Southern Indiana Trails

Mitchell, IN: The Pioneer Village at Spring Mill State Park invites children, ages 6 to 12, to celebrate "A Children's Pioneer Christmas" on December 13. From 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., kids can make some of the same crafts, and play some of the same games, that pioneer children enjoyed during the holidays. Participants will make a ball and cup toy, a wooden top, dip a small pair of candles, and create a mouse or pig out of clay. They will also be able to play three period games called "The Ball of Wool," "Catch the Ring," and the "Clothespin Game." "A Children's Pioneer Christmas" requires pre-registration and is limited to just 40 children. The cost is $5 per child, no charge for accompanying adults. Pre-registrations will be accepted at the Spring Mill Park Office at 812-849-4129 until 4:00 p.m. on December 5. The park entrance fee, $5 per vehicle for Indiana residents or $7 per vehicle for out-of-state residents, also applies. ...

Fantasy of lights kicks off By John Martin Thursday, November 27, 2008 Ritzy's Fantasy of Lights officially got under way on Thanksgiving evening as Owen George, 8, joined Santa Claus to switch on one of the first displays that patrons see as vehicles roll through Garvin Park. What is your favorite display at the Ritzy's Fantasy of Lights? When: Open from 5 to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and 5 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday until Jan. 4 Admission: For vehicles with up to six people, $7 per vehicle; for vehicles with 7-14 people, $10; for vehicles with 15 or more people, $25 G.D. Ritzy's restaurants sell advance tickets. Horse-drawn carriages for up to six people are available nightly, weather permitting, for $30. Horse-drawn hayrides are available with advance reservations. For more information, call 449-1831. Ritzy's Fantasy of Lights officially got under way on Thanksgiving evening as Owen George, 8, joined Santa Claus to switch on one of the first displays that p...

For those of you who visit Spring Mill State Park with an organized group, or might do so in the future, our interpretive staff offers private programs that you can schedule specifically for your group. The 2009 editions of our program catalogues are now available. If you would like a PDF copy of any of the catalogues, just email me (make sure you specify which catalogues you want!)... - Girl Scouts (Brownies and Juniors) - Boy Scouts (Tiger, Wolf, Bear, Webelos Adventure Badges, Boy Scout Merit Badges) - Private Groups (for anyone... church groups, social groups, family reunions, etc... scout troops are also welcome to choose from this catalogue instead of the scouting catalogues) P.S. For teachers (public, private, and home school): We also have a catalogue specifically for school groups (K-8th), aligned to the state academic standards. The 2008/2009 school catalogue was released back in July; if you never got a copy of it, and would like one, just email me! (The 2009/2010 school cat...

Plan ahead for this winter and stay 2 nights for the price of 1. The Indiana State Park Inns winter weekdays special is available Sundays through Thursdays, Nov. 30, 2008, through Feb. 26, 2009. Stay two consecutive nights for the price of one! For more information on this special, call 1-877-LODGES1 or visit www.indianainns.com. This offer is not available Dec. 21, 2008, through Jan.1, 2009, and is subject to availability. The offer cannot be combined with any other discount or group business. Reservations may be made toll free at 1-877-LODGES1 (1-877-563-4371), call center open 8:00am to 8:00pm daily, or make reservations online (see below). Abe Martin Lodge Canyon Inn Clifty Inn Potawatomi Inn Spring Mill Inn Turkey Run Inn The Fort Golf Resort & Conference Center

Line Street Park gaining more foot traffic By LINDSEY ZILIAK Courier & Press staff writer 464-7419 or ziliakl@courierpress.com Friday, November 14, 2008 Line Street Park, which used to be in poor condition and seldom was used, is now "the centerpiece of the community," said the Rev. Marcus Watkins of the Line Street Church of Christ. Several months ago, the small city park was refurbished. The Line Street Church of Christ, Keep Evansville Beautiful, Integra Bank, the Evansville Department of Parks and Recreation and Teamsters Local 215 partnered to give the park a makeover. The volunteers planted flowers, replaced old equipment, picked up sticks and litter and painted a mural on a shelter house that once was covered with graffiti. "It was a 180-degree turnaround," Watkins said. Since the completion of the project, Watkins said he's seen a decrease in vandalism and the number of people loitering, both of which were problems. Ann Ennis, director of Keep Evansv...

UE art students take natural path at Angel Mounds Classes enhancing nature By Mark Wilson (Contact) Friday, November 14, 2008 evon Moody wasn't sure what creating sculpture from objects in the woods of Angel Mounds State Historic Site had to do with her metalworking and jewelry class. But a lesson is revealing itself to the University of Evansville senior as she works on the project with classmates during the semester. "You can get inspiration from what you do outside the classroom and bring it into your art," said Moody, a creative writing major from Irvine, Calif. About 20 students from two UE art classes are creating public art along the trails in the areas of Angel Mounds that were devastated by the Nov. 6, 2005, tornado. Adjunct art instructors Julie Hope and Frances Cadora are heading up the project. The students use only natural materials, such as dirt, sticks, tree limbs, rocks, grass and logs. The idea is to keep the sculptures environmentally neutral so they wil...

