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By Indiana Department Of Natural Resources

Usher in 2025 with other outdoor lovers at one of the many First Day Hikes offered Jan. 1 at Indiana’s state parks and lakes.

First Day Hikes are a healthy way to start the new year. They offer a chance to get outside, exercise, enjoy nature, and connect with friends. Find one near you at on.IN.gov/INStateParkEvents.

The hikes are organized by Indiana State Parks in cooperation with America’s State Parks. They will take place in all 50 states. First Day Hikes originated more than 20 years ago at the Blue Hills Reservation, a state park in Milton, Massachusetts. The program was launched to foster healthy lifestyles and promote year-round recreation at state parks. For more information, visit America’s State Parks website at stateparks.org.

The hikes are listed below. More may be added, so check the website if your favorite place isn’t listed. Make sure to wear sturdy, comfortable shoes and dress for the weather.

o   Brookville Lake. Meet at the Campground Shelter at Mounds State Recreation Area at 11 a.m. to hike the Wildlife Wander Trail, a .75-mile hike that should take approximately 45 minutes.

o   Brown County State Park. Two hikes will be offered. A .25-mile accessible hike on the Friends Trail will take place at 10 a.m. Meet at the park office. Hot chocolate will be available there afterward. A moderate 1.2-mile hike will take place on Trail 7 at noon. Meet at Ogle Lake. A bonfire and treat will be available after the hike at Ogle Lake Picnic Shelter.

o   Chain O’Lakes State Park. Meet at the boat rental parking lot at 11 a.m. This guided hike is about 1.5 miles over easy terrain and should last about 1.5 hours. Hot cocoa and cookies will be served afterward. A $1 donation for the cookies is suggested.

o   Charlestown State Park. Meet at the parking lot at 10 a.m. for a 2.5-mile hike to Rose Island on trails 3 and 4. This hike takes approximately two hours and is considered moderately rugged.

o   Clifty Falls State Park. Meet at Clifty Shelter at 10 a.m. This 1.5-hour moderately rugged hike is on trails 7 and 6, which meander along the east side of Clifty Creek with scenic views of the canyon below. Refreshments will be provided afterward.

o   Deam Lake State Recreation Area. Meet at the parking lot at the entrance of the campground at 10 a.m. for a 2-mile hike of the Lake Vista Loop. Runners of any level can meet at the same location to complete a 3- or 5-mile loop through the campground and adjacent roads. Hot chocolate and snacks will be provided afterward.

o   Falls of the Ohio State Park. Meet at the Interpretive Center at 1 p.m. for an exploration hike to the fossil beds. Learn about Devonian sea life as well as plants and animals that live along the river’s edge. Bring binoculars to look for winter birds. The Interpretive Center will offer access to restrooms before and after the hike but will otherwise be closed.

o   Fort Harrison State Park. Meet at Delaware Lake Shelter at 10 a.m. or 1 p.m. for a 2-mile hike on Harrison Trace, a paved trail. Hot chocolate will be provided at noon.

o   Hardy Lake. Meet at the main trailhead for an easy ¾ -mile introductory birding hike at 11 a.m.

o   Harmonie State Park. Meet at the campground overflow parking lot at 1 p.m. CT for a hike of Trail 5. Hot cocoa and cookies will be available afterward, and donations are welcome.

o   Indiana Dunes State Park. Meet at the City West Shelter for a 2-mile-long loop along the beach and Trail 7 starting at 10 a.m. Enjoy snacks and a cozy campfire provided by Friends of the Indiana Dunes.

o   Interlake Off-road State Recreation Area. Participants must provide their own ORV. All ORV rules and regulations apply. Interlake will be open, and participants can stop in the office to purchase their 2025 ORV pass.

o   Lieber State Recreation Area. Meet at the campground parking lot for a 1.5-mile hike at 10 a.m. on the newest trail at Lieber SRA. Hot chocolate, cookies and a warm fire will be available afterward at the Nature Center.

