'Twas the Hike Before Christmas
2024-12-21 13:00 - 14:00 UTC | Falls of the Ohio State Park, 201 W. Riverside Drive, Clarksville, IN, 47129, United States
T’was the hike before Christmas, and all through the park, the naturalist led an outing, before it got dark… River level permitting, naturalist Alan Goldstein will lead a hike on the fossil beds. Meets on the deck and moves to the wheelchair turnaround before we head towards Fisherman’s Point by hiking through the barren undergrowth. Free program. $2 pay-to-park fee applies for main lot. Inclement weather cancels. High water moves us to the picnic area. Caroling and poetry are optional. Alan might read his own version of the famous poem.

Elf on a Shell – Family Nature Club
2024-12-22 15:00 - 16:00 | Falls of the Ohio State Park, 201 W. Riverside Drive, Clarksville, IN, 47129, United States
Using acorns and twigs, dressed in colorful cloth, participants will make ornaments with a seashell base. Guided by artist Mike Gibson. Meets in the rotunda. $2 program fee covered by a grant from the Falls of the Ohio Foundation.

The Unusual Suspects - Who did it? - Paleontology Explorer
2024-12-28 15:00 - 16:00 | Falls of the Ohio State Park, 201 W. Riverside Drive, Clarksville, IN, 47129, United States
Paleontologists deal in mysteries just like a police detective. They both look at evidence to recreate a scene. With paleontologists, the scene involves what we call “trace fossils.” Some provide hints at how things lived, feed, or behaved. Park paleontologist, Alan Goldstein, will explore what we know about ancient life through indirect evidence. Free program meets in rotunda.

Make a Nature Party Hat - Art at Falls
2024-12-29 15:00 - 16:00 | Falls of the Ohio State Park, 201 W. Riverside Drive, Clarksville, IN, 47129, United States
Are your children having their own New Year’s Eve celebration at home? Come to our special year-end Art at the Falls program and decorate a New Year’s Eve party hat with natural materials. Special time 2 to 3 PM. Artist Mike Gibson will lead this activity. The $2 program fee is covered by a Falls of the Ohio Foundation grant. No reservation needed.

“Twigs” - STEM program for Preschoolers
2024-12-30 14:00 - 16:00 | Falls of the Ohio State Park, 201 W. Riverside Drive, Clarksville, IN, 47129, United States
“Twigs” is our little STEM program for 3- to 5-year-olds. Volunteer naturalist, Dominique McCowan, developed a hands-on program where youngsters can build, create, and think in STEM (which stands for science, technology, engineering, and math). Twigs will offer an activity in the Interpretive Center. Free.

First Day Hike
2025-01-01 13:00 - 14:30 | Falls of the Ohio State Park, 201 W. Riverside Drive, Clarksville, IN, 47129, United States
Kick off the New Year with a little exercise and exploration at the Falls of the Ohio State Park from 1:00 to 2:30 PM. Hike along the upper fossil beds and learn about Devonian sea life, plants and animals that live along the river’s edge. Bring binoculars to look for winter birds. Building will open a few minutes before and after the hike for access to restrooms and water fountains, otherwise the Interpretive Center is closed on January 1. Inclement weather will cancel the program due to the hazardous nature of a slippery, uneven, rocky surface. $2 pay-to-park fee applies, but the program is free.

Junior Paleontologist Program
2025-01-04 01:00 - 14:00 | Falls of the Ohio State Park, 201 W. Riverside Drive, Clarksville, IN, 47129, United States
We’re developing a Junior Paleontologist program, similar to what some national parks offer but focusing on our area. This family program is geared for the same age as our Lewis & Clark Junior Ranger program – ages 6 – 13. We will be beta testing most of the activities in a booklet under development. Join park paleontologist Alan Goldstein as we have some fun learning about fossils. $2 program fee covered by a Falls of the Ohio Foundation grant. Meets in the rotunda.

Snowflake Art
2025-01-05 15:00 - 16:00 | Falls of the Ohio State Park, 201 W. Riverside Drive, Clarksville, IN, 47129, United States
Winter art means snowflake art. Join volunteer Wayne Kimbel in an activity that explores these six-side crystals. $2 program fee covered by a grant from the Falls of the Ohio Foundation. Meets in the rotunda.

Discover Our Land with Roadside Geology
2025-01-08 14:00 - 15:00 | Falls of the Ohio State Park, 201 W. Riverside Drive, Clarksville, IN, 47129, United States
Whether you are traveling across the county or across the country, the surface geology is revealed by landscape and the internal “anatomy” can be seen in road cuts and natural exposures. Alan Goldstein, park interpretive naturalist, will reveal tips and resources that will help you appreciate our planet as you travel along our highways and byways. The program is free but doesn’t include admission to the exhibit gallery.