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The online shopping industry continues to grow. A lot have been turning towards shopping online instead of the conventional way. Because of this, the number and variety of products that can be bought online have also grown. You can shop for items ranging from fruits to CD's to clothes, and the items, which you want, could be bought and delivered in literally one click. Now that is convenient and hassle-free shopping. However, you would need to consider a couple of pointers if you are planning to land the greatest deals and find the best online stores. You would also have to be extremely cautious when doing business online due to the issues concerning security. Here are some fairly simple tips in order to make your overall shopping experience online fun, practical and safe. First, you would need to purchase from a reputable company whose online business has been experienced by a substantial number of people. A lot of the larger companies have also begun selling their products online...

Your Survival Depends on it. The quality of your winter camping gear is very important and in some case critical. You need to be absolutely sure that it will withstand the temperature variations as well as the extreme conditions you may encounter during your camping excursions. The fact is, nobody goes on a camping trip expecting to be caught by extreme weather conditions or fall down an icy embankment and break an arm or a leg, but these things happens, so you need to be prepared for any potential situation if you want to survive. On top of that if you would have to carry every piece of winter camping gear you might possibly need for every possible situation, you would need a truck, not a backpack. What you need to focus on is bringing the least amount of winter camping gear you need to survive any emergency situation. You won’t bring with you crutches or boards in case you break a leg, instead think about carrying heavy-duty tape that you could use combined with sticks that you can p...

For those bird lovers who love birds and would like to have more of them in their garden, there are some easy steps they can take to attract birds all year round. First you have to realize that birds need and look for certain things in the environment before they will set up a nest. Give it these things and your garden will never lack for birds. When a bird is making a decision to live in or visit your garden sanctuary, it is basically asking itself these questions. And will make its decision based on it's instinct. Where Can I Hide? In the average cityscape, birds have one major predator - cats. Domesticated and homeless cats kill millions of birds throughout the U.S. every year. Additional predators include other birds such as owls, hawks, and falcons. We also can't forget predators such as snakes, raccoons, squirrels, and chipmunks. So one of the first things a bird is asking itself is "where can I find cover" to hide and protect myself from predators? You can help...

I was ten the first time I camped in the winter, and a boy scout. My leader warned us to change our socks and mitts every couple of hours; I listened, but my best friend didn't. We spent our second night at the hospital after he passed out from hypothermia. Unlike many things in my life, this was one lesson I was happy to learn from afar. If you're considering winter camping with kids, some preplanning will make your trip safe and fun. For your first adventure, keep it to one or two nights and stay within driving distance to civilization. Kids are generally better sports than adults; cold mornings and early evenings are fine as long the time in between is packed with lots of outdoor fun. Set your kids up for a lifetime of winter camping with these simple rules: Gauge your speed If you're hiking to your destination, remember that the snow will slow you down. A trail that takes two hours to traverse in the summer will exhaust short legs and take twice the time during the wint...

As winter approaches and the days grow shorter we are likely to spend much less time winter gardening - there aren't so many tasks to be done, and staying warm and cosy indoors seems a much more attractive prospect. Similarly, the wildlife in a winter garden is searching out food and shelter to help survive the winter, and there's a lot we can do to help them in their quest for survival. As we want to become less active in the winter garden, our neglect helps to offer wildlife in the garden many desirable winter residences. There was once a time when no respectable gardener could retire indoors for the winter unless the herbaceous borders had been cleared, all the fallen leaves removed and the vegetable patch reduced to bare soil. These days we realise that both aesthetically and environmentally, the winter garden is far more interesting and diverse if some plants are left untrimmed until the spring. Tufts of ornamental grasses have a haunting beauty, especially when back lit b...

ow to Help your Birds This Winter!! Birds need a place to live, and also a place that provides food, water and shelter from predators. When it gets cold and the winter winds blow, many “snow bunnies” move south to live in warmer weather. Many birds migrate south also, taking advantage of milder temperatures and southern cuisine with a greater variety of insects and seeds. However, you have many year-round residents who are joined by other birds that migrate only as far as your backyard so it is important to create a living area that is enticing to them. Check over your back yard. Provide a pile of brush or bushes for birds and animals to hide in when predators approach. Small birds will look for shelter from sparrow hawks and other predators. Leave dead trees standing through the winter so woodpeckers can find food and build nests in cavities. Consider providing plants and trees with fruits and berries. The search for food starts at dawn and continues till dusk. If birds are able to ea...

PLANNING A WINTER CAMPING TRIP When planning a winter camping trip, especially if snow camping, remember that travel will be much slower than in the summer. Reduce your mileage goal by 50% to 60%. Daylight hours are fewer in the winter, which will also limit your time. Normal activities around camp take longer in cold weather. Three-sided A.T.-style shelters can be used comfortably in the winter by hanging a tarp across the open side to block the wind. The result is a roomier and sturdier place to sleep, cook, and pack. Tarps are much lighter to carry than winter tents. These shelters are usually not used much in the winter so finding space is not much of a problem. WINTER CLOTHING When winter camping, dress in layers so you can easily adjust your clothes to regulate body moisture and temperature. Three types of layers are considered normal : a liner layer against your skin (longjohns), an insulation layer (fleece), and a water- and wind-proof outer shell. In the winter, COTTON KILLS. ...