Events & Programs
LRWP’s free nature programs and events serve all ages!
Field Trips for Classes/Groups
Click here for an application to bring a class/group to a LRWP preserve
Teachers, let us know what you're studying and we can tailor a program that's relevant to the classroom. Scouts, our staff and volunteers can work with you to meet requirements for different badges. Trips are arranged on a first come, first served basis.
Adult groups may also wish to visit our preserves or volunteer. Please call us if your employee group, club, hiking group, birding group, church group, senior program or other community group is interested in a guided visit or might like to volunteer at an event or for stewardship.
Offsite presentations can be given about our preserves and programs to businesses, clubs or other community groups through special arrangements with our staff. Classroom presentations on wetland topics may also be arranged on a limited basis.
For more information, or to discuss an event for your group, please email Aly Munger at a.munger@lrwp.org.
community events
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World Wetlands Day
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Earth Day Fort Wayne
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Urban Turtle Festival
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Monarch Festival
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Frog-a-palooza (fundraiser) - Saturday, October 16 630-930pm
public hikes & Programs
First Day of Fall Hike
Wednesday, September 22 from 7pm to 8pm
The night is such an incredible time at the marsh. Join us for a Sunset Hike at Eagle Marsh, 6801 Engle Road, Fort Wayne. We will explore what happens at the wetlands as the sun goes down. Please dress for the weather, boots are recommended.
Click here to RSVP at least 24 hours in advance.
Volun-beering
Wednesday, October 6 from 6pm to 8pm
Join us, and other volunteers in the community, at Hop River Brewing Company (1515 N Harrison Street, Fort Wayne, IN 46808) for an evening of stewardship and volunteering!
This is a great way to support us at Little River Wetlands Project and a local brewery. This is an all ages venue, so children are welcome. If you don't enjoy beer, that's okay, they have plenty of good food and non-alcoholic beverages too.
Click here to RSVP at least 24 hours in advance.
Myths and Creepy Crawlies
Saturday, October 9 from 12:30pm to 2pm
Join us at Eagle Marsh, 6801 Engle Road, Fort Wayne, as we learn debunk common myths about different critters. We will also learn about the lives of some of the coolest creepy crawly critters. Please dress for the weather, boots are recommended.
Click here to RSVP at least 24 hours in advance.
Native Plant Propagation Series: Seed Collecting and Cleaning Workshop
Saturday, October 23 from 1pm to 3pm
Join us for the first workshop of our Native Plant Propagation Series!
It all starts with a seed... In this workshop we'll go on a short hike to identify and collect seed heads of a few native plant species. Then we'll head back to the barn to clean them, package them, and discuss proper storage. Use these seeds to start your own native habitat in your backyard, or help restore our preserves by growing plants with us. Either way, our wild community wins!
Please dress appropriately for the weather. This is an outdoor, open air even unless it rains, in which case we'll move to the barn and look at pre-collected specimens. We'll provide supplies and instruction. Meet at our Eagle Marsh barn (6801 Engle Rd, Fort Wayne).
Click here to RSVP at least 24 hours in advance.
Volun-beering
Wednesday, November 3 from 6pm to 8pm
Join us, and other volunteers in the community, at Hop River Brewing Company (1515 N Harrison Street, Fort Wayne, IN 46808) for an evening of stewardship and volunteering!
This is a great way to support us at Little River Wetlands Project and a local brewery. This is an all ages venue, so children are welcome. If you don't enjoy beer, that's okay, they have plenty of good food and non-alcoholic beverages too.
Click here to RSVP at least 24 hours in advance.
Beavers
Friday, November 19 from 6pm to 7:30pm
Join us at the Eagle Marsh barn, for a program about beavers! We will explore these nocturnal creatures during the time they become particularly active building their winter lodges in preparation for the cold season. Please dress for the weather, boots are always recommended. This event is fun for all friends and families!
Click here to RSVP at least 24 hours in advance.