o   Lincoln State Park. Meet at the Nature Center at noon CT for a hike across the dam to the Civilian Conservation Corps camp at the front of the property. The hike will showcase the CCC’s lasting impact on the park.

o   McCormick’s Creek State Park. Meet at Centennial Shelter for hot chocolate and cookies, then hike along the Echo Canyon Trail at your own pace. The event runs from 1 to 4 p.m.

o   Mississinewa Lake. Join Upper Wabash Interpretive Services staff at 10 a.m. for a 1-mile stroll through the woods. Dress for the weather. Friendly dogs on leashes are welcome. Advance registration is requested by calling 260-468-2127.

o Monroe Lake. Meet at the Bay View Shelter in Fairfax State Recreation Area for the annual First Day Trail Run/Walk. Check-in begins at 2:15 p.m. Races will begin at 3:30 p.m. Participants can choose from a 1.3-, 2.9-, or 3.7-mile course. Advance registration is available through Dec. 30 for $15 at bit.ly/monroefirstday. Same-day registration is $20, cash or check only. Hot chocolate, snacks, and food will be available until event ends at 5 p.m.

o   Mounds State Park. Meet at the Nature Center at 5:30 p.m. for a guided a hike to the Great Mound. The hike is along the paved accessible path and lasts approximately 45 minutes. The Nature Center will open at 4:30 p.m. to welcome hikers.

o   O'Bannon Woods State Park. Join the park staff at Wyandotte Woods State Recreation Area at 10 a.m. for a half-hour tour of Little Wyandotte Cave.

o   Ouabache State Park. Meet at the bison enclosure parking lot at 10 a.m. for a hike around the bison enclosure. The hike is on a mostly level gravel surface and includes a stop at the feeding station to observe the bison up close.

o   Patoka Lake. Meet at the Nature Center at noon for a .6-mile hike of Trail 4. Hot chocolate will be available afterward.

o   Pokagon State Park. Enjoy a 2.5-mile hike through the park’s beautiful winter landscapes. The hike will begin at the CCC Shelter at 9 a.m. Refreshments provided by the Friends of Pokagon will be available after the hike at the CCC Shelter. Parking is available in the main beach and CCC Shelter parking lots.

o   Potato Creek State Park. Meet at 2 p.m. at the Nature Center for a 1-mile moderate hike on Trail 1, then warm up around the fire with s’mores and hot drinks. Bring binoculars in hopes of seeing eagles and other wildlife.

o   Prophetstown State Park. Meet at the Coneflower Shelter in Prairie View Picnic Area at 1 p.m. for an easy 2-mile hike.

o   Raccoon State Recreation Area. Meet at 1 p.m. at the beach house for a hike about some of the history hidden in plain sight around the beach area.

o   Redbird Off-road State Recreation Area. Meet at the office at 11 a.m. for a motorized “hike.”

o   Shades State Park. Meet at Hickory Shelter at 11 a.m. for a rugged hike of Trail 1, which will include Devil's Punch Bowl, Silver Cascade Falls, and Prospect Point. Come a few minutes early for a warm beverage and a treat.

o   Salamonie Lake. Hike along Salamonie Lake's Tree Trail and enjoy s'mores afterward. Meet at the Interpretive Center at 4:30 p.m. Advance registration is requested by calling 260-468-2127.

o   Shakamak State Park. Meet at the Historic Log Cabin for a hike at 1 p.m. Hot chocolate and cookies will be provided afterward.

o   Spring Mill State Park. Meet at Spring Mill Inn at 9 a.m. for a 1.5-hour hike through three nature preserves. Meet at Gus Grissom Memorial parking lot at 10 a.m. for a .25-mile accessible hike on Trail 6 with great views of the karst landscape. Afterward, meet at Spring Mill Inn for hot chocolate and snacks in the Lakeview Room.

o   Starve Hollow State Recreation Area. Meet at the Forest Education Center at 2 p.m. for a hike around the campground and lake’s edge. Hot chocolate will be provided.

