The 2023 year-long celebration of Indiana State Parks interpretive services’ 100th birthday starts with Clifty Falls State Park’s Winter Weekend Getaway, Jan. 6–8.
Getaway weekends were popular during the 1980s. These naturalist-led special events combined recreational and interpretive activities. Activities for all ages at Clifty Falls’ getaway will follow that lead, exploring wildlife, geology, and the arts.
Col. Richard Lieber, founder of Indiana’s state park system, believed that every state park should offer “nature guides” to inspire and educate guests. In the spring of 1923, Lucy Pitschler, an Indianapolis artist and nature enthusiast, volunteered three weeks to lead nature hikes at McCormick’s Creek State Park. After three years of the programs there increasing in popularity among all ages, the State hired seasonal naturalists at the park near Spencer as well as at Clifty Falls and Turkey Run state parks.
Now, 22 full-time, five part-time, and more than 50 seasonal interpretive naturalists and an interpretive manager work at state parks, reservoirs, and recreation areas across Indiana.
“These professionals remain at the heart of Indiana State Parks’ efforts to bring nature, history, and people together to understand the resources and the meanings behind them, have fun, and make great memories,” said Ginger Murphy, deputy director for stewardship for the Division of State Parks.
To join the fun at the Clifty Falls getaway, call 812-273-0609 before Dec. 30. The registration fee is $30/person, which includes an owl canvas painting workshop on Jan. 8. For attendees who don’t want to attend, the registration fee is $20.
Clifty Inn is offering limited-time discounted room rates for getaway attendees who reserve before Dec. 9 by calling 877-563-4371 and using Group Code 0608WW. Registration for the event and a room at the inn must be done separately. For more event information visit on.IN.gov/CliftyFalls or call 812-273-0609.
Other 100th anniversary celebration events are planned throughout the state. More details on those and on regularly scheduled events are at on.IN.gov/instateparkevents. More about the history of “nature guides” is at on.IN.gov/INStateParkHistory.
To view all DNR news releases, please see dnr.IN.gov.
Media contact: Ginger Murphy, Division of State Parks 317-232-4143.