IN the Parks

Cecil M Harden Lake aka Raccoon State Recreation Area aka the Mansfield Dam. They're all the same place, and the place is amazing! In this episode, we're learning some reservoir history and visiting the Mansfield roller mill while getting a little philosophical about change and opportunities. You'll also learn about the trails, fishing, water, and the beautiful campground! If you need to rent a bo...

Keep enjoying that lake life and join me at Salamonie Lake! The park is big enough you’ll find there’s room for every personality, and I've come up with quite a few people who will love this place: Academic, Zoologist, Horse Lover, Trailhead, Happy Camper, Water Baby, Gardener, Hunter & Fisher, Frolfer, and Volunteer! Yup, you’re all welcome here. At Salamonie, be sure to go to the Pirate’s Co...

Come with me to beautiful Chain O' Lakes State Park in Albion, Indiana! This park is absolutely a small boater's paradise thanks to the 5 mile, 9 lake paddling challenge. But it's also a hiker's haven with almost 30 miles of trails and as home to Indiana's only 100 mile trail race, the Indiana Trail 100. I earned my 9 Lakes Challenge shirt, but still need to come back to hit the trails. The park o...

Come with me to Monroe Lake, home to state recreation areas like Paynetown, Fairfax, and many more! Indiana's largest lake has something for everyone -- boating, kayaking, camping, bird watching, hunting, private weekend getaways, and space for groups and families. With its proximity to Bloomington, this is the perfect place for people who want a mix of time in the city and nature. In this episode...

Cagles Mill Lake was Indiana's first reservoir property! Home to Lieber and Cataract Falls State Recreation Areas, this lake is the perfect place for extroverts and introverts. Lieber has lots to do: camping, a beach, pool, nature center, water activities, events, and more. Cataract Falls has Indiana's largest waterfall, a red covered bridge, and creek stomping. Both sites provide picnicking spots...

Summit Lake State Park is the perfect spot to kick off your lake life summer! The lake is where all the action is -- fishing, bird watching, swimming, and boating. But there are also several nice trails and tons of year-round activities for kids and families. Mark your calendar for the Youth Fishing Derby on June 7. Dates and information about Nature's Classroom are on the park's Facebook page . A...

Get to know the rebel state park -- The Shades! But is Shades actually the rugged, rebel, isolated park I think it is? You might be surprised to learn the real history of the property. Yes, there's lore and murder, but there's also innovation, social movements, and my favorite hike in Indiana so far! Plus, we get into astronomy and why Shades is the best place for star-gazing. If you've never been...

I loved learning about fire towers and lookouts in Indiana and across the country. There's so much history here, and I barely scratched the surface! You can learn tons about fire towers at the Forest Fire Lookout Association site . If you want to see a presentation Teena Ligman did in March 2025 about them, including pictures, click here . You’ll hear much of the same information but get the aweso...

The Civilian Conservation Corps, started by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, made our state parks what they are today. Not only did these boys (as they were endearlingly called) work in Indiana, but throughout the entire country developing parks, protecting forests, and on soil conservation projects. White, Black, Native American, and Hispanic -- young men from all walks of life left their fingerp...

Come along with me to Pokagon State Park and let's tackle the 8-mile-long Hell's Point Challenge together! We'll learn all about the park including the Pokagon band of the Potawatomi, the CCC young men, the wide variety of park habitats, the Potawatomi Inn, stable barn, toboggan run, and more. We'll also learn a few hacks for how to get the most out of the toboggan run and how you can cheat the sy...

What do a 200 year old grist mill and an astronaut have in common? Quite a lot actually! We head back to Spring Mill State Park to learn about the cultural impact of the place. You'll get a lesson in physics, history, and space travel as we learn about the pioneer village, the mill, and Gus Grissom. Plus, you'll find out what happened to the mill a couple years ago and how the reopening progress i...

Spring Mill State Park in Mitchell, IN, offers everything a state park should -- nature, history, and culture. There's so much going on at this park, I had to make two episodes! In Part 1, you'll learn why old growth forests are important, find out what's hiding in the dark cave systems, and discover how you can explore the caves by foot or by boat. You'll also get the backstory on how an unexpect...

