Members attend State Friends meeting at Salamonie Lake

By Friends member Sandi Wallace

Three members of our group, Alan Bruner, Debra Foxworthy and Sandi Wallace took a road trip. We attended the 2025 Regional North State Park Friends Gathering on August 16 at Salamonie Lake Interpretive center. Greeting us were refreshments and a tote bag, notebook and a pen-all printed with a map of the area. Very nice start.

After a welcome, we boarded some nifty wooden wagons that had been built by the Friends of Mississinewa group. It was a wonderful way to tour the park and hear some of their accomplishments. We were really impressed by the size of the beach area!

A husband/wife team met us at the horse camp to discuss their project. They have successfully devoted their time and efforts for 2 years to get electricity to the campsites there. About half the sites are electrifed and they will continue to work on getting the rest of the sites completed.

We next viewed the well-kept 25-hole disc golf course which is conveniently located within walking distance of the modern campgrounds. By that time, it was evident that a storm was headed our way. So, the raptor stop at the marsh was hurried and cut short. But not before we had a close-up view of a red-tailed hawk tethered to an interpreter's arm.

Back at the Interpretive Center, we learned the delicious corn on the cob we had tor lunch was grown by the Mississinewa group. Also included were sandwich wraps, chips, watermelon, and brownies.

It was a nice break when we could head out to the Raptor Center for a quick look and view the medicinal garden or nature center and gift shop.

Next was a sharing time where each group was able to speak on what their projects are and how those projects work out. All very interesting. Some groups support their park by paying for supplies and food for the wildlife. Some grow and sell sweet corn for a fundraiser. Others have breakfasts, 5ks, Christmas light displays, native plant and tree sales to raise money for their parks. Some groups are using their time learning grant writing.

There are groups helping to update their parks signage, exhibits, and trails. One group from the Dunes is looking to add a dual viewer for wildlife watching, and planning a celebration for their anniversary. Another group paid for fencing, had a Plein Air event, and they are sponsoring a poetry workshop. Both the Plein Air and poetry events could be great for our parks.

Versailles State Park is concentrating on upping their membership and online presence. The focus at Mississinewa is to keep the campground full by offering frequent fireworks, a tri-athalon, and building renovations among other ideas they shared.

Alan Bruner shared our Friends Group projects of Eagles in Flight weekend; the native plantings and sensory boxes at the Nature Center; Lusk home and garden; outdoor concerts; Halloween plans of the Luminary trails; and more.

Oubache State Park had a couple of good ideas: 1. Have split meetings where business is taken care of at half the meetings with the other half being open to the public with speakers, etc. 2. They determine a budget in January for their various committees then revisit it in 6 months to see how they are doing.

There is a new database where volunteer hours can be tracked. The Indiana Parks Alliance has purchased the membership so all Friends groups can use the program. The various awards for volunteer hours were explained with one gentleman receiving his plaque for 2500 hours. There are also lapel pins tor 500 hours and 1,000 hours.

A very informative session on community connections was next. Many ideas of how to connect with community groups such as churches, Boy/Girl Scouts, National Honor Societies, civic Groups... basically any local group that may want to partner with the Friends group on any project. Also, grant information and insurance guidance was discussed.

The last speaker was from ACRES Land trust explaining how they get and retain volunteers. They are a non-profit organization. How they fundraise was also discussed.

Then we had a nice surprise interrupting the presentation when in walked a little old lady in the persona of an 1800's Granny Doctor named Millicent Thompson. She had a basket of herbs from the medicinal garden on her arm that she explained how to use, and passed them around for our examination.

Overall it was a great experience where we gleaned much useful information, but had little time for networking with the other individuals. It would be wonderful for our Friends group to host a Friends Groups Gathering in the future. We would receive $1,000 to do so.

We piled back in to drive home the way we came with Alan driving, Debra navigating, and Sandi gawking out the window while not contributing much help minding our way.

We’re Proud!

Field trippin…

On March 15 the FTRSSP sponsored a field trip, led by member Alan Bruner, to Goose Pond FWA – Indiana’s premiere birding spot.  In spite of the previous night’s stormy weather and forecast of another storm system coming in, those attending were able to squeeze in an enjoyable day examining Goose Ponds’ 9,098 acres of wetland and prairie.  Unfortunately the previous week of “summer-like” weather prompted most of the waterfowl to head north, but there was still much to see. Starting the day at the Visitor Center, which sits on a hill affording a panoramic view of the property,  guests enjoyed the excellent interpretive displays, exhibits, and specimens of cranes, pelicans, swans, and geese hanging from the ceiling, before heading into the field. Immediately, a small flock of Sandhill Cranes flew in and landed in the field below.  Various stops throughout the property revealed many American Coots, a flock of over 2,000 Snow Geese, hundreds of ducks such as Gadwall, American Wigeon and Northern Shoveler; Trumpeter Swans, Double-crested Cormorants, and a Bald Eagle sitting in its nest.