Central Indiana Wilderness Club Social Events/Classes

Going to a day event or class is a great way to meet your fellow group members and friends of the club who are all interested in outdoor adventure. Find out more by clicking the events below.

Social Events:

Indoor Rock Climbing, January 16, 2010
Winter Day Hike, Westwood Park, January 23, 2010
Banff Mountain Film Festival Day Trip, April 3, 2010
Work Day, Holliday Park, April 24, 2010
Morel Mushroom Festival, Brown County State Park, May 1, 2010
Kids Day Hike, Holliday Park, May 15, 2010
Cataract Lake Paddle, June 12, 2010
Sugar Creek Day Paddle, June 27, 2010
Day Hike, Eagle Creek Park, July 31, 2010
Day Hike, Eagle Creek Park, August 14, 2010
Annual Club Picnic, August 29, 2010
Hoosier Outdoor Experience, September 18 and 19, 2010
Work Day, Holliday Park, October 23, 2010
Holiday Party, December 4, 2010

Classes:

Trip Leader Training and Outdoor Cooking Class, January 9, 2010
Backpacking Seminar, March 13, 2010
GPS Navigation Class, March 20, 2010

January 9, 2010 Trip Leader Training and Outdoor Cooking Class

Cost: $5, Deposit: $5
Location: Holliday Park Nature Center Classroom, 6363 Spring Mill Rd., Indianapolis

Plan to join other club members to learn about leading CIWC trips and cooking in the great outdoors! From 9:30-11:00am we will cover club trip policies and all aspects of planning, organizing and leading a club trip including estimating costs and managing expenses, available club gear and van logistics, and hosting a successful trip on the road. This will be a great session for those who have never led a trip, as well as for seasoned veterans who want to brush up on the details. Remember, trip leaders go on their trip for FREE!

From 11:15am-1:30pm we will discuss and demonstrate a variety of approaches to outdoor cooking including: food dehydration, water purification techniques, cook stove and fuel options, recipes from common grocery store items, fresh food than can be packed in, prepared backpacking meals, doing dishes in the woods, protecting food from critters, and much more. Everyone will participate in the preparation of several recipes and enjoy a light lunch at the end of the class. You must register in advance for this class so that we can plan for lunch and handouts. Depending on your interests, you may participate in only the trip leader portion or only the outdoor cooking portion of the class rather than the entire session. If you have any questions please contact one of the facilitators.

January 16, Indoor Rock Climbing

The CIWC is hosting a rockin' social event at Climb Time Towers on the northwest side of Indianapolis. Many local rock climbers have gotten their start at this gym but don't be afraid! There is something for every skill level, and the staff will help any newcomers to the sport. Bring a friend to belay you or come to meet others in the club! We have the party room rented from 1pm to 4pm and snacks will be provided. The fee is $10/person and this includes a day pass, shoes and harness rental. Come spend a chilly January afternoon inside on the rocks! Please email Channing if you plan to attend or have any questions.

Climb Time Towers, near 96th St. and Michigan Rd.
9850 Mayflower Park Drive, Carmel, IN 46032, 317-803-2175
www.climbtimetowers.com

January 23, 2010, Winter Day Hike, Westwood Park

Looking for a winter day-hike or a shake out trip to prepare for a winter backpack adventure??? Plan for a day of fun at Westwood Park near New Castle where you are sure to enjoy the wonders of winter. This trip on January 23rd will rendezvous near Pendleton at 10:00am and carpool/caravan to the park (30 minute drive). The 11-mile hike around the lake should take 3-5 hours. The return trip will have you back home in time for dinner. Please contact Darlene if you plan to attend and mark your calendar: January 23, day-hike Westwood Park.

March 13, 2010 Backpacking Seminar

Time: 9:30am until 12:30pm
Location: Holliday Park Nature Center, 6363 Spring Mill Rd., Indianapolis

The Central Indiana Wilderness Club will present a FREE backpacking class which is open to the public. Spread the word about this opportunity!

Topics will include selecting pieces of gear (hiking boots, sleeping bags, tents, packs, clothing and accessories), learning about "minimalist" backpacking, how to "pack" a backpack, trail safety, water treatment, stoves and cooking, first aid, staying comfortable, and backcountry ethics such as "leave no trace."

