Hendricks County Parks & Recreation

Critter Feeding!
2026-08-06 14:00 - 15:00, 2026-08-13 14:00 - 15:00, 2026-08-20 14:00 - 15:00, 2026-08-27 14:00 - 15:00 (America/Indiana/Indianapolis) | McCloud Nature Park, 8518 Hughes Road, North Salem, IN, 46165, United States
Meet all of our ambassador animals for a late lunch while we talk about what and how they eat!
APPROPRIATE FOR ALL AGESFEE: $2/PERSONADVANCE REGISTRATION REQUIREDAPPROXIMATE PROGRAM DURATION: 1 HOUR
Registration Links

May 14: https://hcparks.recdesk.com/Community/Program/Detail?programId=1017
May 21: https://hcparks.recdesk.com/Community/Program/Detail?programId=1018
May 28: https://hcparks.recdesk.com/Community/Program/Detail?programId=1019
June 4: https://hcparks.recdesk.com/Community/Program/Detail?programId=1020
June 11: https://hcparks.recdesk.com/Community/Program/Detail?programId=1021
June 18: https://hcparks.recdesk.com/Community/Program/Detail?programId=1022
June 25: https://hcparks.recdesk.com/Community/Program/Detail?programId=1023
July 2: https://hcparks.recdesk.com/Community/Program/Detail?programId=1024
July 9: https://hcparks.recdesk.com/Community/Program/Detail?programId=1025
July 16: https://hcparks.recdesk.com/Community/Program/Detail?programId=1026
July 23: https://hcparks.recdesk.com/Community/Program/Detail?programId=1027
July 30: https://hcparks.recdesk.com/Community/Program/Detail?programId=1029
Aug. 6: https://hcparks.recdesk.com/Community/Program/Detail?programId=1030
Aug. 13: https://hcparks.recdesk.com/Community/Program/Detail?programId=1031
Aug. 20: https://hcparks.recdesk.com/Community/Program/Detail?programId=1032
Aug. 27: https://hcparks.recdesk.com/Community/Program/Detail?programId=1033

Campfire Cooking
2026-08-08 18:30 - 20:00
Come out to the park for some campfire fun! Our naturalists are offering this as a fun family program, open to all ages. Each session will focus on a different snack using our campfire to cook it, such as roasting and Dutch oven cooking. See our calendar and our website for more details. Sign up early, as spots are limited and will fill up fast! Meet at the Ray & Mary Benson Nature Center. (After this program, stick around for the Astronomy Program with the Indiana Astronomical Society.)

Note, in the case of rain or severe weather, this program will be canceled.

APPROPRIATE FOR ALL AGESFEE: $3/PERSONADVANCE REGISTRATION REQUIREDAPPROXIMATE PROGRAM DURATION: 90 MINUTES
Registration Links

May 23: https://hcparks.recdesk.com/Community/Program/Detail?programId=996
June 20: https://hcparks.recdesk.com/Community/Program/Detail?programId=998
July 11: https://hcparks.recdesk.com/Community/Program/Detail?programId=997
Aug. 8: https://hcparks.recdesk.com/Community/Program/Detail?programId=999

Astronomy
2026-08-08 21:00 - 23:00, 2026-09-19 20:00 - 22:00, 2026-10-03 19:30 - 21:30
Looking for a fun and educational family activity this summer that’s FREE?
Take stargazing to new heights by escaping the light pollution of the city and heading to McCloud Nature Park, where thousands of stars twinkle like jewels in the dark night sky!
The Indiana Astronomical Society partners with Park Naturalists to hold sky seminars and viewings at McCloud on the Saturday nights listed below. These programs, led by expert sky watchers, are geared for the novice astronomer.
Telescopes large and small will be set up for your use. Each evening will begin with a brief informational session (“sky seminar”) in the Nature Center where you will learn which planets and constellations will be visible that night. These seminars last about 30 minutes and are best suited for ages 8 and older. Outdoor sky-viewing will begin following the seminars.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Sky seminars will take place rain or shine, but sky viewings are dependent upon clear skies. If poor weather is forecast or any severe weather advisories are issued, the sky-viewing portion of the program will be canceled.
All Astronomy programs are held on Saturdays at McCloud Nature Park. They are FREE to attend, appropriate for all ages, and no advance registration is required. Each program is approximately 2 hours in duration.
Please be advised that the park closes at 11 p.m. on Astronomy nights.
2026 Program Schedule

Saturday, May 23 at 9 p.m.
Saturday, June 20 at 9 p.m.
Saturday, July 11 at 9 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 8 at 9 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 19 at 8 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 3 at 7:30 p.m.

