In addition to providing more than 70 miles of trails open dawn to dusk, ACRES offers a variety of hikes & events throughout our region, all year long.
ACRES events are held rain or shine, sleet or snow. We love sharing the natural world with you in all seasons.
Saturday, December 7, 9 – 11 am
KOSCIUSKO COUNTY | Kosciusko County Community Foundation
102 East Market Street, Warsaw, IN 46580
Improve your spatial awareness and understanding locally, globally, abstractly and everywhere in between. Take a journey from the rich history of public land survey to the future of geospatial technology and how technologies you use every day, such as GPS and navigation, actually work.
Leave with a better understanding of the importance of the inherent spatial component to everything you do and how the history of location has shaped our world, because you can’t know where you’re going, if you don’t know where you are!
Hosted by Casey Jones, director of land management
Ring in the New Year with invigoration—and hot cocoa! We’ll trek the trails across our region, welcoming 2020 with movement and camaraderie in forever-protected places. Free to the public, donations and memberships encouraged.
Share the Trails: First Hike at Dustin Preserve
Wednesday January 1, 10 am
ALLEN COUNTY | Tom and Jane Dustin Nature Preserve
1802 Chapman Road, Huntertown, IN 4674
Share the Trails: First Hike at Wildwood
Wednesday January 1, 11 am
KOSCIUSKO COUNTY | Wildwood
409 E SR 14, Silver Lake, IN 4698
Share the Trails: First Hike at Asherwood
Wednesday January 1, 3 pm
WABASH COUNTY | Asherwood
7496 W. SR 124, Wabash, IN 46992
Share the Trails: First Hike at Wing Haven
Wednesday January 1, 3 pm
STEUBEN COUNTY | Wing Haven
180 W. 400 N, Angola, IN 46703
Saturday, January 4, 8 am – 1 pm
Walter H. and E. Marie Myers Nature Preserve on Flowers Creek
2610 E Chili Mill Rd, Denver, IN 46926
You can bring this years-long project to completion, helping protect this beautiful, closed property. Lug, heave, roll and tug the remaining tires following years of effort. McMahon’s Best One Tire and Auto Care will bring a semi-trailer to haul them away.
Hot breakfast and a warm soup lunch provided, along with heavy doses of hearty thank you’s…one lucky participant will win a $500 gift card to McMahon’s Best One!
Hosted by Casey Jones, director of land management
Saturday, January 18, 1 – 2:30 pm
ALLEN COUNTY | Tom and Jane Dustin Nature Preserve
1802 Chapman Road, Huntertown, IN 46748
Are you new to ACRES? Welcome!
Meet other new members and long-time volunteers, while learning how your membership protects land. Hear ACRES history, updates on new projects, and get answers to your questions: How do we acquire new land? How will we protect it forever?
Refreshments and light snacks provided.
Friday, January 24, 6 pm
ALLEN COUNTY | Tom and Jane Dustin Nature Preserve
1802 Chapman Road, Huntertown, IN 46748
“A Sand County Almanac” by Aldo Leopold
“There are some who can live without wild things, and some who cannot. These essays are the delights and dilemmas of one who cannot.” – Aldo Leopold
Members are invited to gather around the fireplace to discuss Leopold’s observations in this seminal work. At the end of our discussion, we’ll review books for future consideration, round-robin style. Your nature-focused book suggestions are welcome.
ACRES has a few paperback copies available to lend. If you’d like to borrow a copy to read before the discussion, please contact the office at 260-637-2273.
Hosted by Mark Maffey, ACRES board member and Natasha Manor, office and volunteer manager.
With local artist Erin Patton McFarren
erinpattonmcfarren.weebly.com
Friday, January 31, 6 pm
ALLEN COUNTY | Tom and Jane Dustin Nature Preserve
1802 Chapman Road, Huntertown, IN 46748
Discover sun printing! This method was first published by Anna Atkins to document British algae. You will learn tips and tricks from local artist Erin Patton McFarren. Leave with ready-made cyanotype print layouts to expose on your own—and with the know-how to make your own on your next preserve visit.
Space and materials are limited. RSVP by January 29: [email protected] or 260-637-2273.
Saturday, February 1, 1 pm
WABASH COUNTY | Hathaway Preserve at Ross Run
1866 E. Baumbauer Road, Wabash, IN 4699
Ross Run in winter is spectacular! 20′ icicles, frozen waterfalls, and fossils. Come see what you’ve been missing!
Depending upon weather, we’ll be walking either through frigid water or on ice. Choose your footwear carefully; consider bringing dry shoes and socks for after the hike.
Part of an Allen County-wide celebration, led by Little River Wetlands Project
Saturday, February 1, 10 am
ALLEN COUNTY | Tom and Jane Dustin Nature Preserve
1802 Chapman Road, Huntertown, IN 46748
Discover the unique plants and animals of the Cedar Creek Corridor’s wetlands, the join on a short hike through the forever-protected woods of the Dustin Preserve.
Saturday, February 22, 2 pm
WABASH COUNTY | Asherwood
7496 W. SR 124, Wabash, IN 46992
Do you know how sugar maple sap is collected through a process called “tapping”?
Learn more about this sweet process on a short hike through the forests of Asherwood. If the weather cooperates, tap some trees of your own!
Saturday, February 22, 4 pm
WABASH COUNTY | Asherwood
7496 W. SR 124, Wabash, IN 46992
Join ACRES volunteers Janelle and Larry for a bit of fast-hiking through some of ACRES preserves as you scan skies and ravines for Bald Eagles.
Event begins at Asherwood and ends at Seven Pillars Nature Preserve, making this a much shorter Swift Hike than in the past.
Event space is limited. RSVP to [email protected] or call 260-637-2273 by February 12.
Saturday, March 14, 9 am – noon
WABASH COUNTY | Asherwood
7496 W. SR 124, Wabash, IN 46992
Can you smell the warm pancakes and fresh-made maple syrup? Feel the cool, crisp air of the winter woods on your cheek? It’s sugar bush season and ACRES members are invited to breakfast at Asherwood!
No reservations required. $5/person, children under 5 free. Come early or stay late and explore the trails along the creek and ravines.
In addition to our public hikes & events, we also offer guided hikes and presentations to private groups. From youth groups, to senior clubs, we’d love to share the trails and our story with you and your group!
By the Numbers
150+
volunteers worked 2,500 hours in the field, office and on the trails
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Brett Bloom and Bonnie Fortune