o   Summit Lake State Park. Meet at the park office at 9 a.m. to enjoy coffee and snacks. At 10 a.m., join park staff for a prairie hike.

o   Tippecanoe River State Park. Meet at the fire tower parking lot at 11 a.m. for this .5-mile hike, which will include a talk on the history of the fire tower and its preservation.

o   Turkey Run State Park. Meet at the Turkey Run Inn lobby at 11 a.m. for a guided hike through Rocky Hollow. Hiking boots are recommended. Warm beverages and treats will be provided in the Strauss Room of the inn at 10 a.m.

o   Versailles State Park. Meet at the Oak Grove Shelter parking lot at 10 a.m. for a challenging 3-mile hike of Trail 1. Refreshments provided afterward at Oak Grove Shelter.

o   Whitewater Memorial State Park. Meet at Poplar Grove Shelter at 2 p.m. for a 2.5-mile hike of the Memorial Loop Trail that should take approximately 90 minutes.

The Derby Dinner Performing Arts Academy will be hosting a "Winter Musical Theatre Workshop" for students ages 5--17 on Saturday, February 1. The workshop will be conducted in the theatre areana at Derby Dinner, 525 Marriott Drive, Clarksville.

Taught by Derby Dinner Playhouse professionals, the three-hour workshop will focus on various musical theatre skills and explore material from the upcoming summer family musical. Students will be divided into three different age groups and take three classes--dance, music and acting.

The cost for the workshop is $40 plus a $2 service fee.

The morning session will meet 9 a.m.--12 noon for students ages 5--9.

The afternoon session will meet 1-4 p.m. for students ages 10-17.

To register, please detach the registration form and return with payment (payable to Derby Dinner Playhouse).

Mail to:
Tina Jo Wallace
Derby Dinner Playhouse
525 Marriott Drive
Clarksville, IN. 47129

Or fax to 812-288-2636.

Registration forms may also be emailed to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Questions? Please call 812-288-2632, ext. 132.

DDP Performing Arts Academy 2024 Winter Musical Theatre Workshop FAQs

What is the date of the workshop? Saturday, February 1, 2025

What time does it run? The morning session (ages 5-9) runs from 9:00AM-Noon. The afternoon session (ages
10-17) runs from 1:00-4:00PM. Please be prompt for drop-off and pickup. Please do not arrive more than 15
minutes early as no staff will be available to supervise. There will be cones and signs directing you through a
carpool line for drop off in front of the building. You will not have to leave your vehicle for drop off. At the end of
the day, students can be picked up in the theatre arena. Please park and come in for dismissal. The last 15
minutes of the workshop, the students will take turns performing their song and dance on stage.

Where do I go? The workshop sessions will begin and finish in the theatre arena at Derby Dinner Playhouse.
Parking is free.

What should I wear? Wear comfortable clothes in which you can comfortably move. Please - no skirts or open-
toed shoes/sandals. If weather is chilly, please leave a coat with your child as we will go outside to the studio. At
this time masks are optional for visitors when in the building.

Where will classes take place? The 3 classes take place on stage and in the rehearsal rooms of our rehearsal
studio behind the theatre. To get from the arena to our other classrooms, students will be escorted by teachers
out the back stage door of Derby Dinner, along a rock path behind the building right to the entrance door for the
studio. They do not have to walk on or near any streets to get to it.

How do I contact you? If there is an emergency and you need to reach a teacher or student during class time,
please call the box office at 812-288-8281. Outside of class time, you can call the Education Department line at
812-288-2632, ex. 132 or email Tina Jo at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Do I need to have prior theatre experience? No. It is our mission to offer theatre camp to everyone, regardless
of experience or skill level. Our teachers will do their very best to tailor the training to the individual.

How are the groups divided? There will be 42 students in the morning session and 42 students in the afternoon
session. The students are broken up into three groups of 14 based on age.

Is there a final show? No, not a formal sharing as our workshops are process-oriented. The students will present
their songs and dances for each other in the last 15 minutes of class onstage if parents want to come early and
watch. Students will receive a certificate at the end. We only have a final sharing for our week long theatre camp.

