know if you are interested in helping. We are trying to set up two shifts on each day, 8:30-1:30 pm and 1:30-6:30 pm and need about 3 to 4 volunteers for each shift. We will also need help a little before 9am Saturday morning to set up and after 6pm on Sunday to take down. You are definitely welcome to stay for more than one shift or the whole day if you prefer. Please let me know which day you would be interested in helping and if you have an interest in a particular activity. I will send you more detailed information as the weekend draws closer. I look forward to seeing you there!

Please send me an email if you would like to volunteer or with any questions you may have at amynsmit@iupui.edu.

Thanks,
Amy Smith
Hoosier Outdoor Experience Chair