Free Fishing Days, June 1-2
Indiana residents do not need a fishing license or a trout and salmon stamp to fish the state’s public waters on Free Fishing Days. Parks across the state will be hosting fishing events. Check out the DNR Calendar for an event near you.
 Wyandotte Caves reopens for tours
Wyandotte Caves is offering people a chance to beat the heat this summer by going underground, where the temperature is a cool 52 degrees all year.
Jackets are recommended for all cave tours due to the cool temperature. Remember to wear comfortable and sturdy shoes. Pets, alcohol, and tobacco use are strictly prohibited in the caves.
Big Wyandotte Cave is closed from Labor Day to Memorial Day weekend to protect hibernating Indiana bats.
Learn to hunt or shoot
Want to learn how to hunt or shoot? Attend a workshop and learn from experts.
 Patoka Lake Nature Center reopens
The newly renovated Patoka Lake Nature Center has reopened and has several new features for families to learn about area wildlife.
The new features include a new land-to-lake view of wildlife commonly seen at Patoka Lake. There’s also a terrarium and aquarium exhibit featuring box turtles, a tiger salamander, an albino alligator snapping turtle, and new interactive wildlife management displays.
The center is open Tuesdays through Sundays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Check out the winning posters for tick bite prevention
This past month, DNR and the State Department of Health collaborated on a tick bite prevention awareness poster contest with schools across the state.
More than 100 posters were submitted, and contest winners received prizes from DNR State Parks and Fish & Wildlife. Check out all the winning posters.
With tick season upon us, we want you to stay safe while you are enjoying the outdoors. Be prepared, not scared, when you venture out.
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 Volunteer at the State Fair Fishin’ Pond
We need hundreds of people to help during the 17 days of the State Fair. Volunteers get free admission to the Fair, a free Fishin' Pond T-shirt, and the opportunity to fish with kids for a few hours at the pond. If you want to help but don’t like touching worms, getting fishy, or standing in the sun, other volunteer needs are also available.
Historic Indiana En Plein Air art project launches
The Department of Natural Resources and the Indiana Plein Air Painters Association (IPAPA) are partnering on a project that will eventually culminate with a traveling museum exhibition titled “Historic Indiana En Plein Air.”
During the next 15 months, IPAPA artist members will paint scenes from nearly 2,000 Indiana entries in the National Register of Historic Places, and 60 paintings will be selected to commemorate the event and tour throughout the state.
“En plein air” is defined as the act of painting outdoors, as opposed to studio painting.
Women’s fishing events in June
Are you an outdoorswoman interested in learning how to fish? Consider joining us at one of the upcoming women’s Learn to Fish workshops at Potato Creek State Park:
 Grants available for field trips to state parks, lakes
Educators interested in taking K-12 students on field trips to an Indiana state park or state-managed lake in the 2019-2020 school year can receive financial help through the Indiana Natural Resources Foundation (INRF).
Grants from the Discover the Outdoors Fund are available for public, private, parochial, or home-school educators.
Indiana schools shine at national archery tournament
Indiana schools took two of the three team titles at the 2019 National Archery in the Schools Program Eastern Nationals in Louisville, May 9-11, where more than 15,000 students participated.
Castle High School of Newburgh won the High School Division for the second consecutive year, shooting a tournament-series-record 3,480 out of a possible 3,600.
 Upcoming guided field day hikes
Hike as many as you like or all of them.
This year, the Division of Nature Preserves is teaming with some of its partner organizations and land trusts to hold a series of hikes on nature preserves. We hope you can join us to see some of Indiana’s finest natural areas.
Attendance is free, but registration is required.
 Help us count wild turkeys this summer
Each summer, wildlife biologists and citizen scientists count the number of young wild turkeys (poults) with turkey hens in what are termed “brood surveys.” These surveys provide us with information about turkey poult survival and making informed decisions about wild turkey management.
This summer, our goal is to collect 3,000 brood observation reports from citizens across the state. The survey runs from July 1 to August 31, 2019. If you are interested in participating, please register after June 10.
Help us keep track of our wild turkey populations by participating in this survey and spreading the word.
 Historic Preservation & Archaeology needs your help
The DNR needs your input to help us revise the statewide Cultural Resources Management Plan. Please take our brief survey to let us know what you think about heritage preservation in Indiana.
Attention Father’s Day Shoppers
Dad wants Outdoor Indiana magazine. Buy him a gift subscription and view excerpts of the May-June issue.
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The Indiana Natural Resources Foundation's mission is to support and encourage charitable, educational and scientific programs of the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. Together, we have helped expand public lands, restore wildlife habitat and create educational opportunities.
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