Maple ‘Sapturday’ events featured this month

The Brown County Visitors Center, 211 S. Van Buren St., will host maple syrup events Saturdays in March. Proceeds from Maple “Sapturdays” benefit the Friends of Brown County State Park.

March 24: Sap collection

• 10 a.m. to noon — For $10, learn about sap from a maple expert before taking a stroll through downtown Nashville to check sap buckets. Measure and test what you find and taste some fresh sap. Tickets include admission to the Maple March at 1 p.m.; park gate fee applies.
• 1 to 3 p.m. — Take the Maple March, a guided hike along the Discovery Trail near the Nature Center at Brown County State Park. A naturalist will teach how to find maple trees and tap them. The cost is $5 plus park entrance fee.

March 31: Cooking with maple syrup

• 10 to 11 a.m. — The Visitors Center will host a chef teaching ways to use maple syrup in cooking, with taste testing. It includes a walk to the Nashville Fudge Kitchen for a demonstration of how maple syrup is used in the kitchen’s confections. The class costs $10.

A Maple Syrup All Access pass costs $20 for all events. Children 12 and younger can participate for free.

Also look for “Maple on the Menu” signs to find items made with real maple syrup this month at many Brown County restaurants and snack shops. For a list of participating restaurants, visit browncounty.com/maple-on-the-menu.

For more information about “Sapturday” events, call 812-988-7303 or email [email protected].

Disc golf tourney to benefit Mother’s Cupboard

The Brown County Disc Golf Alliance and Dynamic Discs are planning their tournament finale, the Nashville Chill Tournament, to benefit Mother’s Cupboard. It will run from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday, March 24 at Deer Run Park.

Players will compete in two rounds of 18 holes. Registration begins at 8 a.m.

The entry fee is $35 for pros and $25 for amateurs; players need to meet at 9:30 a.m. Register online at dgscene.com/NChill2018.

For more information, call the Brown County Parks and Recreation office at 812-988-5522.

Advance camping reservations available at state parks

Indiana state parks are now offering advance campsite reservations for spring, winter and fall.

In the past, campers could not reserve a site in advance between November and April. Campers could only get sites by registering in person the day they were camping.

A few sites at every state park where camping is offered can now be reserved on Camp.IN.gov or by calling 1-866-622-6746. The maximum booking window is six months prior to arrival.

A new spring camping discount also is being offered. Those who book a new campsite reservation for one or more consecutive weeknights, Sundays through Wednesdays, between April 15 and May 23, will receive 25 percent off with promo code SPRING18.

Save money with state parks GO Pack

Indiana state parks are offering a GO Pack, a discounted bundle of tickets and permits to help people “GO,” or get outdoors.

The $79 GO Pack includes a 2018 annual entrance permit to all 32 Indiana state parks and reservoirs, a drawstring backpack for holding snacks and water on a hike, and one of two $40 gift card options: a $40 state park camp gift card or a $40 inns gift card. Discounted GO Packs are offered to people age 65 and older.

The buyer saves $18 over the regular price of the items purchased separately. Go packs are offered online at InnsGifts.com.

Cycling challenge planned in Brown County State Park

The second annual Rollfast 8×8 Challenge will take place from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, April 15 in Brown County State Park.

The route consists of an 11.7-mile loop with a rest stop at the start/finish area. Each lap has about 900 feet of vertical gain.

Up to 100 riders can register for a four-lap or eight-lap challenge for $40 per person.

All registration fees and net profits from Rollfast events benefit the Rollfast Foundation which supports Bikes for Kids, the High Rollers Scholarship Program, and the Roll Out of Darkness suicide prevention and awareness initiative.

Register online at rollfast.us/rollfast-cycling/rollfast-8×8-challenge/8×8-challenge-registration.

Litter clean-up day planned for April 21

Keep Brown County Beautiful will conduct a community clean-up day on Earth Day, Saturday, April 21.

To participate, meet at McDonald’s in Nashville at 9 a.m. for free coffee and one free $1 breakfast item provided by KBCB. Afterward, participants will go in groups to pick up litter from Adopt A Roads, their own road, or roads chosen by KBCB for clean-up.

The Helmsburg community also will participate in clean-up day; a meeting place is being discussed.

Keep Brown County Beautiful has tentatively scheduled more community clean-up days for July 21 and Nov. 3. Meet-ups will begin at 9 a.m. at McDonald’s, where free coffee will again be provided.

Plastic gloves, litter grabbers and safety vests will be available. McDonald’s will provide free trash bags and will allow participants to return the litter-filled bags free of charge for disposal.

For more information, call 812-988-0140 or 812-327-9617.

Disc golf league plays every Tuesday

The Brown County Disc Golf Alliance plays regularly in Brown County and new members are welcome.

The group plays Tuesdays at 5:30 p.m. at Deer Run Park or at the Brown County Country Club, alternating months. In March, it’s the club.

Players of all skill levels are welcome, including those who have never played before. Loaner discs are available.

For more information, contact Stan Golis at [email protected].