Nature Play Days invite kids to dabble outside across Elkhart County

Joseph Dits, South Bend Tribune
·2 min read
Children dabble in water and stones in one of the interactive parts of Allan J. Kauffman Park in Goshen during a recent year's Nature Play Days.
Children dabble in water and stones in one of the interactive parts of Allan J. Kauffman Park in Goshen during a recent year's Nature Play Days.

Several organizations will host Nature Play Days across Elkhart County from June 2 to 10 to reconnect kids with the outdoors and give them space to explore.

It’s among other events around Indiana to help families reap the physical, mental and emotional benefits of playing in nature, along with cognitive development, teambuilding skills and interpersonal relationships. It’s an initiative of the Indiana Children and Nature Network to help kids break away from electronic devices and a predominant amount of time indoors.

Outdoor Adventures: New owner grows Fluid Fun kayak options. And East Race whitewater fest, rafting return.

Also, local natural resource providers have created 52 Things to Do Outside Before You Grow Up, found at https://52thingsoutside.org.

These events are mostly free:

∎ June 2, 1-2:30 p.m.: Books and Boots for ages 9-12, based on the book “Rabbit Hill” by Robert Lawson, at Ox Bow County Park, 23033 County Road 45, Goshen.

∎ June 3, 10 a.m.-noon: Fishing clinic at High Dive Park. Entrance is off of Baldwin Street between Cassopolis and Johnson streets in Elkhart.

∎ June 3, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.: Family Picnic & Tea Party at the Kum Mol Rie Shelter at Bonneyville Mill County Park, on County Road 131, just south of Indiana 120 in Bristol. Bring your picnic lunch and join Middlebury Public Library.

∎ June 6, 10-11:30 a.m.: Nature play at Elkhart Environmental Center, 1717 E. Lusher Ave., Elkhart.

Chill time: Fish for free, learn to fish, or shop for native plants

∎ June 6: Nature play from 3 to 5:30 p.m. and stories at 6 p.m. at Wellfield Botanic Gardens, 1011 N. Main St., Elkhart, with free entry for Elkhart County residents.

∎ June 6, 6:30-8 p.m.: Book bike ride and ice cream hosted by Middlebury Public Library. Registration required at 574-825-5601.

∎ June 7, 10-10:30 a.m.: Virtual Mud Lab Play. Join online at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89620059164?pwd=VGhhRWQ5SDVOYi9RZDVCM2xnVE5MUT09.

∎ June 9, 2-4 p.m.: Outdoor games and ice cream at Middlebury Public Library, 101 E. Winslow St., Middlebury.

There will be a prairie hike for kids at Boot Lake Nature Preserve in Elkhart, seen here during late-summer blooming.
There will be a prairie hike for kids at Boot Lake Nature Preserve in Elkhart, seen here during late-summer blooming.

∎ June 9, 6-7 p.m.: Prairie hike at Boot Lake Nature Preserve, 51430 County Road 3, Elkhart. 

∎ June 10, 3-6 p.m.: Spanish/English scavenger hunt at Ox Bow County Park, 23033 County Road 45, Goshen.

∎ June 10, 6 p.m.: Sweet Cycle Ride from Ox Bow park, biking to the Chief Ice Cream for a treat before cycling back. Registration required at elkhartcountyparks.org.

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Nature Play Days in Elkhart County for kids to explore outdoor things