Saving America's Largest Salamander - The Hellbender
2025-01-18 13:00 - 14:00 | Falls of the Ohio State Park, 201 W. Riverside Drive, Clarksville, IN, 47129, United States
Indiana is home to America’s largest salamander, called the Hellbender. It is only found in one Indiana river – the Blue River in Harrison County. Come and learn about this amazing aquatic animal, what makes it special, and what you can do to keep its habitat clean. This hands-on program will cover its adaptations, how water pollution affects it, and how amphibians have changed over geological time using a life-size model of Ichthyostega, the oldest amphibian in the fossil record. Program free.

Discovering Dinosaurs - Family Nature Club
2025-01-19 15:00 - 16:00 | Falls of the Ohio State Park, 201 W. Riverside Drive, Clarksville, IN, 47129, United States
The world is fascinated about dinosaurs and how they lived. Park volunteer Dale Brown will talk about the Dinosaur Renaissance and commonly asked questions about how these fascinating creatures, who roamed and dominated the Earth for 170 million years, lived and thrived. Meet in the rotunda. Free program.

Early Cretaceous Ecosystems
2025-01-25 03:00 - 16:00 | Falls of the Ohio State Park, 201 W. Riverside Drive, Clarksville, IN, 47129, United States
Early Cretaceous fossils are found in the eastern U.S. The plants tell scientists a lot about these ancient ecosystems. Dr. David W. Taylor, paleobotanist with Indiana University Southeast, will interpret life 100 million years ago based on his research. This free program will be held in the Interpretive Center classroom and doesn’t include the exhibit gallery which requires regular admission.

A peek at the park's collection - Paleontology Explorer
2025-01-25 13:00 - 14:00 | Falls of the Ohio State Park, 201 W. Riverside Drive, Clarksville, IN, 47129, United States
We will look at the collections room and pull a few drawers to show you a sample of what’s in our special cabinets. Geology, archaeology and very old books are among the items you might see. Limited to 10 at a time, so there will rotations if there are a lot of people. Free program, meets in the rotunda.

Mixed Media Natural Valentine Greeting Cards - Art at the Falls
2025-01-26 15:00 - 16:00 | Falls of the Ohio State Park, 201 W. Riverside Drive, Clarksville, IN, 47129, United States
Make a valentine greeting card using natural materials and various media. Yours will be a great one-of-kind greeting card. Artist Mike Gibson will work with you. $2 program fee covered by the Falls of the Ohio Foundation. Meets in the rotunda.

What happened to mastodons and how do we know?”
2025-01-29 14:00 - 15:00 | Falls of the Ohio State Park, 201 W. Riverside Drive, Clarksville, IN, 47129, United States
Catalina Tome’, curator of vertebrate paleontology at the Indiana state Museum, explores the extinction of many mammal species at the end of the Ice Age. What happens when we find a mastodon? She will discuss how bones are identified, how we age individuals, and the background of how radiocarbon dating works. Free program doesn’t include exhibit gallery admission. Meets in the classroom.

Junior Paleontologist Program
2025-02-01 13:00 - 14:00 | Falls of the Ohio State Park, 201 W. Riverside Drive, Clarksville, IN, 47129, United States
We’re developing a Junior Paleontologist program, similar to what some national parks offer but focusing on our area. This family program is geared for the same age as our Lewis & Clark Junior Ranger program – ages 6 – 13. We will be beta testing most of the activities in a booklet under development. Join park paleontologist Alan Goldstein as we have some fun learning about fossils. The $2 program fee is covered by a Falls of the Ohio Foundation grant. Meets in the rotunda.

Butterfly Lifecycles
2025-02-02 15:00 - 16:00 | Falls of the Ohio State Park, 201 W. Riverside Drive, Clarksville, IN, 47129, United States
Learn about the life cycle of butterflies and moths with a hands-on activity making a representation from egg to adult. Volunteer Bob Thesier will guide this activity. Meet in the rotunda. The $2 program fee is covered by a Falls of the Ohio Foundation grant.