(Cover photo by Jonathan Grober)

NATURE DISCOVERY: Seek at the Creek!
2026-08-12 10:00 - 12:00
There is so much to be found at Big Walnut Creek! Minnows, crayfish, fossils, cool rocks and more! Come out and take a dip in the creek while we explore all it has to offer. Our naturalists will have nets and catching tools, but feel free to bring your own. Make sure to wear closed-toe shoes that you don’t mind getting wet, and bring a towel and a change of clothes!
FOR AGES 7-12 WITH A PARENT OR GUARDIAN
FEE: $5/PARTICIPANT
ADVANCE REGISTRATION REQUIRED BY AUG. 7 AT: https://hcparks.recdesk.com/Community/Program/Detail?programId=991
APPROXIMATE PROGRAM DURATION : 2 HOURS

"Smammals!"
2026-08-14 19:00 - 20:00
Are you looking to familiarize yourself with Indiana’s small mammals or expand your knowledge of safe and sustainable trapping practices? Come out to McCloud to learn about setting up a transect and how to appropriately handle small mammals! We’ll hopefully get to meet some of the critters that call McCloud’s prairie and woodlands home. Participants should dress for the weather and be prepared to take a short hike.
APPROPRIATE FOR ALL AGESFEE: $3/PERSONADVANCE REGISTRATION REQUIRED BY AUG. 12 AT: https://hcparks.recdesk.com/Community/Program/Detail?programId=1034APPROXIMATE PROGRAM DURATION: 1 HOUR

Hendricks County SWCD Watershed Walk
2026-08-15 10:00 - 12:00
Join us at McCloud Nature Park for this in-depth hike with Sydney Mrazik from the Hendricks County Soil & Water Conservation District. We’ll explore the banks of Big Walnut Creek and discuss how we can all do our part to protect our watersheds. Dress for a hike and bring water shoes. We’ll meet at the Ray & Mary Benson Nature Center.
APPROPRIATE FOR ALL AGESFREE TO ATTENDNO ADVANCE REGISTRATION REQUIREDAPPROXIMATE PROGRAM DURATION: 2 HOURS

Name That Skull!
2026-08-25 13:00 - 14:00
NAME – THAT – SKULLLL! Join our naturalist to unveil our mysterious animal skull collection. We’ll put our skulls on display and leave it up to you to figure out which skull belongs to each animal. At the end, we will reveal the true names of the animal skulls and share info about their specialized features.
APPROPRIATE FOR ALL AGESFREE TO ATTENDNO ADVANCE REGISTRATION REQUIREDAPPROXIMATE PROGRAM DURATION: 1 HOUR

Plant ID Hike
2026-08-26 13:30 - 15:00
Ever wondered, “What is that plant, flower or tree?” Our Plant ID Hike is just the activity for you! Our naturalists will lead you on a guided hike and point out plants of interest on the way. Though we will not cover every plant we see, we will try to discuss different plants each hike! We will also share historical uses of the plants, if any. Feel free to bring any supplies on your hike to make your experience better. We hope to see you there!
RECOMMENDED FOR AGES 8 AND UPFEE $3/PERSONADVANCE REGISTRATION REQUIRED BY AUG. 25 AT: https://hcparks.recdesk.com/Community/Program/Detail?programId=1002APPROXIMATE PROGRAM DURATION: 1.5 HOURS

McCloud Prairie Maze
2026-09-05 - 2026-10-31
2026 marks the United States’ 250th birthday! Our staff have been asking for a bald eagle prairie maze design for several years now, so 2026 seems the perfect time to do one! Come out to McCloud Nature Park during the months of September and October and explore our 2026 McCloud Prairie Maze celebrating bald eagles and our nation’s birthday!
The correct path through the maze is one (1) mile long. Be sure to explore the McCloud Prairie Maze by October 31! Bring the eaglets, too, as this maze is appropriate for all ages.
Admission to McCloud Nature Park and the prairie maze is absolutely FREE, and both are open from dawn to dusk daily. To access the prairie maze, park in the Ray & Mary Benson Nature Center parking lot. Maps to the maze are available in the kiosk outside of the Nature Center, as well as in the kiosk at the entrance to the maze, and on our McCloud Prairie Maze webpage.
