Outdoor Indiana - Summer 2026

NEXT GENOUTDOORS

DNR Director
Alan Morrison

Growing up hunting, fishing, and exploring Indiana's outdoors taught me to appreciate and protect our natural resources from a young age.

Each summer, two long standing DNR traditions help today's kids build that same connection. The C.O. Mollenhour Camp and the Karl E. Kelley Memorial Youth Camp offer hands-on experiences that spark confidence, curiosity, and a lasting love for nature.

The C.O. Mollenhour Camp, held each July on McClures Lake in Kosciusko County, hosts separate boys' and girls' weeks. Campers learn outdoor skills—from fishing and boating to wildlife identification and shooting—while developing independence, teamwork, and stewardship. Conservation professionals guide every activity, creating a safe space to try new things.

Each June, the Karl E. Kelley Memorial Youth Camp brings youth to West Lafayette for an immersive week centered on Indiana's natural resources and the importance of conservation. Named in honor of fallen conservation officer Sgt. Karl E. Kelley, the co-ed camp blends outdoor recreation with hands-on lessons led by DNR Law Enforcement officers and volunteer mentors who share real world insight.

Both camps fill quickly—and for good reason. They're essential to passing Indiana's outdoor heritage to the next generation.

Interested in future registration, eligibility, or volunteering? Visit ICOO.com and COMollenhourCamp.org to learn more.

Small lakes dot the acreage at Busseron Creek Fish & Wildlife Area in Sullivan County. Photo by Brent Drinkut..

DNR's newest FWA has diverse habitats and history
By Scott Roberts, OI staff

When Zach Brown of Ellettsville heard Busseron Creek Fish & Wildlife Area (FWA) was opening in April last year, he was immediately intrigued. The Sullivan County location was relatively close to him, and its size, 3,950 acres, promised days of good exploration.

He got much more than he bargained for.

In his three visits to the FWA, Brown has climbed in and out of ravines, hiked along wooded pastures, looked upon open prairie views, and tramped along muddy swamps. He’s enjoyed all parts of the property, including parts with more challenging terrain.

To read the rest of this article subscribe to Outdoor Indiana or pick up a copy at one of our state park inns. To subscribe, click here or call (317) 233-3046.

Beavers are that and much more
By Marty Benson, OI staff

A beaver at its lodge in Mink Meadow Marsh at Atterbury Fish & Wildlife Area. Photo by Brent Drinkut.

Rodents aren't usually thought of as being influential.

"Nuisance" and a laundry list of nastier terms typically apply.

Although North America's largest rodent has been called many derogatory names by its detractors, it's hard to overstate the beaver's influence in the early history of what became the Hoosier State.

Historians credit Frenchman Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle, as being the first white man to enter pre-Indiana, near present day South Bend, in 1679, seeking portage between the St. Joseph and Kankakee rivers as part of the larger goal of finding a Northwest passage from the Atlantic to the Pacific oceans to make trading with Asian countries easier.

At the time, fur was one of the things that made Europe's economy go ‘round. As a result, its local supply of furbearing wildlife was shrinking, and La Salle had discovered a seemingly endless supply.

French forts along the Wabash and Maumee rivers were built near already established Native American villages, to enhance and protect the emerging local fur trade. These included Fort Miami, at the site of present-day Fort Wayne; Fort Ouiatenon, near Lafayette; and Fort Vincennes.