Leafcam

Reality TV is all the rage these days. Find a dysfunctional family or cantankerous strangers, put them in a room or on a deserted island with a video camera running, and call it a television show.

People watch because it's on TV.

Now comes a new reality program on the Internet that everyone can enjoy: Leafcam. It will be on the Internet beginning Sept. 6, feature fall colors at six state parks and is the basis for an exciting new travel promotion by the Indiana Division of Tourism.

Visit www.Enjoyindiana.com, state tourism's Web site, for wonderful trip ideas so you can travel to interesting Hoosier destinations; that is, when you aren't watching the leaves change color on your computer screen.

And you can sign up to win some pretty nifty prizes provided by the DNR. The grand prize is a $250 gift certificate for a room, meals and merchandise at a state park. Or use it to play a few rounds at the Fort Golf course at Ft. Harrison State Park in Indianapolis.

Five lucky prize winners get 2003 state park and reservoir entrance passes.

So what's a Leafcam?

People love fall colors, so you can watch the season progress by viewing cameras focused on forests in six Indiana state parks: Brown County, Charlestown, Ft. Harrison, Pokagon, Ouabache and Turkey Run.

The cameras refresh every 8 seconds, which is a lot quicker than leaves change color. And a flash movie will show actual changes over a much longer period of time.

On Leafcam, you will see clearly how much sooner colors change in northern Indiana than in our southern countrysides.

The DNR's Fall Leafline (317-232-4002) will keep you abreast of these developments and encourage a visit to Enjoyindiana.com and www.IN.gov/dnr, which will link to the Leafcam promotion.

Autumn is one of the best times to travel, with Indiana's highways and byways resplendent with color. Hoosiers take scenic drives, visit fall festivals, camp, hike, fish, hunt, visit flea markets and go on all sorts of other outdoor adventures before it's time to drag out the overcoats and mittens.

So check out Leafcam, get travel ideas from Enjoyindiana.com, and get your family out there to enjoy themselves.

And take a camera to create a little reality of your own.

Stephen Sellers, editor