Lewis & Clark Junior Ranger Program
2025-02-08 13:00 - 14:00, 2025-03-08 13:00 - 14:00 | Falls of the Ohio State Park, 201 W. Riverside Drive, Clarksville, IN, 47129, United States
As an official stop on the Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail, we offer the National Park’s Lewis & Clark Junior Ranger program. It comes with a J. R. activity booklet, and participants (geared for age 7 to 13) will get a Junior Ranger pin after filling the activity booklet out. Cost $2.00 per participant covered by a grant by the Falls of the Ohio Foundation.

Cupid’s Arrows
2025-02-09 15:00 - 16:00 | Falls of the Ohio State Park, 201 W. Riverside Drive, Clarksville, IN, 47129, United States
Join volunteer and science educator, Laura Swessel, in an activity where you will make and launch small arrows at a ‘heart’ target. Learn about trajectory and force to shoot your arrows. This is a modified version of a model rocket activity. The $2 program fee is covered by a Falls of the Ohio Foundation grant. Meets in the rotunda.

Launching Cupid’s Arrows
2025-02-09 15:00 - 16:00 | Falls of the Ohio State Park, 201 W. Riverside Drive, Clarksville, IN, 47129, United States

Winter bird hike
2025-02-15 13:00 - 14:00 | Falls of the Ohio State Park, 201 W. Riverside Drive, Clarksville, IN, 47129, United States
Hike around the park and observe the winter birds. Bring binoculars. Nick Feltner will be leading this free activity. Meet in the rotunda.

Pollinator Fun - Family Nature Club
2025-02-16 15:00 - 16:00 | Falls of the Ohio State Park, 201 W. Riverside Drive, Clarksville, IN, 47129, United States
It’s hard to think about pollinators in winter but it’s good to think of the warm weather and flowers coming spring. Park volunteer, Wayne Kimbel, will provide an activity from our pollinator trunk. This program will be held in the rotunda. Your $2 program fee is covered by a grant from the Falls of the Ohio Foundation.

Collecting Ordovician Fossils - Paleontology Explorer
2025-02-22 13:00 - 14:00 | Falls of the Ohio State Park, 201 W. Riverside Drive, Clarksville, IN, 47129, United States
Where are Ordovician fossils found? Why are they so easy to collect? The naturalist will show different types of fossils and where to look for them. Meet in the rotunda. Free program.

Snowflake Art - Art at the Falls
2025-02-23 15:00 - 16:00 | Falls of the Ohio State Park, 201 W. Riverside Drive, Clarksville, IN, 47129, United States
Winter art means snowflake art. Join artist Mike Gibson in an activity that explores these six-side crystals. $2 program fee covered by a grant from the Falls of the Ohio Foundation. Meets in the rotunda.

The Science of Natural Disasters
2025-02-26 14:00 - 15:00 | Falls of the Ohio State Park, 201 W. Riverside Drive, Clarksville, IN, 47129, United States
Natural hazards are a part of living on a dynamic planet. Their causes are many, and their effects can be devastating. In this presentation, Dr. Kate Bulinski will be discussing the scientific causes of hazards and some of the ways that humans can reduce their impact. Dr. Kate Bulinski is an associate professor of Geosciences at Bellarmine University in the Department of Environmental Studies.

Junior Paleontologist Program
2025-03-01 13:00 - 14:00 | Falls of the Ohio State Park, 201 W. Riverside Drive, Clarksville, IN, 47129, United States
We’re developing a Junior Paleontologist program, similar to what some national parks offer but focusing on our area. This family program is geared for the same age as our Lewis & Clark Junior Ranger program – ages 6 – 13. We will be beta testing most of the activities in a booklet under development. Join park paleontologist Alan Goldstein as we have some fun learning about fossils. $2 program fee covered by Falls of the Ohio Foundation grant. Meets in the rotunda.

Earth Caches
2025-03-02 15:00 - 16:00 | Falls of the Ohio State Park, 201 W. Riverside Drive, Clarksville, IN, 47129, United States
Earth caching is an outdoor recreational activity where a GPS or smartphone is used guide the player to a specific location to see a feature of historical or geological significance. Volunteer Bob Thesier will provide an overview of earth caching and how it differs from geocaching. Weather permitting, the program will conclude with a short group adventure to find two nearby caches.

Ripple Effects - Photography Workshop for Students
2025-03-08 15:30 - 16:30 | Falls of the Ohio State Park, 201 W. Riverside Drive, Clarksville, IN, 47129, United States
This is a free 2025 Photography Workshop for K-12 Students and their families. The workshop will meet in the classroom for one hour and then, weather-permitting move outside for guidance by a seasoned nature photographer. Reservations are not required.

Ripple Effects Photography Workshop
2025-03-08 15:30 - 17:00 | IN