Weed Wrangle
Saturday, November 20 from 10am to 12pm
Join us to learn why and how to identify invasive bush honeysuckle, privet, and buckthorn species, then hike with us to remove as many of these as we can! Removing invasive species is crucial to preserving biodiversity, and we can't do it without you. Come make an impact in your community! Please dress for the weather and be prepared to get dirty! We will provide instruction, hand tools and gloves. We will meet at the LRWP office, 5000 Smith Rd, Fort Wayne, IN 46808.
Click here to RSVP at least 24 hours in advance.
Volun-beering
Wednesday, December 1 from 6pm to 8pm
Join us, and other volunteers in the community, at Hop River Brewing Company (1515 N Harrison Street, Fort Wayne, IN 46808) for an evening of stewardship and volunteering!
This is a great way to support us at Little River Wetlands Project and a local brewery. This is an all ages venue, so children are welcome. If you don't enjoy beer, that's okay, they have plenty of good food and non-alcoholic beverages too.
Click here to RSVP at least 24 hours in advance.
Native Plant Propagation Series: Winter Seed Sowing Workshop
Saturday, December 4 from 2pm to 4pm
Our Native Plant Propagation Series continues!
If you'd like to get a head start on your native landscaping plans for 2022, spend an afternoon with us at the Eagle Marsh barn (6801 Engle Road, Fort Wayne) and learn the easiest way to grow native plants from seeds. We’ll provide a recycled plastic container, native flower seeds, and soil. You’ll take home a container that will spend the winter outside and surprise you with seedlings in the spring! This activity is great for all ages. We will be in open air conditions.
Click here to RSVP at least 24 hours in advance.
Bundle Up!
Saturday, December 11 from 12pm to 1:30pm
Celebrate winter's frozen splendor at Eagle Marsh (6801 Engle Road, Fort Wayne)! We will talk about how animals are bundling up for winter as we slow down and notice winter’s details on this family friendly hike. With a little luck, nature will supply some snow so we can check out animal tracks too. Please dress for the weather, boots are recommended. This event is fun for all friends and families!
Click here to RSVP at least 24 hours in advance.
short hikes for short legs
This event is fun for children ages 3 to 5 with a responsible adult. Join us at the Eagle Marsh barn, 6801 Engle Road, Fort Wayne. Please dress for the weather, boots are recommended, and face coverings for adults are required. Please register at least 24 hours in advance by clicking the link under each event. Feel free to contact Aly Munger at a.munger@lrwp.org, or by calling 260-387-0399 with any questions.
Wetland Wonder: Animal Encounters
Wednesday, October 20 from 9:00am to 10:00am
Meet us at the Eagle Marsh barn (6801 Engle Road, Fort Wayne) for animal lead short hikes. A wetland friend will lead your group on a hike through Eagle Marsh and tell tales of their wetland adventures.
Click here to RSVP at least 24 hours in advance.
Leaves Go Crunch
Wednesday, November 17 from 9:00am to 10:00am
What's that you hear? Crunch, crunch. Join us at the Eagle Marsh barn (6801 Engle Road, Fort Wayne) as we learn about why the leaves fall and why they are so helpful to plants and wildlife out on the marsh.
Click here to RSVP at least 24 hours in advance.
Brumal Beavers
Wednesday, December 15 from 9:00am to 10:00am
We have many friends out at the marsh, including lots of beavers! Come to the Eagle Marsh barn (6801 Engle Road, Fort Wayne) to learn about beavers and what they might be doing this time of year. Please dress for the weather, boots are recommended.
Click here to RSVP at least 24 hours in advance.
Little River Ramblers
Every Tuesday, from 9:00am to 11:00am
Dress for the weather, boots are recommended. Bring binoculars if you'd like a close-up view!
