Ouabache State Park

06/06/2026

Due to the storm passing through, both the Fishing Derby and the Bison Feeding will be cancelled for today. Make sure to come enjoy the park after the storm passes!

06/06/2026

Of course, the last day of Jr/Teen IMN camp is about hiking to the bison, climbing the fire tower and having a hot dog and s’more roast. Lots of friendships were made during camp. All the students earned their Junior or Teen Indiana Master Naturalist certificate and patch.
BIG THANKS to all the volunteers who helped all week. We even had two camp students who graduated out last year come back to volunteer all week, Jarie and Marlie! Thanks to Friends of Ouabache State Park for sponsoring the camp. It was a great week of learning and exploring Indiana’s Natural Resources!!
Learn more about the Indiana Master Naturalist program at www.indianamasternaturalist.org

06/05/2026

Day 4 of Junior/Teen IMN camp was all about acorns, insect galls and live animals! Students explored the park looking for all kinds of galls. After lunch Indiana Wild shared some of their education animals including a skunk, armadillo, snake, tortoise and more! Then the students did some more volunteer time including clearing brush, picking up litter and painting. Some of the new benches got special touches too!
Learn more about the Indiana Master Naturalist program at www.indianamasternaturalist.org

06/03/2026

Day 3 of Junior/Teen Indiana Master Naturalist camp is always Lake Day! The kids favorite. Everyone gets to fish and boat. Kids get to try out paddle boats, row boats and canoes. It was the first time to fish and boat for some! The Teens got to make their bee houses in the afternoon. After the lake fun, the kids continued their volunteer projects of landscaping and picking up trash. BIG thanks to all the volunteers that helped today! We could not do camp without them.
Learn more about the Indiana Master Naturalist program at www.indianamasternaturalist.org

06/03/2026

This Saturday!

The Bluffton Optimist Club will host their annual Kids Fishing Derby on Saturday, June 6, at Ouabache State Park, meet at the boat ramp. Registration will be held 9:30am – 10:00am. Fishing Derby will be 10:00am – 11:00am, with participation prizes at 11:00am.
Youth ages 0 – 16 may participate. Live bait will be provided, and no license required. Youth are encouraged to bring a fishing pole. A limited number of fishing poles will be available to youth who need one for the event. The fishing derby is free however, park entrance fee is required.
For more information, contact Optimist Club members Larry Tschannen, 260-414-3820 or Dan Gerdom 260-273-2343.

06/03/2026

Bees, rocks and atlatls- OH MY! During day 2 of the Junior/Teen Indiana Master Naturalist camp, students learned about honey bees, how a hive works and beekeeping. Then they built bee houses for native bees. The Juniors then got a lesson on rocks and went on a rock hunt while the Teens did flint knapping and used atlatls. An atlatl is a handheld, rod-shaped tool used to launch a lightweight spear. It was a great day of learning outside!
Big Thanks to our presenters:
Wheeler's Bees
Three Rivers Gem and Mineral Society
Mounds State Park volunteers Vance and Kate Bell

Learn more about the Indiana Master Naturalist program at www.indianamasternaturalist.org

06/01/2026

The Ouabache Junior/Teen Indiana Master Naturalist camp has begun with 53 kids ages 8-17! On the first day students learned about oak trees and caterpillars and their importance to the ecosystem. They even made some caterpillars. Part of camp is volunteering. Juniors did some painting, trimming back mow lines and picking up litter. The Teens made 30 benches in two hours! Funds were donated by several people to purchase the supplies. The benches will be placed on the trails for visitors to rest while exploring the park.
Learn more about the Indiana Master Naturalist program at www.indianamasternaturalist.org

05/31/2026

This baby pileated is getting ready to fledge!
The Pileated Woodpecker is native to North America, where it is the largest confirmed extant woodpecker species and the third-largest extant species of woodpecker in the world, after the great slaty woodpecker and the black woodpecker.
This woodpecker is primarily an insectivore, eating insects that live in trees; it is famous for making large, nearly rectangular carvings into trees, which are used to extract prey inside the tree or to make a nest.
Photo taken at Ouabache by Kevin Butts.
on.IN.gov/ouabachesp

05/30/2026

As you drive towards the Bison enclosure and fire tower, be sure to notice the beautiful masonry work on the rebuilt culvert!
on.IN.gov/ouabachesp
Photos by Brian Culy

05/29/2026

Here is what's going on at the park this weekend! All programs are free with paid park entry!
Saturday, May 30, 2026
10 a.m. Bison Feeding
Meet at the Bison Feeding shed to learn about our National Mammal and watch them eat a sweet treat.
11:30 a.m. Fire Tower Climb
Meet at Fire Tower to hear about the 90-foot structure and get the opportunity to climb to the top.
2 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. Creature Feature: Canada Goose
Join the Naturalist on the peninsula beside the beach to learn about Canada Geese.
Sunday, May 31, 2026
9 a.m. – 2 p.m. Discover Ouabache Scavenger Hunt
Get a scavenger hunt from the Park Office and explore the park for clues. Come back to the Office when you finish your hunt to get a prize.
on.IN.gov/ouabachesp
Photo taken on Kunkel Lake by Mario Tijerina