Mounds State Park

03/05/2025

The Eastern Bluebirds nesting season is beginning anytime now. These beautiful, little, native cavity nesters will be looking for old woodpecker holes in trees. They have adapted well to using human made nesting boxes too. Their main source of food comes from insects (fruit in late fall and winter). If you’d like to encourage them to your backyard try offering mealworms on a platform feeder.
Thanks to all who joined us for a Bluebird Nesting Box Workshop.
If you’d like more information on the Eastern Bluebird and/or appropriate dimensions for building a nesting box contact Sheree at [email protected].

03/02/2025

INDIANA MASTER NATURALIST (IMN) PROGRAM AT MOUNDS STATE PARK
Every Friday from 12pm-3pm on July 25th - September 26th.

For more information on Mound's IMN OR to register please contact Sheree at [email protected] or 765-649-8128. Limited space. Spots fill fast.

The mission of the Indiana Master Naturalist program is to bring together natural resource specialists with adult learners to foster an understanding of Indiana’s plants, water, soils, and wildlife, and promote natural resource volunteer service within the State of Indiana.

02/25/2025

Save the Date for MARVELOUS MARCH PROGRAMS!

02/21/2025

Our poetry and photography contest is in full swing at Mounds. You still have plenty of time to submit your photo(s) and poetry related to Mounds State Park. This contest is a great way to honor all the talent in our community! Contact Sheree at [email protected] or stop by the office between 9am-4pm daily for registration forms and rules.

02/15/2025

The Full Snow Moon Hike last night was awesome! A beautiful way to see our park and woods while discovering cool facts about the moon, its names, and some nocturnal creatures. Check out our calendar to save the date for these unique hikes once a month! https://www.in.gov/dnr/state-parks/parks-lakes/mounds-state-park/?utm_source=Web&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_term=&utm_content=

02/14/2025

Looking for a unique experience on Valentine's Evening? How about a guided full moon hike? Meet the naturalist at the Nature Center Front Porch at 7pm on Friday, February 14th for a 2.5 moderate hike on Trail 5 to hear about the Full Snow Moon and discover more about creatures of the night. 1.5 hours.
Bring a red flashlight or borrow one of ours. Thank you to the Friends of Mounds State Park for purchasing red flashlights for our guided night hikes!
Worried about it being too cold? Dress in layers, wear wool socks, hat & gloves and you can enjoy a winter's hike.
Photo by Jerry Byard

02/13/2025

Register for the Bob Ross inspired Happy Little 5K to support tree plantings and other healthy forest initiatives in Indiana State Parks. 🌳

For $36 per person, each participant will receive a Happy Little 5K shirt, a commemorative bib, and a finisher medal. This virtual 5K is open to everyone and can be completed anywhere outdoors by foot, bike, paddle, or mobility device between April 19 and April 27.

Learn more and register for the Happy Little 5K at runsignup.com/happylittletrees

A great place to complete your 5K is here at Mounds State Park! Find a list of our trails online at: on.IN.gov/moundssp

02/13/2025

The Great Backyard Bird Count is this weekend!

Here's the story... of some lovely birdies! 🐦

This weekend is the Great Backyard Bird Count, Feb. 14-17, 2025! This annual count provides a real time snapshot of bird populations around the globe. You can count birds for as little as 15 minutes (or as long as you wish) on one or more days of the four-day event and report sightings online at birdcount.org.

Anyone can take part in the Great Backyard Bird Count, from beginning bird watchers to experts, and you can participate from your backyard, anywhere in the world, or come hang out at our park Nature Centers with birding windows (on.in.gov/INStateParkNatureCenters)!

