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In addition to the tour of the historic home, there are hiking trails throughout the Limberlost Territories. The 440-acre Loblolly Marsh, the 106-acre bird sanctuary, and the 112-acre Wabash River Rainbow Bend Park are all open to the public, as are other nearby nature trails and parks. Discover why Mrs. Porter considered the Limberlost one of the best places anywhere to photograph birds, butterflies, and flowers.
The site is near a large Amish community, so unique shopping and dining opportunities are nearby.
Special activities include Nature Day, Bluegrass Jams in the summer and fall, a Birthday Tea Party and a Christmas Open House.
Special Events 2008
Limberlost Nature Day - May 17; 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
This is an action-packed day of nature fun for people of all ages! Starting at 9 a.m. join the Robert Cooper Audubon Society for a morning of birding at the Loblolly Marsh near Bryant, Indiana. This event is designed for the inexperienced birder, so members of the Society will let visitors look through birding scopes and lead groups through the marsh. Special activities for children are included. If taking a bird hike isn't your interest, at 10:30 a.m. Diana Shaffer, of Wildlife Resqu Haus, will release a bird of prey back to the wild, depending on whether she has a raptor healthy enough to release. From 12 to 2 p.m., participants have the opportunity to enjoy two wildlife programs at the Limberlost Cabin in Geneva, Indiana. First, learn basic bat facts from bat expert Bob Walton, who will show mounted as well as live bats. Then, learn all about identifying and locating amphibians and reptiles in Indiana from Angela Garcia and Beth Geboy, two DNR naturalists. A $3 per person charge covers both afternoon wildlife programs at Limberlost State Historic Site. For more information, contact Jamie Faller, program specialist, at 260.368.742, or jfaller@dnr.IN.gov
Blue Grass Jamboree - July 20; 2 p.m. - 4 p.m.
This is part of the Limberlost Blue Grass Jams Summer/Fall Series, during which musicians play a variety of bluegrass and gospel music. Bring an instrument and play along! Guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs. Donations for the concert are welcomed.
Discover Nature at Limberlost - August 14
From 10 a.m. - 12 p.m., discover the world of internationally famous Hoosier naturalist, author, and photographer Gene Stratton-Porter. Parents and children move through six learning stations. Subjects include, “The Life of Bats,” “Rescuing Injured Birds,” “The Monarch Butterfly,” “Indiana Mussels," and “Plant Identification.” Participants will also make a snack in this morning adventure. At 1 p.m., an optional plant-identification activity will be offered at the Loblolly Marsh Wetland Preserve. Prizes will be awarded to the most accurate and the fastest plant identifiers. This event is designed specifically for the homeschooled, but additional children and adults are welcome. This educational activity meets select Indiana Academic Standards for second through sixth grades. Advance registration required. Please register by Aug.1, 2008. For more information, contact Randy Lehman or Bill Hubbard by phone at 260.368.7428 or by e-mail at limberlostSHS@embarqmail.com. Admission fee is $3 per participant and an additional $1 is due if participating in the afternoon plant ID activity.
Blue Grass Jamboree - August 17; 2 p.m. - 4 p.m.
This is part of the Limberlost Blue Grass Jams Summer/Fall Series, during which musicians play a variety of bluegrass and gospel music. Bring an instrument and play along! Guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs. Donations for the concert are welcomed.
Blue Grass Jamboree - September 21; 2 p.m. - 4 p.m.
This is part of the Limberlost Blue Grass Jams Summer/Fall Series, during which musicians play a variety of bluegrass and gospel music. Bring an instrument and play along! Guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs. Donations for the concert are welcomed.
Project “Flying Wild” - September 25
Get hands-on experience using the Project Flying Wild Curriculum and Activity Guide. Explore activities that can be integrated into science, math, language arts, social studies, reading, and art curricula in grades K through 12. This event is designed for the homeschool educator, but other adults and children are invited to attend. Adult educators will learn the curriculum in the morning while their children are participating in bird-related learning activities with site naturalists. In the afternoon, children and adults will participate in a birding activity. Since space is limited, participants must be pre-registered for this event. For more information, contact Randy Lehman or Bill Hubbard at 260.368.7428 or by e-mail at limberlostSHS@embarqmail.com. There is a $10 charge for materials for the adult educators and a $2.00 charge for each participating child.
Tour the Marsh with a Naturalist
(The first Saturday of the Month May through October)
Orientation begins at 9:30 a.m. at Limberlost State Historic Site, followed by a guided tour of the Loblolly Marsh Wetland Preserve from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., or participants may tour another restored Limberlost wetland. See firsthand how modern naturalists are bringing back the Limberlost Swamp in Geneva, Indiana. Hikers will see wild birds, butterflies, and other creatures living in the wetlands. Participants will find out how Gene Stratton-Porter influenced generations of naturalists by photographing the Limberlost’s flora and fauna, and how she made the swamp famous in her best-selling novels and nature studies. For more information, contact Randy Lehman or Bill Hubbard at 260.368.7428 or by e-mail at limberlostSHS@embarqmail.com. Cost is $2/person. Morning refreshments provided.
Spooktacular Nature - October 25
This pre-Halloween event will run from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. and feature presentations on bats, spiders, and other scary creatures. Dare to overcome your fears! Be prepared to see nature differently. For more information, contact Randy Lehman or Bill Hubbard at 260.368.7428. Cost is $3.00/person.
Christmas Open House - December 2008
The cabin will be decorated for Christmas. Visitors may chat with Santa, watch Limber Jim's swamp slide show, make crafts, hunt for treasure, enjoy a musical performance, and sample holiday refreshments. Admission is $3 per person.
Gift Shop Christmas Blow-out Sale - December 2008
All Limberlost Gift Shop merchandise will be discounted 20 percent or more. This is a great time to buy unique gifts and stocking-stuffers.
Educational Events 2008
Discover Nature at Limberlost
Discover the world of internationally famous Hoosier naturalist, author, and photographer Gene Stratton-Porter. Participants will learn about bald eagles and Mrs. Porter’s passion for Indiana moths. Participants will make a personal bird-watcher’s journal while discovering the world of birds and the important role of wetlands. An interactive snack is included in this morning adventure. This educational activity meets select Indiana Academic Standards for second through sixth grades, and additional children and adults are invited to participate. Please register by Aug. 10, 2007. For more information, contact Randy Lehman or Bill Hubbard at 260.368.7428 or by e-mail at limberlostSHS@earthlink.net. Admission is $4 per person.
Project Wet - TBA
Get hands-on experience using the Project WET curriculum and activity guide. Explore activities that can be integrated into science, math, language arts, social studies, reading, and art curricula in grades K through 12. There is a nominal charge for materials.
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