The sixth annual Ford Hoosier Outdoor Experience, which is free to all participants, returns to Indianapolis’ Fort Harrison State Park Sept. 20-21.

If you were one of the estimated 32,000 men, women or children who took part in the more than 50 hands-on outdoor activities last year, you’ve probably had the dates circled on the calendar for a long time. Even with the massive number of people taking advantage of the program, there will be plenty of room for more participants in the state park’s spacious 1,700 acres.

Activities scheduled for the Ford Hoosier Outdoor Experience include almost every outdoorsy pursuit, from archery and target shooting to mountain biking, fishing, paddling and much more. And, it is all free!

Trail running will debut at this year’s Ford Hoosier Outdoor Experience. The activity is one of about 50 to be offered free to all participants at Indianapolis’ Fort Harrison State Park during the weekend.

Indiana Trail Running will lead the new activity. The organization plans to offer 2-3 guided half-mile trail runs each day at scheduled times to be announced later. Indiana Trail Running’s booth will feature other hands-on activities such as stretching for trail runners, and will distribute informational handouts about the growing sport.

The Ford Hoosier Outdoor Experience, which runs 10 a.m.-6 p.m. each day during the weekend, is presented by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the Indiana Natural Resources Foundation. The goal is to introduce people to outdoor activities they may have never tried.

Online advance registration at www.hoosieroutdoorexperience.IN.gov is requested, to assist the presenters and activity providers with staffing and planning. Watch for event updates there or at Facebook.com/HoosierOutdoorExperience

If you already enjoy outdoor sports and recreation and want to help others learn to enjoy them as much as you do, sign up to volunteer at https://2014outdoorexperiencevolunteer.eventbrite.com

For questions about volunteering, contact volunteer coordinator Cheryl Hampton at 317-233-1002 or champton@dnr.IN.gov

Fort Harrison State Park is located at 5753 Glenn Road, Indianapolis, IN 46216.

Wonders of Wilderness Celebration

The Hoosier National Forest (HNF) will host a celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Wilderness Act on Sept. 27 from 2-8 p.m. The Wonders of Wilderness Celebration will be free at the Charles C. Deam Wilderness from 2-6 p.m. with live demonstrations, hands-on activities and information booths.

The HNF is working with several partners to bring a variety of interesting activities to the event. The afternoon of Sept. 27, activities will be set up in three locations: Brooks Cabin, Blackwell Horse Camp and Hickory Ridge Lookout Tower. Each location will have several activities and informational booths from 2-6 p.m.

At Brooks Cabin, celebration visitors can learn about the history of the Wilderness and Brooks Cabin. Guests will also be able to meet Charles Deam (first-person reenactor Matt Jones), who will be at the cabin.

At Blackwell Horse Camp people can see the Hoosier National Forest’s mules and learn about the primitive tools used to maintain trails in the wilderness area. Visitors can try to cut a log with a crosscut saw and watch how, without wheels or motorized equipment, the HNF manages trails in the wilderness. The national “Leave No Trace” team will be on-site to show the importance of leaving no trace values in the wilderness.

At Blackwell Horse Camp there will be Dutch oven cooking demonstrations. A forester will be on hand to talk about trees of Indiana; there will also be search and rescue personnel to address techniques used to find people, as well as how you can be more prepared when you hike in the wilderness.

There will also be demonstrations on outdoor gear and some native animals will be on hand for viewing. Visitors can get a temporary tattoo and Trailhead Market Pizza will be on-site selling pizza and drinks.

The last stop is at the Hickory Ridge Lookout Tower.  Guests stopping here will  learn about fire prevention and fire fighting in the wilderness. Learn how early tower men used alidades, a piece of equipment in the lookout tower which allowed them to call in fire locations.

Climb the tower and talk with a former tower man about his experiences. Talk to firefighters and look at modern equipment used to fight fires on the Forest. Appearances by Smokey Bear will occur at 3, 4 and 5 p.m.

Guided hikes on the Sycamore Loop Trail will start at 3 p.m., however, participation is limited. Call the Hoosier National Forest Bedford office at 812-275-5987 between 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. to sign up.

The Sycamore Loop Trail is moderately rugged and a little over 6 miles in length, which will take slightly over three hours to complete.

Hikers should wear sturdy boots/hiking shoes and bring water, snacks and other necessities.

The festivities will continue Saturday at 7 p.m. at Hardin Ridge Recreation Area.

The Hoosier will sponsor The Story of Charles C. Deam, a reenactment and entertaining program. Gate admission is free for the evening program. Deam (1865-1953) was a noted botanist and Indiana’s first state forester.

Several partners are involved with the Hoosier to make the event possible, including: Argus K-9 Search and Rescue, Central Indiana Wilderness Club, Forest Fire Lookout Assoc., Hoosier Backcountry Horsemen, Hoosier Backpackers Club, Hoosier Hikers Council, Indiana DNR conservation officers, J.L. Waters, Subaru/Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics, Trailhead Market & Noshery and WildCare, Inc.

Blackwell Horse Camp will be closed to camping from Sept. 25-28 to set up for the event. Camping is available at Hickory Ridge Horse Camp.

For more information on the event, call the HNF at 812-275-5987.

The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of Farm World.

Readers with questions or comments may contact Jack Spaulding by email at jackspaulding@hughes.net or by writing to him in care of this publication.