Arrowhead Prairie
September, December
Eagle Marsh barn
November
Eagle Marsh east (Meet at LRWP office, 5000 Smith Road, Fort Wayne)
Eagle Marsh west entrance (Boy Scout office parking lot)
October
Breakfast on the marsh
Each month at 8:30am - Well-seasoned nature lovers (50+), join us for a nature presentation. Please register at least 24 hours in advance by clicking the link under each event. Feel free to contact Aly Munger at a.munger@lrwp.org, or by calling 260-387-0399 with any questions.
Brilliant Bats
Thursday, Oct 14 from 8:30am to 10:00am
Join us for a hybrid presentation that can be viewed virtually (via Zoom) or in person at Indiana Wesleyan University, 8211 W Jefferson Blvd, Fort Wayne, IN 46804.
Dr. Bergeson will talk about the awesomeness of bats, show how bat research is conducted, and report the results of the research he and his lab have been conducting at Eagle Marsh and Fox Island. He will also field all the questions you may have about our often misunderstood but oh-so-cuddly sky puppies (i.e., bats).
Click here to RSVP at least 24 hours in advance.
Managing Land With Fire
Thursday, November 11 from 8:30am to 10:00am
Join us for a hybrid presentation that can be viewed virtually (via Zoom) or in person at Indiana Wesleyan University, 8211 W Jefferson Blvd, Fort Wayne, IN 46804.
Betsy Yankowiak, a seasoned firestarter, will be speaking on the importance and the mechanics of a controlled burn. Over the last four years, she has studied the use of fire on the landscape and will be sharing her experience and knowledge on the subject.
Click here to RSVP at least 24 hours in advance.
Weather policy
All programs are cancelled if any of the following conditions occur within Allen County:
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Southwest Allen County Schools close due to inclement weather
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A winter storm warning is issued
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A thunderstorm warning is issued
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A tornado warning is issued
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Hikes are cancelled if the heat index is 100° F or greater
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Hikes are cancelled if the wind chill is 10° F or colder
For other inclement weather or dangerous site conditions not mentioned above (ie. flood conditions, downed power lines), programs may be subject to cancellation if deemed unsafe.
If there is lightning seen or thunder heard (by an adult) during a hike, ALL PARTICIPANTS AND LRWP VOLUNTEERS must return to the barn. The scheduled event on the marsh can continue 30 minutes after the last lightning was seen or thunder heard. The program is allowed to continue in the barn.
Directions
Arrowhead Marsh & Arrowhead Prairie
8624 Aboite Road, Roanoke, IN 46783. Both Arrowhead preserves are on Aboite Road southwest of Fort Wayne, Indiana. From Fort Wayne, take Route 24 (Jefferson Blvd.) past Homestead Road and turn left on Redding Drive. Proceed about 1.5 miles to where Aboite Road T’s into Redding Drive. Turn left and go about a block: Arrowhead Prairie is on the right--park near the buildings. Arrowhead Marsh is on the left--parking to access either preserve will be at Arrowhead Prairie. The gate will be open for scheduled programming only. Please do not park in front of gate when closed, you may park in front of the split rail fence area.
Google Map of Arrowhead Preserves
Eagle Marsh Green Gate
6801 Engle Road, Fort Wayne, IN 46804. From West Jefferson Boulevard, turn east on Engle Road. Travel approximately 1/2 mile and turn south on gravel road. Travel down the gravel road to the red and tan barn. The gate is open Monday-Thursday from 11am-3pm. Please do not park in front of gate when closed, you may park at the Gateway Parking Lot paralleling Engle Road.
Little River Wetlands Project Office
(Parking for Eagle Marsh East)
5000 Smith Road, Fort Wayne, IN 46804. Located on the southwest side of Smith Road from the intersection of Smith and Engle.
Google Map of Little River Wetlands Project Office
West Entrance to Eagle Marsh
(Boy Scout Office Parking Lot)
8315 W. Jefferson Blvd, Fort Wayne, IN 46804. Turn off at Olde Canal Place Road (opposite Lutheran Hospital entrance on W. Jefferson Blvd.) and proceed to the end of the road.