Will my child be cast in a Derby Dinner Playhouse show? Over the past few seasons, over 50
camp/workshop students have gone on to be cast in DDP professional shows. Because we have over 3000
current and former students, it would be impossible to schedule an open call audition for each show. However,
the workshop is a great opportunity for DDP directors and staff to train and get to know your child for
consideration for future callbacks, should they meet the specific needs the director of the show may request.

Can parents watch class? We find that most students do much better and are often more free creatively when
not being observed by parents. If your child has a special medical condition that requires monitoring, please
contact Tina Jo at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and exceptions can be made.

What about food? We do encourage students to bring their own refillable water bottle to minimize waste. If the
students want to bring a non-refrigerated snack for breaks, they may certainly do so.

What is the cancellation policy? You may cancel one month in advance with no penalty and receive a full refund.
If you cancel less than one month in advance, you will receive a refund only if there is a waiting list, and there is
someone to take that open space. If you cancel less than one week before the workshop date, no refund will be
given. If we cancel the workshop day due to inclement weather, the workshop will be rescheduled for another
date. If a workshop is canceled, we will email you and we will leave a recording at the Education Department
extension – 812-288-2632, ex. 132. The box office will be notified as well. If we are unable to schedule another
date, we will issue a refund or credit.

*NOTE – due to the large number of people registering and to be fair, we cannot save spots for students over
the phone or email. To register, we must receive the completed registration form and payment either by
email, fax, mail or by dropping off at box office. We can accept a PDF or JPEG document via email or fax with
payment information.*

Theatre

Music Festival of Traditional American Music

Friday and Saturday, January 24 & 25, 2025

A family friendly music festival for all ages will be at the Salem First Baptist Church Fellowship Hall, located at 200 E. Walnut St, Salem, IN. The Corydon Dulcimer Society, a homegrown 35-year-old non-profit music organization, will host the event for the third year.

Free concerts on Friday and Saturday nights will begin at 6:30pm Friday night and 7:00 p.m Saturday night with jamming afterwards.

Friday Evening Bands include: Corydon Dulcimer Society and Jim Smoak and Brian Allen

Saturday Evening Bands include: Timeline, Wildflowers and Weeds and Off the Rails

Have you wanted to learn a musical instrument? A variety of workshops will begin at 9:00am on Saturday. Folks of any age or experience can sign up for workshops at a cost of $20 for one or ALL. Classes include mountain dulcimer, ukelele, guitar, banjo, pennywhistle, hammered dulcimer, noise makers, mandolin and a contra dance class.

There will be an open stage on Saturday from 2:45pm to 3:45 pm. Bands and individuals can sign up and perform two songs for the audience to enjoy.

Folks can join the jamming (share music) during the day and after the concerts. Jam leaders will be on board to help beginners.

The Salem First Baptist Church has graciously helped this event succeed from the beginning by letting CDS use their beautiful Fellowship Hall.

The festival is sponsored in part by a generous grant from the Washington County Community Foundation. A registration form can be obtained by contacting Susan White at 502-645-1191.

We look forward to seeing you there!

The Salem Public Library will be presenting the film "Christopher The Christmas Tree" this Thursday, Dec. 5, beginning at 5 p.m.

The film is especially dear to area residents since the story, coloring book and eventually the film were all the creation of the late George Bowers. Bowers was actually born at the Bowers Tree Farm in 1938.

Bowers wrote and performed songs about Christopher to area children and at regional venues for decades. The story was eventually made into a movie, which premiered 30 years ago on the Fox Family Network in 1994.

Everyone is invited to join Christopher The Christmas Tree, Whooty the Owl and all of their animal friends in the Valley of Hidden Hollow in the showing of this favorite holiday movie. The movie is approximately 30 minutes long and is free to the public.

Seating is very limited. Please call the Salem Public Library at 812-883-5600 to reserve a space.

The library is located at 212 N. Main St., Salem.