Campfire Cooking
2026-10-02 16:00 - 17:30 (America/Indiana/Indianapolis) | McCloud Nature Park, 8518 Hughes Road, North Salem, IN, 46165, United States
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. Sign up early, as spots are limited and will fill up fast! Meet at the Ray & Mary Benson Nature Center. Note, in the case of rain or severe weather, this program will be canceled.

APPROPRIATE FOR ALL AGES
FEE: $3/PERSONADVANCE REGISTRATION REQUIRED AT: https://hcparks.recdesk.com/Community/Program/Detail?programId=1042APPROXIMATE PROGRAM DURATION: 90 MINUTES

Market in the Park
2026-10-03 09:00 - 14:00 | W.S. Gibbs Memorial Park, 4521 Gibbs Road, Danville, IN, 46122, United States
Come out to W.S. Gibbs Memorial Park this year for our Market in the Park (formerly Farmer’s Parket) events, where you will find local artisans, baked goods, crafts, homemade goods and more available for purchase from local vendors!
APPROPRIATE FOR ALL AGES
FREE TO ATTEND
NO ADVANCE REGISTRATION REQUIRED
APPROXIMATE PROGRAM DURATION: 5 HOURS (ONGOING)
Vendor space is $20 for a 10’x10′ spot. If you would like to arrange booth space at this event, sign up here: https://hcparks.recdesk.com/Community/Program/Detail?programId=966

Astronomy
2026-10-03 19:30 - 21:30 | McCloud Nature Park, 8518 Hughes Road, North Salem, IN, 46165, United States
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)

TADPOLE TIME: Creepy Critters
2026-10-06 10:00 - 11:00 | McCloud Nature Park, 8518 Hughes Road, North Salem, IN, 46165, United States
Opossums, raccoons, and snakes – oh my! We’ll dive into learning all about these creepy critters and maybe realize they’re not so creepy after all! We’ll read a book, do a craft, and go on a hike to learn about where they live. Note: the hike portion of this program may be adapted into another activity in the case of poor weather conditions.
FOR AGES 2-5 WITH A PARENT OR GUARDIAN; OLDER SIBLINGS AGES 6-7 ARE ALSO WELCOME TO REGISTER
FEE: $5/CHILD
ADVANCE REGISTRATION REQUIRED AT: https://hcparks.recdesk.com/Community/Program/Detail?programId=1044
APPROXIMATE PROGRAM DURATION: 1 HOUR

Sun Printing Workshop
2026-10-07 16:00 - 17:00 | McCloud Nature Park, 8518 Hughes Road, North Salem, IN, 46165, United States
Join us on the sunny side of life! We’ll be using cyanotype techniques to create paper prints that use the light of the sun to print outlines of flowers, feathers, or whatever you may choose. It’s a great way to enjoy the sunshine and take home a new decor piece, ready to be framed!
RECOMMENDED FOR AGES 8 AND UP.
FEE: $3/PERSON
ADVANCE REGISTRATION REQUIRED AT: https://hcparks.recdesk.com/Community/Program/Detail?programId=1045
APPROXIMATE PROGRAM DURATION: 1 HOUR

Candle Workshop
2026-10-08 16:00 - 17:00 | McCloud Nature Park, 8518 Hughes Road, North Salem, IN, 46165, United States
Join us at McCloud for a fun fall candle workshop! We’ll enjoy the fall season by crafting our own single-wick candles (1 per person). We’ll provide all the materials necessary for candle making, but if you would like to bring your own container to repurpose (teacups, jars, soda cans, etc.), you are more than welcome to! Hot coffee will also be provided with the cost of the event.
RECOMMENDED FOR AGES 10 AND UPFEE: $15/PERSON (1 CANDLE PER PERSON)ADVANCE REGISTRATION REQUIRED AT: https://hcparks.recdesk.com/Community/Program/Detail?programId=1046APPROXIMATE PROGRAM DURATION: 1 HOUR

Critter Feeding
2026-10-09 14:00 - 15:00, 2026-10-16 14:00 - 15:00, 2026-10-30 14:00 - 15:00, 2026-11-06 14:00 - 15:00, 2026-11-13 14:00 - 15:00 | 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 AGES
FREE TO ATTENDNO ADVANCE REGISTRATION REQUIRED
APPROXIMATE PROGRAM DURATION: 1 HOUR

Owl Prowl
2026-10-09 20:00 - 21:30 | McCloud Nature Park, 8518 Hughes Road, North Salem, IN, 46165, United States
Join us for a night at one of our parks! You’ll get the rare chance to experience our trails in the evening with a naturalist to guide you. These night hikes will focus on finding the owls of our park. This program will last about 1.5 hours and will trek easy to moderate trails. Our parks have a variety of paved, gravel, and grassy trails, so come prepared! Small flashlights will be available for use, but light usage will be minimized in order to get the best experience and to avoid disrupting wildlife. In the event of rain or severe weather, the event will be canceled.
APPROPRIATE FOR ALL AGES
FEE: $5/PERSONADVANCE REGISTRATION REQUIRED AT: https://hcparks.recdesk.com/Community/Program/Detail?programId=1049APPROXIMATE PROGRAM DURATION: 90 MINUTES

Columbus Day
2026-10-12
Main office closed.

