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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Frog-a-palooza (fundraiser)
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Monarch Festival
Earth Day Fort Wayne 2023
Sunday, April 23rd from 1:00pm to 5:00pm at Eagle Marsh Barn
To celebrate Earth Day, we are hosting a free event for the community at our Eagle Marsh Barn, 6801 Engle Rd. Fort Wayne, IN 46804.
WHAT TO EXPECT:
Earth Day Fort Wayne is the largest Earth Day celebration in the Fort Wayne community. At this years event expect to find dozens of our conservation partners, as well as vendors selling art, environmentally sound products, honey, and native plants. We will also have education stations for participants of all ages to learn about wetlands, wildlife, ecological restoration, and pollinators. Attendees will be able to help plant native plants for pollinators in the marsh or take a native plant home. Come out and join us in this community celebration of our Earth, and leave knowing a few more ways to protect our native wildlife and their habitat.
Other Earth Day activities on the marsh:
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Stop by the LRWP plants station and take home a native plant, while supplies last
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Soarin' Hawk Raptor Rehabilitation education program with live raptors
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Story Time with the Allen County Public Library inside the barn
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Hike through the marsh and enjoy mini-interpretations along the trail
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Touch-a-Tractor! See our equipment up close and learn about how they're used
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Stop by our wildlife temporary tattoo station!
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Enjoy delicious eats and treats from local food trucks, including Bravas, Smokehaus, and Kona Ice.
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Wheel’n Water will be available for free water bottle refills throughout the day
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This event would not be possible without our sponsors Aqua Indiana and Indiana Michigan Power.
If you wish to volunteer, please register here.
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
April 5th, May 3rd, June 7th, July 5th, August 2nd, September 6th, October 4th, November 1st, December 6th
Trashy Thursday
First Thursday of the month from 10:00 am to 12:00 Noon
Volunteer with us to keep our wildlife safe and our preserves clean. We'll be picking up trash along Smith and Engle roads on the 1st Thursday of each month, from 10 am - Noon. Wear close-toed shoes and long pants. We'll provide safety vests, gloves, trash bags, trash grabbers and snacks! Cancelled if raining.
2023 Dates
April 6th, May 4th, June 1st, July 6th, August 3rd, September 7th, October 5th, November 2nd, December 7th
Mugs on the Marsh
Saturday, April 8th from 10:30 AM to 12:00 PM
Join us on the 2nd Saturday 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 10:30am 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.
Aprils Hike will focus on Macroinvertebrates and we will be doing some pond dipping. Please wear rubber boots!
Please dress for the weather and wear rubber boots for muddy terrain. Binoculars are always good to bring, too. Hope to see you there!
iNaturalist/CNC Training ****Rescheduled due to cold****
Saturday, March 18th from 1:30 to 3:00 PM at Eagle Marsh Barn 6801 Engle Rd. Fort Wayne, IN 46804
NEW date is April 1st from 1:30 to 3:00 PM at Eagle Marsh Barn 6801 Engle Rd. Fort Wayne, IN 46804
Learn to observe wildlife and use the app INaturalist to contribute to biodiversity science, both locally and globally! Collect data to be used by scientists worldwide, or create your own field guide, and participate in the second Fort Wayne Area City Nature Challenge! Join us for information about this community science project and how you can participate. This hike will be led by volunteer and City Nature Challenge leader Lindsey Thomson. Please RSVP here, or with Aly by email (a.munger@lrwp.org) or phone (260-387-0399) .
Meet at Eagle Marsh Barn 6801 Engle Rd 46804
Volunteer Orientation
Thursday, March 30th from 6:00 to 7:00 PM at 5000 Smith Rd, Fort Wayne, IN 46804
Come learn about what volunteer opportunities LRWP has to offer! Lead by experienced volunteers who will share their experience, and introduce you to the various volunteer roles at LRWP. You must fill out a volunteer application at lrwp.org/volunteerapplication and receive an invite before attending.
Volunteer Kick Off
Saturday, April 15thth from 9:00 to 10:30 AM at Eagle Marsh Barn 6801 Engle Rd., Fort Wayne, IN 46804
Join us to launch another great year of working with the LRWP community! Come enjoy breakfast on us, hear about the upcoming events of 2023 and learn how you can be a part of them. You’re welcome and encouraged to bring along your family or anyone interested in becoming a volunteer. Please RSVP by April 12 by registering here, emailing volunteer@lrwp.org, or calling the office (260-478-2515). We'll have our first volunteer opportunity immediately after with our Annual Spring Clean-up!
Annual Spring Clean Up
Saturday, April 15thth from 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM at Eagle Marsh Barn 6801 Engle Rd., Fort Wayne, IN 46804
Meet at the Eagle Marsh gateway parking area (west of green gate) at 6801 Engle Road, Fort Wayne, IN. Help us protect our preserve’s habitats and the wildlife that depend on them at this annual event by helping to remove winter’s trash. Gloves, trash tongs, and other materials provided. This is a great event to bring family and friends along to!
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 Wonders
Wednesday, April 19th from 10:00 am to 11:00 am This is a NEW time!
Meet us at the Eagle Marsh barn, 6801 Engle Road, for this event. Learn about swimmers, wigglers, and things that go hop in the water. We will be doing some wetland dipping to discover what lives in the water. Please dress for the weather, boots are recommended. This event is fun for children ages 3 to 5 with a responsible adult. RSVP's are appreciated, walk-ins welcome.
Seed to Eagle Marsh
Wednesday, May 17th from 10:00 am to 11:00 am This is a NEW time!
Join us at the Eagle Marsh barn, 6801 Engle Road, as we investigate wetland plant seeds, how they travel and also teach how everyone can help, no matter how small, by seed planting for the continuing restoration of Eagle Marsh. Please dress for the weather, boots are recommended. This event is fun for children ages 3 to 5 with a responsible adult. RSVP's are appreciated, walk-ins 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!
March 2023 - Arrowhead Prairie Preserve (Meet at 8624 Aboite Road, Roanoke, IN 46783)
March 7th, 14th, 21st
Last Tuesday in March 2023 - Button Bush (8533 Amber Rd. Fort Wayne, IN 46814)
March 28th
April 2023 - Eagle Marsh Barn (6801 Engle Rd, Fort Wayne, IN 46804)
April 4th, 11th,18th
Last Tuesday in April 2023 - Eagle Marsh East Eagle Marsh East (Meet at office 5000 Smith Rd Fort Wayne, IN 46804)
April 25th
May 2023 - Boy Scout Office (Meet at the Boy Scout office entrance 8315 W Jefferson, Fort Wayne, IN 46804)
May 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd
Last Tuesday in May 2023 - Eagle Marsh East (Eagle Marsh East (Meet at office 5000 Smith Rd Fort Wayne, IN 46804)
May 30th
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: History Brought to Life
Thursday, April 13th from 8:30 am to 9:45 am at Indiana Wesleyan University
(8211 W Jefferson Blvd, Fort Wayne, IN 46804)
Join us, April 13th, for the Breakfast on the Marsh to hear from Emily Wells from the Allen County Partnership for Water Quality about native plants. She will talk about the benefits of planting native species and how they also help with water conservation.
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.