“ It’ s amazing to see people come to the park who have never been here before and to watch them realize how important these natural resources are.”
— Patrick Haulter
Park naturalist Patrick Haulter. photo by Bob Gustin
music and video. On Trail Tuesdays, video hikes of the park’ s trails are featured. Other videos have focused on the Civilian Conservation Corps work during the 1930s, Weed Patch Hill, water features, wildlife, and wildflowers.
Haulter and his friend Don Glass have also developed a new and improved audio auto tour of the State Park that takes about an hour to enjoy. To hear the tour visit < www. soundcloud. com > or the SoundCloud app and search for“ Brown County State Park Auto Tour.”
At the Nature Center, where Haulter sometimes hangs out, most programs are still open, though the sit-down lecture features and craft programs have been suspended. Those have been replaced with outdoor lectures, hiking, and other outdoor activities. Some programs have focused on campgrounds. The popular bird observation room has been closed, with feeders moved to an observation area outdoors. Nature Center exhibits, including the rare Timber
Rattlesnake and other wildlife, remain open, but with ropes and one-way arrows leading visitors through the building.
Cleaning procedures at the Nature Center and elsewhere have been intensified, and hours shortened. The center is open 10 a. m. to 4 p. m. daily. That allows for staff members to feed animals and clean facilities more efficiently. Haulter said the facility’ s later opening time has worked well because traffic was light during earlier hours and park employees learned it was the best time to clean and sanitize.
“ We take it week by week,” Haulter said.“ We’ ve been following whatever( directives) come our way and being creative.”
Operated by the Department of Natural Resources, most state properties are open, including state parks, inns and restaurants, state forests, fish and wildlife areas, nature preserves, state recreation areas, and beaches, according to the DNR website. Exceptions include some guided cave tours; all public outdoor swimming pools; drinking fountains at all locations; and the Customer Service Center in downtown Indianapolis, which is accessible by telephone. Fishing tournaments are limited to 250 people or fewer with social distancing. Self-guided cave tours at some locations are open, but require permits as usual from the Indiana Karst Conservancy. Several DNR properties with heavy
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