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)
World Wetlands Day Trivia Night
Wednesday, February 1st from 6:00 to 8:00 pm at Hop River Brewing Co.
To kick off World Wetlands Day we are doing another evening of wetland trivia at Hop River Brewing on Wednesday, February 1st from 6:00 to 8:00 PM! There will be six rounds of trivia with amazing prizes to win! We'll also have a table full of raffle prizes that you will want to try your luck at. Special thanks to Korte Does It All! They are generously providing a $1,000 match for the evening! Our goal is to meet this match and raise $2,000 in one night!
Start studying up on your wetland knowledge and putting your team together to celebrate with us. You'll want to get there early to check in and grab a table, some food, and delicious beer. We will start promptly at 6:00 PM!
This year we will request that teams register using this form.
There is a suggested $10 donation per team entry which can be made here.
Make sure you note your team name in the notes of your donation!
public hikes & Programs
Volun-beering
First Wednesday of the month from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm at Hop River Brewing Co.
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.
2023 Dates
January 4th, February 1st, March 1st, April 5th, May 3rd, June 7th, July 5th, August 2nd, September 6th, October 4th, November 1st, December 6th
Native Plant Propagation Series: Seed Stratification Workshop
Sunday, January 29th from 2:00 to 4:00 PM at LRWP Offices 5000 Smith Rd. Fort Wayne, IN 46804
Our Native Plant Propagation Series continues! If you'd like to get a head start on your native landscaping plans for 2023, spend an afternoon with us and learn the easiest way to grow native plants from seeds. In this workshop, we'll be demonstrating stratification methods that will convince your seeds it's time to sprout! We’ll provide a recycled plastic container, native flower seeds, and sand. You’ll take home a container that will be kept cool in the refrigerator until it's time to sow! This activity is great for all ages. Meet at the LRWP Office 5000 Smith Rd.
Trail Steward Training
Monday, February 6th from 4:30 to 6:00 PM at LRWP Offices 5000 Smith Rd. Fort Wayne, IN 46804
Do you love to hike? Want to turn that love into a gift to your community? Join our volunteer team and learn how to steward one of our trails! Our preserves provide over 13 miles of hiking trails, free of charge every day of the year thanks to volunteers who keep them accessible and enjoyable. Meet at our office 5000 Smith Rd to learn what it means to be a trail steward and get a trail assignment.
Mugs on the Marsh
Saturday, February 11th from 10:30 AM to 12:00 PM
Join us on the 2nd Saturday of each month for a phenology hike followed by a visit to Hempton Roast Coffee. These hikes are FREE and will be led by knowledgeable volunteers from the Northeast Chapter of the Indiana Native Plant Society and Little River Wetlands Project. We'll meet at 10:30 am in front of the LRWP offices, and then head out to hike. The hike will end at Hempton Coffee Roasters between 11:30 am and noon, where we can visit and enjoy fresh roast coffee for $1/cup. February's hike will focus on winter tree identification and will be led by John Niemeyer, a retired forester and an Indiana Master Naturalist. We will use tree field guides and iNaturalist to identify trees and record data. It's a great chance to learn how to ID trees by with bark, buds, and other clues. Please dress for the weather and wear rubber boots for muddy terrain. Binoculars are always good to bring, too. Hope to see you there!
Nestwatch Monitor Training
Saturday, March 11th from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM at the Eagle Marsh Barn 6801 Engle Rd. Fort Wayne, IN 46804
Do you love watching birds at our preserves or in your own backyard? Join us for our Nestwatch Monitor Training and learn how to safely check on and record what’s happening in bird nests, natural or manmade, and contribute to this nationwide community science program. LRWP volunteers contribute data to this University of Cornell project every year! After completing this training, you can monitor nests at home or as a volunteer at our preserves. This training will be led by experienced volunteer and Indiana Master Naturalist Nancy Kilduski.
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.
Ice & Snow
Wednesday, February 15th from 9:00 am to 10:00 am
Join us at Eagle Marsh, 6801 Engle Road, for a fun day of snow and ice exploration! We will get up close with microscopes, explore animal tracks, and compare snowflakes. Please dress for the weather, rubber boots are recommended. This event is fun for children ages 3 to 5 with a responsible adult. RSVPs are appreciated, and walk-ins are welcome.
Signs of Spring
Wednesday, March 15th from 9:00 am to 10:00 am
Do you hear any birds? Are the trees adorned with buds? Join us at Eagle Marsh, 6801 Engle Road, as we look for Signs of Spring! Please dress for the weather, rubber boots are recommended. This event is fun for children ages 3 to 5 with a responsible adult. RSVPs are appreciated, and walk-ins are welcome.
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!
January 2023 - Eagle Marsh Barn (Meet at the Eagle Marsh Barn 6801 Engle Rd. Fort Wayne, IN 46804)
January 3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th
Fifth Tuesday in January 2023 - Eagle Marsh East (Meet at the LRWP Offices 5000 Smith Rd. Fort Wayne, IN 46804)
January 31st
February 2023 - Eagle Marsh West (Meet at the Boy Scout office entrance 8315 W Jefferson, Fort Wayne, IN 46804)
February 7th, 14th, 21st
March 2023 - Arrowhead Prarie Preserve (Meet at 8624 Aboite Road, Roanoke, IN 46783)
March 7th, 13th, 21st
Fifth Tuesday in March 2023 - Button Bush (8533 Amber Rd. Fort Wayne, IN 46814)
March 31st
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.
Breakfast on the Marsh: Heart to Heart with Dr. Kingsbury
Thursday, February 9th from 8:30 am to 9:45 am at Indiana Wesleyan University
(8211 W Jefferson Blvd, Fort Wayne, IN 46804)
Channeling Valentine’s Day, Dr. Bruce Kingsbury will present “Heart to Heart” on February 9th from 8:30 to 10 am. Learn about animal hearts of all shapes and sizes, from insects to tadpoles, alligators, and more.
Dr. Bruce Kingsbury is a professor in the Biology Department at Purdue University Fort Wayne. He came to then IPFW in 1992 after obtaining his Ph.D. from the University of California Riverside. He recently served as the Associate Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, now the College of Science and Liberal Arts. Prior to being Associate Dean, he served two terms as Chair of Biology. Dr. Kingsbury also directs the Environmental Resources Center, or ERC, one of the university’s Centers of Excellence. The mission of the ERC is to promote the understanding and conservation of our natural resources. Bruce and his students conduct research on the ecology, behavior, and conservation of wildlife, especially imperiled reptiles. His work has been supported by over three million dollars in external grants and has resulted in numerous publications and presentations.
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.