NATURE DISCOVERY: Owl Pellets
2026-10-13 15:00 - 16:00 | McCloud Nature Park, 8518 Hughes Road, North Salem, IN, 46165, United States
Join us as we learn all about owls! We’ll talk about what kinds of owls we have in Indiana, where to find them, what they eat, and their different calls. We’ll have owl pellets to dissect, and you can even keep the bones!
FOR AGES 7-12 WITH A PARENT OR GUARDIAN
FEE: $5/PARTICIPANT
ADVANCE REGISTRATION REQUIRED AT: https://hcparks.recdesk.com/Community/Program/Detail?programId=1050
APPROXIMATE PROGRAM DURATION: 1 HOUR

SENIOR CENTER: Owls
2026-10-14 12:30 - 13:30 | Hendricks County Senior Services, 1201 Sycamore Lane, Danville, IN, 46122, United States
Join our naturalists at the Senior Center in Danville on the 4th Wednesday of every month from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. for a FREE nature-themed program! These programs take place during lunch at the Senior Center, and donations are accepted for lunch. The Senior Center partners with the Central Indiana Council on Aging (CICOA) to provide the meals. CICOA’s paperwork must be completed upon your first visit.

Lunch is prepared by Hendricks Regional Health Hospital. To make a lunch reservation, please call (317) 910-5356 by 11 a.m. on the day before the program.

Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2026
Pristine hearing and night vision? Man, I wish I had that. We’ll talk about these and other traits owls have, as well as what owls we have in Indiana and where to find them and more! Join us to learn WHO these magnificent creatures are.

Seed Gathering & Dispersal
2026-10-15 16:00 - 17:30 | McCloud Nature Park, 8518 Hughes Road, North Salem, IN, 46165, United States
Help us by volunteering to collect and disperse native seeds at McCloud Nature Park. We will visit our front prairies to collect native seeds and then walk through the prairie dropping seeds as we go. You’ll even get to collect some seeds to take home. No experience necessary! Note: Dry conditions are needed for this activity, otherwise this program may be rescheduled or canceled. Seed collecting is not permitted outside of programming.
Space is limited, so please RSVP at: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080A44A4A72FA1F94-64661864-seed
APPROPRIATE FOR ALL AGES
FREE TO ATTEND
ADVANCED RSVP REQUIRED
APPROXIMATE PROGRAM DURATION: 90 MINUTES

Jack-o-Lantern Craft
2026-10-15 17:00 - 19:00 | McCloud Nature Park, 8518 Hughes Road, North Salem, IN, 46165, United States
Looking for a fun festive DIY project to get you in the Halloween Spirit? Join us at McCloud Nature Park to make your very own vintage inspired paper mache Jack-O-lantern to use for trick or treating or as your new favorite Halloween décor!
APPROPRIATE FOR ALL AGESFEE: $10/PERSONADVANCE REGISTRATION REQUIRED AT: https://hcparks.recdesk.com/Community/Program/Detail?programId=1051APPROXIMATE PROGRAM DURATION: 2 HOURS

Yoga in the Park
2026-10-16 18:00 - 19:00 | W.S. Gibbs Memorial Park, 4521 Gibbs Road, Danville, IN, 46122, United States
Join Balance & Breath Yoga & Wellness Center this fall for FREE Yoga in the Park programs! Grab a beach towel or yoga mat, some water, and join us at theBluegill Shelter at W.S. Gibbs Memorial Park! Their beginner-friendly series of classes are great for meeting those in the community and enjoying gentle movement outdoors in a beautiful park!
APPROPRIATE FOR ALL AGES
FREE TO ATTENDNO ADVANCE REGISTRATION REQUIREDAPPROXIMATE PROGRAM DURATION: 1 HOUR

Fall Hallows Market
2026-10-17 09:00 - 14:00 | W.S. Gibbs Memorial Park, 4521 Gibbs Road, Danville, IN, 46122, United States
Come out to W.S. Gibbs Memorial Park this year for our Fall Hallows Market, where you will find local artisans, baked goods, crafts, homemade goods and more available for purchase from local vendors! We’ll also have food and drink vendors serving up some tasty eats. This event is just like our Market in the Park events but with a trick or treat twist! Our staff will have a spooky craft station setup with candy that you can stop by as you walk around visiting all the vendors!

APPROPRIATE FOR ALL AGES
FREE TO ATTENDNO ADVANCE REGISTRATION REQUIREDAPPROXIMATE PROGRAM DURATION: 5 HOURS (ONGOING)

Name That Skull!
2026-10-20 13:00 - 14:00 | McCloud Nature Park, 8518 Hughes Road, North Salem, IN, 46165, United States
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

Fall Colors Festival
2026-10-24 10:00 - 15:00 | McCloud Nature Park, 8518 Hughes Road, North Salem, IN, 46165, United States
Welcome to our annual Fall Colors Festival at McCloud Nature Park! This classic community event offers so much fall family fun! We’ll have hayrides, a campfire, vendors, food trucks, axe throwing, butter making, candle dipping and more! All while enjoying the beautiful fall foliage in McCloud Nature Park.

