The Ford Hoosier Outdoor Experience (Ford ODX) will return to Fort Harrison State Park in Indianapolis on June 10-11, after a 21-month break. Likely the largest free outdoor event in the state, the Ford ODX was last held in September 2015.

 

The Ford ODX wasn’t held last year because of the many activities being held in recognition of the Centennial of Indiana State Parks. Moving the Ford ODX closer to the start of the traditional outdoor recreation season gives participants plenty of follow-up time to do the activities they liked at the Ford ODX.

The event offers virtually anyone who has the desire and ability the chance to try dozens of hands-on outdoor activities, all free and guided by experts. As in previous years, parking, entry and all activities are free to participants of all ages. All of the necessary equipment will be provided.

Participants are typically beginners in activities such as target shooting, archery, fishing, horseback riding, mountain biking and much more.

Registering to participate is requested, to help the organizers prepare. Register at www.HoosierOutdoorExperience.com where you can learn more about this year’s activities and check for updates and logistics.

The Ford ODX is presented by Central Indiana Ford Dealers, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the Indiana Natural Resources Foundation, to encourage more participation in outdoor recreation.

Don’t miss the chance to discover what could set the stage for the ultimate summer of active outdoor fun. The only cost is your time.

Grants for school field trips Educators interested in taking students of grades K-12 on field trips to an Indiana state park or state-managed lake in the 2017-18 school year can receive financial help through the Indiana Natural Resources Foundation (INRF).

The Discovering the Outdoors Field Trip Grant Program is for public, private, parochial or homeschool educators, according to INRF Director Jody Kress.

“Part of our mission at the Indiana Natural Resources Foundation is to encourage educational programs of DNR,” Kress said. “The field trip grant program helps future generations understand the importance of preserving and protecting our natural heritage and resources.”

Since the grant program’s inception in 2013, a total of 86 grants have been awarded, providing the opportunity for more than 5,600 students to visit state parks at less cost to the schools and students.

Indiana has 24 state parks and eight state-managed lakes eligible for field trip funding to engage students in learning about Indiana’s fish, forest, wildlife, natural habitats and conservation.

“These trips help children understand how previous generations viewed the significance of Indiana’s natural and cultural resources, and at the same time let them make great memories that they will carry into adulthood,” said Ginger Murphy, deputy director for stewardship for DNR State Parks.

The maximum grant award is $250 per application. Applications are accepted from May 1-June 30 prior to the school year for which the grant is requested. Applications must be postmarked no later than June 30.

Applicants will be notified by Aug. 1 regarding potential grant awards. The grant application is online at www.IN.gov/inrf/educate.html

The INRF is accepting donations to the fund from individuals, businesses or anyone who supports the idea of getting kids outdoors. The fund was established in memory of Tom Huck, a longtime DNR employee who was an ardent supporter of outdoor experiences for children.

For further information, including how to donate, email DiscoverOutdoors-Grants@dnr.IN.gov Friends of Ouabache raises $75,000 for restoration Visitors to Ouabache State Park will be able to climb the fire tower again thanks to the park’s “friends” group.

The Friends of Ouabache State Park group has raised $75,000 to rehabilitate the tower. The first $50,000 came in small increments from individuals, families and small businesses, according to group Secretary Kathy Schwartz. The last $25,000 came from a matching grant by the Wells County Community Foundation.

“We just had a great response from individuals,” Schwartz said. “We had a donation from a couple who got engaged at the top.

 

“We had people who remembered climbing it and wanted their children to be able to climb it. That’s where the money came from.”

 

The 100-foot tower was built in 1935 by the Civilian Conservation Corps. Park officials closed the tower in 2015 because of concerns about safety.

The tower’s wood stairs and cabin decking needed replaced. The park did not have funding to rehabilitate the tower, and the structure’s future was uncertain until the Friends group intervened.

“Reopening this historic icon to the public will stand as a highlight to Ouabache State Park’s timeline,” Property Manager Dustin Clark said.

The group began fundraising in 2016. Park officials estimated the effort would take five years. Schwartz hoped to finish in 18 months, but the group reached its goal in less than nine months.

“I don’t think when we first started anybody thought we would accomplish this as quickly as we did,” she said. The accomplishment has made the group a model for other Friends groups, and they have already been asked to share advice for similar projects in other state parks.

Site work, which will include accessibility improvements, has already begun, according to Clark. Current plans call for the fire tower to be restored and in place this summer and fall. The park hopes to reopen the tower in spring 2018. Ouabache State Park is located at 4930 E. St. Road 201, Bluffton, IN 46714.

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.