On this special Valentine's Day episode, get ready to fall in LOVE with Indiana state parks! All 24 state parks, 8 reservoirs, 2 state forest recreation areas, and 2 off-roading parks add up to 36 properties! Could you hike them all in one year? Get ready to meet 3 Hoosiers who love the parks so much, they had to take on the challenge! They share their tips and tricks for batching parks together,...

Charlestown State Park is a hiker's paradise and a camper's dream! Full of legends, lore, and even a ghost town, Charlestown has plenty of excitement and beauty. The park's new hiking challenge will take you through every single trail, and this episode will too! You'll hear from the challenge creators, park staff, and even the mayor of Charlestown why each trail is worth hiking as we cover the mys...

Falls of the Ohio State Park in Clarksville, IN, may be the smallest state park, but the history and impact of this land is enormous! Come with me on a journey through time as we learn about the stories of the fossils, George Rogers Clark, the Underground Railroad, and more. You'll also learn what's going on with the park today as well as hear more rock puns than you wanted! Be sure to visit Falls...

Hear about the State of the State Parks from Indiana's director of the Department of Natural Resources, Dan Bortner. This governor-appointed position gets to shape and guide the priorities of the administration, which means for the past four years, Dan has had a front row seat to exciting initiatives like the Unity Blaze, Next Level Trails, planting one million trees, building a new lodge at Potat...

In nearly every episode, you've heard from the state park's interpretive naturalist. But what exactly is that job? In a word, they're storytellers. Listen to find out why I think this may be THE most important job in the state parks! You'll get to hear about the woman who started it all, why white tennis shoes are important, who was the state's top interpretive naturalist in 2024 (hint: we met her...

Travel to Versailles State Park in southeast Indiana where you'll learn about the incredibly supportive family culture the staff has that extends to everyone who visits the park. And this place is an outdoorsy person's dream! You've got mountain biking, hiking, and horse trails plus a lake for boating, kayaking, and fishing! There's also camping, history, and a supportive community that welcomes g...

It's a special Holidays IN the Parks episode! Your shopping list, wish list, and holiday events are all taken care of! Listen now and you'll be in the know for the best gifts, events, and family traditions. Holiday Gifts 1. Buy a vintage-style state park, national park, or any poster from Recollection Project and get one free with the code INTHEPARKS 2. Purchase a 2025 state parks pass 3. Subscrib...

Let's visit an Indiana State Parks fan favorite: Clifty Falls State Park! Clifty Falls is another beauty and is well-loved for its history, hiking, and waterfalls. Oh, and the bats! In this episode, you'll see what it means to be a good neighbor thanks to the actions of the city of Madison and the Friends of Clifty Falls volunteer group. From battling invasive plants to finding new ways to offer a...

Come back to Prophetstown State Park with me and enjoy time at The Farm, a non-profit in the park that tells the story of Indiana farm life in the 1920s. The Farm at Prophetstown is an ideal spot for a Third Place. Never heard of the term "Third Place" before? That’s okay; neither had I! So listen and learn along with me. You’ll also hear about their farm-to-table dinners, all the animals, the far...

Fall in love with the prairie, farms, and Indiana history at Prophetstown State Park. While most Indiana state parks have ravines, woods, and maybe even a waterfall, Prophetstown is all about the expansive prairie full of wildflowers, tall grasses, birds, rivers, and farms. This land has been loved and developed for thousands of years and been shaped by ice, water, fire, and human hands. Be sure y...

In this “side trail” episode, we metaphorically take a hike down another path and go birding! My first time birdwatching was a blast, even though my ignorance was on full display. Thankfully, I had experts to guide me! I’m joined by special guests Rob Ripma of Sabrewing Nature Tours (check out his international tours), Whitney Yoerger from Indiana Audubon (becoming a member is affordable and suppo...

Indiana’s first state park set the bar for all the rest. In this episode, I get into all the awesome park features like the Canyon Inn, trails, the legend of Wolf Cave, Stone Arch Bridge, and the waterfall. I also share about finding the place where my grandparents took a picture on a date in 1952! (Check out the Instagram page to see me in the same spot.) But you’ll also hear about the impact of...

Bonus Mini-Episode Alert! In this side trail, I dive a little deeper into the M20CW with museum president Christopher Schneider. We get into WWI and pickelhelms, Chris shares about why you might need math in life, about the WWII German Panther tank turret in the museum, and much more. We finish up in the chapel and learn about the ultimate sacrifice of 4 chaplains in 1943. You can learn more about...