News
Go FishIN
DNR State Fair Fishing Pond - We need YOUR help!
Please read on for more details. We can use your help most days of the Fair but especially need volunteers the afternoon of Aug 10-13, the morning of Aug 14th and all day Aug 15-17.
This is the 3rd year for the DNR's Fishing Pond at the State Fair. It takes several hundred volunteers for us to run this event which allows over 5000 kids to go fishing at the fair. The Indiana State fair will run from August 6 to August 17 this year. We host two shifts for the fishing pond one in the morning from 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. and one in the evening from 4:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m. On the dates of August 6 (Wednesday) and August 9 (Saturday) there will be no A.M. fishing.
There are 6 volunteer jobs:
Instructors: DNR Staff who will introduce DNR, and talk about fishing and what the kids will do once they get to the pond. (talking points are available ahead of time)
Fishing: Help 1-2 kids fish for 15 minutes, and every 15 minutes of the shift.
Arts and Crafts: Help kids do a craft activity when they are done fishing,and pass out a gift bag for the kids.
Equipment: Sit in shade under a tent, and help repair poles. (Mostly be putting on new hooks.)
Registration: Sign-up kids to fish, get their names and info, and place on a wrist band.
Anglers Legacy: Sign adults up for a pledge to take someone fishing duringthe next year.
There is no experience needed to do any of the jobs. We offer optional training in late July for all volunteers who plan to attend the fair. All volunteers receive a free ticket to get into the fair on the days they volunteer, and the ticket is good for the entire day. All volunteers will also be provided with a t-shirt to wear during their shift.
Please contact Leland Kinnett at LKinnett@dnr.IN.gov or 317-562-1338 with all your contact information (name, phone, and address), which shift(s) you would like to volunteer for, the day(s) you would like to volunteer, and the job you would like to work. Also let us know if you will be bringing any other volunteers along with you, and please provide the above information. We look forward to hearing from you soon and making the2008 DNR State Fair Fishing Pond an experience to remember.
Don’t miss the GoFishIN Basic Workshop in Peru, IN, Saturday, July 26, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm. To register contact Marie at nrec@dnr.in.gov or 317-562-1338
Hoosier Riverwatch
Two-Day Riverwatch Workshop and E.coli
Join us September 26th and 27th for a Riverwatch basic workshop and E.coli training at Ft. Harrison State Park. We will meet from 12:30 – 5:00 on Friday and 9:00 - 1:00 on Saturday. Please contact the NREC at nrec@dnr.in.gov or 317.562-1338 to register.
Partnering to Protect the White River – Join Us!
A growing multi-county partnership will commit time, resources, and old fashion sweat equity to undertake the largest regional river clean up to ever occur in Indiana on September 13th. The coordinated clean-up will include local citizen-based volunteer groups from Randolph, Delaware, Madison, Hamilton, Marion, and Morgan Counties, as well as several non-profits, municipalities, citizens, and industry partners along the way. Teams of coordinated volunteers will conduct large trash and debris removal along their assigned/adopted segments of the river, while avid recreational enthusiasts will kayak or canoe sections in between the large group clean-ups removing light trash and whatever else may fit into their crafts. For more information or to participate in the September 13th Clean-up, either as a volunteer or with your own group, please contact the Upper White River Watershed Alliance via Jill Hoffmann at jhoffmann@empowerresults.com or 317-891-8820.
319 Grants
The Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) is now seeking applications for projects that will work on a watershed level to reduce nonpoint source pollution in Indiana's lakes, rivers, and streams. Funding for selected projects will be provided by Clean Water Act Section 319 grant funds and match is provided by grant recipients and partners. Details on application requirements, application materials, and timelines can be found at the following web link: http://www.in.gov/idem/5225.htm.
Further questions can be directed to Doug Campbell, Solicitation Coordinator, at 317-233-8491
Project Learning Tree
It’s the Year of the Tree at the Indiana State Fair!
Be sure to stop by and check out the events and activities that Project Learning Tree will be hosting this year:
August 6: For opening day, be sure to stop by the PLT booth on Main Street and make a tree cookie necklace. All ages welcome.
August 9 & 10: Ready for a high energy program? Then come see Tim Womick at the DNR amphitheater (by the DNR Fishing Pond) for his program "Trees – Who Needs ‘Em?". The program will be held both Saturday and Sunday at 4:30.
August 11: Learn how to measure a tree and make your own measuring stick with the Make and Take a Tree Stick on the DNR front porch from 2-4pm.
August 6-17: For the duration of the fair, be sure to cruise the PLT Art Exhibit at the Home and Family Arts building to see the over 200 works of tree art submitted by school children of all ages from around the state.
Be on the look out for all the trees that have been planted and the new covered bridge. It’s cool!
See you at the fair!
Project WET
This summer has been both very busy and exciting for Project WET! It is hard to believe that soon fall will be upon us again. Here at Indiana Project WET we are already gearing up for the fall. Be sure to check out the attached schedule of upcoming events as we have an exciting line up of workshops! This exciting line up includes a Going Underground special topics workshop with Go FishIN on September 12th which covers karst ecosystems, underground watersheds and aquatic cave critters. In addition Hoosier Riverwatch and WET are teaming up to provide a Healthy Water Healthy People workshop on September 19th.
Indiana Project WET will also be presenting with IUPUI’s Center for Earth & Environmental Science (CEES) at this year’s North American Environmental Education 37th Annual Conference on October 15 – 18th in Wichita, Kansas. If you are planning on attending this conference be sure look for us or better yet- attend our session to learn more about our service learning project in Mexico!
Project WILD
Our July and August programming provides opportunities for service. At our monarch trainings, you’ll learn how to monitor caterpillars and input the data into a database used by biologists to study monarch trends. At WILD at the Fair Day at the Indiana State Fair August 9, you can help kids fish (some for the first time ever!), learn about birds, or do a craft project. See the attached list of programs for details!
If your school or organization is seeking WILD programming for 2009 or you have suggestions for special topics workshops, WILD wants to hear your ideas. Planning for 2009 is underway, so lock in your dates now! Contact Mary Hayes at 317-549-0348 or at projectwild@dnr.in.gov.
News Beyond the Projects and Programs
Indiana's first statewide Environmental Education Symposium was held in Indianapolis on June 26 & 27, and involved more than 120 participants. The first day of the Symposium was spent hearing national and local speakers discuss issues and trends in environmental education. Participants worked the second day on developing recommendations for consideration in revising Indiana's state Environmental Education Implementation Plan. There is much work yet to be done, and these recommendations give us a place to start. Anyone interested in volunteering to work toward furthering this process should contact Sam Carman (phone 317-232-4119; email scarman@dnr.in.gov) or Warren Gartner (phone 317-547-3104; email wgartner@dnr.in.gov.