This event is free for attendees.

Mark your calendar – you won’t want to miss this!

Interested in being a vendor? Send us an email to McCloudNP@hcparks.net or call our naturalist team at (765) 676-5437. Our vendor fee is $20 for a 10×10 space (no water or electric.) You must fill out a free application before registering for the event.

*Note: this event will take place rain or shine, but likely canceled in the case of severe weather.

Animal Tales
2026-10-27 10:30 - 11:30 | Clayton Liberty Township Public Library, 5199 Iowa Street, Clayton, IN, 46118, United States
Join our park naturalists at Clayton – Liberty Township Library each month to share a story about a native animal and a related craft or activity!

Halloween Night Hike
2026-10-30 19:00 - 20:00 | McCloud Nature Park, 8518 Hughes Road, North Salem, IN, 46165, United States
Join us for a hike full of history and haunts at McCloud Nature Park! We’ll reign in the spooky season by offering a guided night hike through our park with our naturalists. Guided by the moon, we’ll follow the trails of the park as we discuss nature’s nightlife and the history of McCloud. Beware: This hike is intended to be spooky!
RECOMMENDED FOR AGES 10 AND UPFEE: $5/PERSONADVANCE REGISTRATION REQUIRED AT: https://hcparks.recdesk.com/Community/Program/Detail?programId=1053APPROXIMATE PROGRAM DURATION: 1 HOUR

General Election Day
2026-11-03

Nature Hike
2026-11-05 10:00 - 11:00, 2026-11-12 10:00 - 11:00 | McCloud Nature Park, 8518 Hughes Road, North Salem, IN, 46165, United States
Join us for a guided nature hike through the beautiful trails of McCloud Nature Park! This moderate hike is perfect for nature lovers of all ages and experience levels. Bring water, dress for the weather, and enjoy this peaceful adventure in the great outdoors!

APPROPRIATE FOR ALL AGES • FREE TO ATTENDNO ADVANCE REGISTRATION REQUIREDAPPROXIMATE PROGRAM DURATION: 1 HOUR

Campfire Cooking
2026-11-06 16:00 - 17:30 | McCloud Nature Park, 8518 Hughes Road, North Salem, IN, 46165, United States
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. Sign up early, as spots are limited and will fill up fast! Meet at the Ray & Mary Benson Nature Center. Note, in the case of rain or severe weather, this program will be canceled.

APPROPRIATE FOR ALL AGES
FEE: $3/PERSONADVANCE REGISTRATION REQUIRED AT: https://hcparks.recdesk.com/Community/Program/Detail?programId=1043APPROXIMATE PROGRAM DURATION: 90 MINUTES

TADPOLE TIME: Turkey Talk
2026-11-10 10:00 - 11:00 | McCloud Nature Park, 8518 Hughes Road, North Salem, IN, 46165, United States
Let’s talk turkey – no really! We’ll talk all about turkeys and what makes them so unique. We’ll read a book, do a craft, and go on a hike to learn about where turkeys live. Note: the hike portion of this program may be adapted into another activity in the case of poor weather conditions.
FOR AGES 2-5 WITH A PARENT OR GUARDIAN; OLDER SIBLINGS AGES 6-7 ARE ALSO WELCOME TO REGISTER
FEE: $5/CHILD
ADVANCE REGISTRATION REQUIRED AT: https://hcparks.recdesk.com/Community/Program/Detail?programId=1052
APPROXIMATE PROGRAM DURATION: 1 HOUR

Veterans' Day
2026-11-11
Main office and Ray & Mary Benson Nature Center closed.

Winter Wreath Workshops
2026-11-14 09:00 - 15:30 | McCloud Nature Park, 8518 Hughes Road, North Salem, IN, 46165, United States
Make holiday memories while creating a wreath to adorn your home or to give as a gift. We will start with wild grapevine and fresh evergreens to assemble the wreath, and then to decorate with ribbon and ornaments that we supply (or bring your own). This program is a favorite for individuals and families, so register early!

APPROPRIATE FOR ALL AGESFEE: $35/WREATHADVANCE REGISTRATION REQUIRED (SEE BELOW)APPROXIMATE PROGRAM DURATION: 90 MINUTES

TO REGISTER:

Nov. 14 at 9 a.m.: https://hcparks.recdesk.com/Community/Program/Detail?programId=1054
Nov. 14 at 11:30 a.m.: https://hcparks.recdesk.com/Community/Program/Detail?programId=1059
Nov. 14 at 1:30 p.m.: https://hcparks.recdesk.com/Community/Program/Detail?programId=1060
Dec. 5 at 9 a.m.: https://hcparks.recdesk.com/Community/Program/Detail?programId=1061
Dec. 5 at 11:30 a.m.: https://hcparks.recdesk.com/Community/Program/Detail?programId=1062
Dec. 5 at 1:30 p.m.: https://hcparks.recdesk.com/Community/Program/Detail?programId=1063