We've gathered a "Birding Bunch" of common birds from Indiana! Can you guess them all? Answers below!
1 - Mourning Dove (DNR photo)
2 - Eastern Bluebird (DNR photo)
3 - Pileated woodpecker (Photo by Kylee Chase, Pokagon SP)
4 - Dark-eyed Junco (DNR photo)
5 - Cardinal (Photo by Jerry Byard, Mounds SP)
6 - Downy Woodpecker (Photo by Frank Oliver, Potato Creek SP)
7 - Chickadee (Photo by Jerry Byard, Mounds SP)
8 - White-breasted Nuthatch (Photo by Mike Briner, Brown County SP)

02/07/2025

Don't forget to sign up for the Annual Pete Domery Memorial Poetry and Photo Contest that is happening now! Deadline for entry is March 15th at 4pm. $1 fee per entry applies. Photos must be taken in, or about, Mounds State Park. Poetry topics should be about Mounds State Park related topics (prehistory, Bronnenbergs, nature, etc.). Categories are poetry, youth poetry (ages 16 and under), poetry/photography hybrid, photography - plant, photography-people, photography-animals, photography-scenery, photography-youth (ages 16 and under). For contest rules and entry form, please contact Sheree at 765-356-9907 or [email protected].

02/02/2025

Our 2025 Full Moon Hiking Series is a great way to experience our parks at night!
To get more details on each hike, visit our website at https://www.in.gov/dnr/state-parks/parks-lakes/mounds-state-park/, and scroll down to the calendar.

01/29/2025

February 2025 Guided Hikes, Workshops, programs and more! ❤

01/27/2025

Do you enjoy photographing nature and/or writing poetry? The Annual Pete Domery Memorial Poetry and Photo Contest is happening now! Deadline for entry is March 15th at 4pm. $1 fee per entry applies. Photos must be taken in, or about, Mounds State Park. Poetry topics should be about Mounds State Park related topics (prehistory, Bronnenbergs, nature, etc.). Categories are poetry, youth poetry (ages 16 and under), poetry/photography hybrid, photography - plant, photography-people, photography-animals, photography-scenery, photography-youth (ages 16 and under). For contest rules and entry form, please contact Sheree at 765-356-9907 or [email protected].

01/18/2025

Honor the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. by volunteering at a DNR property on Monday, Jan. 20, Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

On MLK Day, Mounds will offer a self-directed service opportunity to pickup litter along trails and parking lots. Our Nature Center and office is closed on Monday the 20th, so a table will be set up on the front porch of the Nature Center with a box full of bags. If you pick up trash, you can leave your trash bag back under the table for us to pick up. Due to the snow, there may not be much to do, but if you walk a trail and see small branches that can be removed from the path, that is a great way to help too.

Mounds has an amazing group of volunteers that help behind the scenes as well with events and more. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer for Mounds State Park, please contact Sheree at [email protected].

Our volunteers are helping manage and conserve our natural and cultural resources for future generations to enjoy and we are so grateful for them!

01/17/2025

Do you have a craft, scrapbooking project, sewing project, etc. that you are working on? Why not sit and relax with others who are working on their projects too? Join volunteer Kim in our bird viewing room from 1pm-3pm this Saturday the 18th to work on your handicraft project or just relax and watch the birds and have a cup of tea or coffee.

01/14/2025

Save the dates to join our 2025 Full Moon Hiking Series! It's a great way to see the woods in a whole new way while discovering cool facts about the moon and more!
To get more details on each hike, visit our website at https://www.in.gov/dnr/state-parks/parks-lakes/mounds-state-park/, and scroll down to the calendar.

01/10/2025

It may be cold outside, but our fun and educational programs will warm your heart!
Join us Saturday, January 11th for:
9am: Robert Cooper Audubon Society Hike. Meet at Nature Center
2pm: Winter Seed Sowing Workshop. Register by contacting Sheree at [email protected] or 765-642-6627
7pm: Full Moon Hike - Meet at the Nature Center front porch

01/09/2025

Sign up for our Winter Seed Sowing Workshop on January 11th to learn how to prepare your seeds now for spring! It's a great way to save money and get A LOT of native plants this spring!
$2 per person. Bring one or two translucent or clear gallon milk jugs. Native seeds, soil, and all other supplies provided. Register by contacting Sheree at [email protected] or 765-642-6627