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 - Sunday, September 12, 12-5pm
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Frogapalooza (fundraiser) - Saturday, October 16 to Sunday, October 17
public hikes & Programs
Invasive Species Field Training - Evening option
Thursday, June 10 from 6pm to 8pm
This is a stand alone training and covers the same information as the Saturday morning training. There is no need to attend both.
What are invasive species and why should we care?
Freya Berntson, MNRS of NE Indiana Native Plant Society will lead us on an invasive species hike that will allow you to examine first-hand the invasive species we encounter at Eagle Marsh. This training will sharpen our abilities to identify species in the field and differentiate them from possible look-a-likes.
Meet us at the Eagle Marsh barn, 6801 Engle Road, Fort Wayne, for this training. Please wear appropriate hiking/outdoor gear as we will be hiking to different locations at the marsh.
Click here to RSVP at least 24 hours in advance.
Invasive Species Field Training - Morning option
Saturday, June 12 from 9am to 11am
This is a stand alone training and covers the same information as the Thursday evening training. There is no need to attend both.
What are invasive species and why should we care?
Freya Berntson, MNRS of NE Indiana Native Plant Society will lead us on an invasive species hike that will allow you to examine first-hand the invasive species we encounter at Eagle Marsh. This training will sharpen our abilities to identify species in the field and differentiate them from possible look-a-likes.
Meet us at the Eagle Marsh barn, 6801 Engle Road, Fort Wayne, for this training. Please wear appropriate hiking/outdoor gear as we will be hiking to different locations at the marsh.
Click here to RSVP at least 24 hours in advance.
Monarch Monitor Training - Evening option
Thursday, June 17 from 6pm to 8pm
This is a stand alone training and covers the same information as the Saturday morning training. There is no need to attend both.
Join a team of monitors that check weekly for monarch adults, caterpillars, and eggs at Eagle Marsh and our Arrowhead Preserves. This is part of the citizen science Monarch Larva Monitoring Program through the University in Minnesota. This training will go over how to identify different monarch life stages, how to monitor and record data for this nationwide tracking effort. Weekly monitoring occurs between July and September and substitute monitors are available to help during vacations, etc. We will be meeting at the Eagle Marsh barn, 6801 Engle Road, Fort Wayne.
If you are a trained monitor, please let Maraiah know if you would like to continue monitoring this season by emailing her at m.russell@lrwp.org or calling 260-918-7119, so we have enough materials.
Click here to RSVP at least 24 hours in advance.
Monarch Monitor Training - Morning option
Saturday, June 19 from 10am to 12pm
This is a stand alone training and covers the same information as the Thursday evening training. There is no need to attend both.
Join a team of monitors that check weekly for monarch adults, caterpillars, and eggs at Eagle Marsh and our Arrowhead Preserves. This is part of the citizen science Monarch Larva Monitoring Program through the University in Minnesota. This training will go over how to identify different monarch life stages, how to monitor and record data for this nationwide tracking effort. Weekly monitoring occurs between July and September and substitute monitors are available to help during vacations, etc. We will be meeting at the Eagle Marsh barn, 6801 Engle Road, Fort Wayne.
If you are a trained monitor, please let Maraiah know if you would like to continue monitoring this season by emailing her at m.russell@lrwp.org or calling 260-918-7119, so we have enough materials.
Click here to RSVP at least 24 hours in advance.
Bat Research Night
Thursday, June 24 from 8pm to 9:30pm
Join PFW professor and researcher Dr. Scott Bergeson and his Wildlife Lab students as they give a talk and demonstration of the bat research being conducted at Eagle Marsh, Fox Island and other natural areas around Fort Wayne.
We'll hike to the bat house on trail 8, demonstrating the spotlight to detect bats in the house, mist netting, and transmitters. If bats have moved into our house there, you can find out how to be a part of a community science project- bat emergence counts! We will be meeting at the Eagle Marsh barn, 6801 Engle Road, Fort Wayne.
Click here to RSVP at least 24 hours in advance.
Pollinator Hike
Sunday, June 27 from 1pm to 2:30pm
It's National Pollinator Week!
Join us at the Eagle Marsh barn, 6801 Engle Road, for a program during National Pollinator Week! We will learn about how pollinators are important and how our restored wetland habitat supports pollinators. Learn about how you can also start your own pollinator garden at home.
Click here to RSVP at least 24 hours in advance.
Volun-beering
Wednesday, July 7 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.
Sound Hike - World Listening Day
Sunday, July 18 from 7am to 8:30am
Slow down and listen with us during World Listening Day! Join us at Arrowhead Prairie. 8624 Aboite Road, Roaboke, for a morning of listening! Please dress for the weather, boots are recommended.
Click here to RSVP at least 24 hours in advance.
Volun-beering
Wednesday, August 4 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.
Geology Hike with Betsy Yankowiak
Saturday, August 14 from 1pm to 2:30pm
Meet us at the Eagle Marsh barn, 6801 Engle Road, Fort Wayne, as we join Betsy Yankowiak, LRWP's Director of Preserves and Programs, for a program that will be sure to rock! We will go back in time and learn about the geology of the area and how it shaped what we call Eagle Marsh today.
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.
Sunshine Summer
Wednesday, June 16 from 9:00am to 10:00am
Join us for a day exploring at the Eagle Marsh barn (6801 Engle Road, Fort Wayne) as we learn about the sun, and why it's important for the plants and animals that live out here at Eagle Marsh!
Click here to RSVP at least 24 hours in advance.
Pollinators
Wednesday, July 21 from 9:00am to 10:00am
Meet us at the Eagle Marsh barn (6801 Engle Road, Fort Wayne) to learn about some of the most important creatures we have in the world, POLLINATORS.
Click here to RSVP at least 24 hours in advance.
Nature Art
Wednesday, August 18 from 9:00am to 10:00am
Join us at the Eagle Marsh barn (6801 Engle Road, Fort Wayne) for a fun day of exploring how we can be creative outdoors! Nature is inspiring and this will be a day you won't want to miss. Make sure you wear clothes that can get a little messy.
Click here to RSVP at least 24 hours in advance.
Use Your Senses
Wednesday, September 15 from 9:00am to 10:00am
Join us at the Eagle Marsh barn (6801 Engle Road, Fort Wayne) where we will investigate our senses in nature! We will enjoy activities which help us explore the sense of smell, touch, sight, and sound.
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
June, September, December
Eagle Marsh barn
August, November
Eagle Marsh east (Meet at LRWP office, 5000 Smith Road, Fort Wayne)
Eagle Marsh west entrance (Boy Scout office parking lot)
July, 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.
The Top Ten Most Surprising and Weird Insects in Indiana
Thursday, June 10 from 8:30am to 9:45am
Join us for a hybrid presentation as we hear Vince Gresham, from the Cardno Native Plant Nursery team, as he speaks on one of his favorite topics, insects. He will talk about beetles that ride on the backs of a bees, wasps that feed their babies spiders, aphids that turn into mummies… Vince will share these and other insect stories during this introduction to the weirdest insects of Indiana. This presentation can be viewed virtually (via Zoom) or at the Eagle Marsh barn (6801 Engle Road, Fort Wayne).
Please 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
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--park in the grassy area near the sign, but use caution if the area is wet.
Google Map of Arrowhead Preserves
Eagle Marsh main gate (open during scheduled events)
6801 Engle Road. 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.
Little River Wetlands Project Office
(Parking for Eagle Marsh East)
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)
Turn off at Olde Canal Place Road (opposite Lutheran Hospital entrance on W. Jefferson Blvd.) and proceed to the end of the road.