OUTDOOR BRIEFS: Wilderness first aid training coming soon; Winter hike series ongoing; Food, farm garden council seeks community involvement

Council seeks community input

The Brown County Food, Farm, and Garden Council encourages people to grow their own fruit and vegetables, donate extra local food back to the community, and know how to access food resources.

The group plans to host an Earth Day celebration for the Brown County community in 2023 after coordinating an Earth Day event this past year at the Brown County YMCA.

The council’s goal is to improve the impact and scope of the 2023 Earth Day celebration. In order to accomplish this goal, they are seeking community members, organizations and businesses who share their commitment to educating others on how to renew and protect the planet and who would like to have input in the planning of a county-wide Earth Day event.

Those interested can email Extension Educator Katie Finney at [email protected] to receive a personal invitation to a Zoom meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 31, at 5:30 p.m. At this meeting, attendees will discuss ideas for how to make the Earth Day celebration as successful as possible and how you and/or your organization can best contribute to this event.

Forest management, workshops set

Purdue Extension is offering workshops for forest management and the private woodland owner this spring.

The Washington County workshop will be Feb. 14 through April 4, Wednesday nights from 6 to 9 p.m., plus one Saturday in the field.

The cost is $50, plus $30 for each additional family member.

Forest Management for the Private Woodland Owner provides eight evening indoor sessions and one Saturday field tour providing information on the biology and management of Indiana woodlands.

The workshop will be in Salem at the Washington County Government Building. Learn more and register: https://extension.purdue.edu/events/2023/_docs/forestry-short-course-brochure-2023.pdf

The workshop will meet in Morgan County March 8 through April 26, Wednesday nights from 6 to 9 p.m., plus two Saturdays in field.

The cost is $50, plus $30 for each additional family member.

Forest Management for the Private Woodland Owner provides eight evening indoor sessions and two Saturday field tours providing information on the biology and management of Indiana woodlands. Located in Martinsville at the Morgan County Administration Building, sessions are 6 to 9 p.m.

The deadline to register is Feb 28. Learn more and register: https://extension.purdue.edu/events/2023/03/forest-management-for-the-private-woodland-owner-morgan-county-workshop.html.

The workshop will be online March 9/March 20/April 20 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. The cost is $15.

The online version of the Forest Management for the Private Woodland Owner course provides registrants access to eight pre-recorded presentations covering forest biology, ecology and management on private woodlands. After viewing two or three videos, registrants will be invited to three live online meetings with the course coordinator, Lenny Farlee to ask questions, seek clarifications and receive updates and additional information on topics covered.

All course presentations and supporting materials will be delivered online or as electronic documents. Registration deadline is Wednesday, Feb. 8. Learn more and register: https://extension.purdue.edu/events/recurring/forest-management-for-the-private-woodland-owner-virtual-workshop.html.

Wilderness first aid training coming soon

Brown County Bikes will host a SOLO Wilderness First Aid Course and CPR training (SOLO certification) on Saturday and Sunday, March 18 and 19 at the Brown County History Center, 90 E. Gould St.

This is a 16-hour, 2 day, entry level course geared toward outdoor enthusiasts looking to learn more about wilderness medicine and first aid in the backcountry, and for anyone looking to feel more safe and confident in the outdoors alone or with a group.

Wilderness First Aid (WFA) covers topics ranging from preparation and prevention to assessment and treatment of injuries that may occur in the wilderness. Students will have an opportunity to learn practical skills through hands-on scenarios as well as in a traditional classroom setting.

The cost is $250 includes (upon completing and passing) Wilderness First Aid (WFA) Certification through SOLO, a 2-year certification, SOLO Wilderness First Aid Course training booklet, accredited teachers from SOLO who also teach WFA at Indiana University, “in the field” practice, real life scene scenarios for training. The course is both classroom and outdoors and very interactive.

The Wilderness First Aid Certification course will be held Saturday, March 18 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, March 19 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and includes a 30-minute lunch both days

A two-hour SOLO CPR Certification costs $55.

To sign up or for more information visit: browncountybikes.com/product/brown-county-bikes-wilderness-first-aid-course-solo-5139.htm

Brown County Bikes hosting first annual event

Join Brown County Bikes for the first annual Brown County Enduro Bike Fest Clinics on May 13 and 14 in Brown County State Park.

Buy and save $100 for the whole weekend of clinics or pick and choose what clinics interest you.

Saturday, May 13 will include:

Fundamentals Clinic, 9 a.m. to noon, co-ed, $100

Fundamentals Clinic, 9 a.m. to noon, women only, $100

Mini-Jump Clinic, 1 to 4 p.m., co-ed, $150

Mini-Jump Clinic 1 to 4 p.m., women’s only, $150

Sunday, May 14 will include:

Intermediate/Advanced Skills Clinic 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., lunch break from noon to 1 p.m., co-ed, $300

The cost for the full weekend clinic is $450.

Coaches are certified and professionally trained from Bicycle Instructors Certification Program (BICP) and/or Professional Mountain Bike Instructors Association (PMBIA).

There will be have free demo bikes from Transition and KONA all weekend long at Hesitation Point in Brown County State Park.

Free demo bikes cannot be used for clinics. The bikes are only for test rides on the trails for the weekend. Call Brown County Bikes to reserve or rent a bike from Brown County Bikes at 812-200-1115.

To register or for more information visit: browncountybikes.com/product/brown-county-bikes-co-ed-and-womens-clinics-enduro-bike-fest-5080.htm.

Winter hike series ongoing

The Brown County State Park will host its Winter Hike Series through the cold and early months of 2023.

The Lake that Never Was hike, 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 4. Hikers will see the third lake in the state park, the one that was started but never finished by the name of Taylor Hollow Lake. The hike is about 2.5 miles long and is very rugged, with a fairly steep climb with ruts and several creek crossings. The hike is about two hours. The site is complete with spillway, dam, and almost totally complete lake structure which has been reclaimed by the forest. This hike is what started this Winter Hike Series and is a fan favorite. Muck style boots or rain boots will be very helpful to cross the creeks.

Boulder in the Tree, 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 18. This hike is two miles round trip, is quite rugged and will take about one-and-a-half hours to complete. The Boulder in the Tree phenomenon is something seen in several places around Brown County including at the park and in Yellowwood State Forest. This hike will be mostly off trail and there may be a couple creek crossings depending on how high the water is. Boots are essential.

Ten O’Clock Line Nature Preserve, 11 a.m., Saturday, Feb. 25. Hikers will meet at the nature center before carpooling to the trailhead, where they will head out along a fire trail towards the 10 O’clock Line Nature Preserve. This is the largest nature preserve in the state and has quite a unique story. After about one mile on the fire trail, hikers will meet up with Horse Trail B for a hike around the Nature Preserve. After hiking for a bit hikers will trek back to the trailhead. The distance for this hike is approximately two-and-a-half miles, and will last about two hours. The hike has a moderate rating.

Dog Hike 2, 11 a.m., Saturday, March 11. Hikers and their dogs will meet at the Ogle Lake parking area to hike around the lake. Trail 7 is 1.5 miles and rated as moderate. The section around the lake fairly easy, but does have some smaller staircases and brief patches of uneven ground. The hike will take about one-and-a-half hours to complete. Visitors without dogs are welcome to participate in the hike. Hikers are encouraged to bring a six-foot leash for their dogs.

Dress for the weather and do not bring pets on off trail hikes, excluding the dog hike. All hikes meet at the nature center in the state park.

For more information contact Eli Major at 812-988-5240 or email [email protected].