Ever wanted to try backpacking but didn't know how to get started or where to go? This class is perfect for both novice and experienced backpackers, and a good place for anyone to pick up and share new ideas.

The Central Indiana Wilderness Club has been offering affordable backpacking trips (as well as other adventures) since 1982. For over 20 years the club has presented its annual backpacking class. Come to this class and get on board to take backpacking trips as close as southern Indiana, or as far away as you can imagine. The presenters are seasoned adventurers with experience in places such as the Appalachian Trail, Pikes Peak, the Canadian Wilderness and more. Attendees are encouraged to bring any gear they may already have to be reviewed by our staff of backpackers. Don't miss this FREE class! Contact Nicole Oehler with questions.

March 20, 2010 GPS Navigation Class (with Geocaching component)

Presented by: OTTER NAVIGATION AND WILDERNESS SCHOOL (LLC).
Instructor: Jeff Ward
High School OK with Adult
Fee: $30
Cancellation Date: March 11, 2010

All navigation has been revolutionized with the advent of the Navstar Satellite System (GPS). Before the launch of this satellite system, a better than average fix using a sextant would put you within 0.5 nautical mile of your actual position. Using a handheld GPS, one has the capability to get 90% of their fixes within 30 feet of their actual position and offer better than that with WAAS enabled and Differential GPS units! This course will allow you to bridge the chasm of the information shown on your GPS screen with a position on a topographical map or navigation chart and integrate this data with other navigation instruments such as the compass and altimeter. Also discussed will be the advantages and disadvantages of navigation with GPS. This is a superb course for anyone wanting to better utilize a GPS in the wilderness or at sea. Basic knowledge of map and compass is required, and assumed, for this workshop.

Schedule and Fees: Saturday, March 20th 2010; Noon to 5:00 PM; Begins at the Eagle Creek Discovery Center (Dry Lab) for 2 hours of classroom learning and then proceeds outside for 3 hours of field work within Eagle Creek Park. Workshop is limited to 20 participants. The fee includes a UTM reader and a customized USGS topo map of Eagle Creek, along with hot cider at the warming station. If you do not have a GPS, then partner up with someone who does or rent a Garmin Legend GPS for $10 for the day; this course may help you decide which GPS is right for you.

In this course you will learn to:

determine your position on a topographical map or nautical chart
to navigate
to understand errors in GPS and where the GPS is fallible
to make waypoints and routes
to geocache
to map trails upon base maps

Hosted by Indy Parks.

April 3, Banff Mountain Film Festival Day Trip

Trip Cost: $23, Deposit: $23
2010 Family Rating: Adults Only
Cancellation Date: March 31

Join CIWC for our second annual trip to Bloomington to view the Banff Mountain Film Festival road show at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater. The festival is held every fall at the Banff Mountain Center and is followed by a world tour of selected festival films. The subject matter of the films includes mountain culture as well as outdoor high adventure activities like skiing, paddling, climbing, etc. in mountain settings. The spectacular scenery, daring athleticism, fast pace and awesome music of these films makes their viewing a truly awe-inspiring experience! Check out the promo video for a taste of what the evening has in store for us: www.banffcentre.ca/mountainculture/tour

We will leave Indy around 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 3 for the hour drive to Bloomington. The films begin at 7:00 so we'll have time to stroll the square and have dinner (at your expense) before heading to the theater. We should be back in Indy by midnight. Trip cost includes transportation in the club van and entry fee to the films.

April 24, Holliday Park Work Day

Holliday Park Nature Center
9:00am to Noon

Please come out and help keep Holliday Park beautiful! As a thank-you for use of the facilities, we will be helping the park on their work day. Refreshments will be provided! RSVPs are not required so come at the last minute if you can, even an hour helps! For those interested, we will head to Broad Ripple for lunch after we finish.

May 1, Morel Mushroom Festival, Brown County State Park

10:00am to 5pm

Cost: Free (There is a park entrance fee of $5 per car)

Spring in Indiana turns many people's minds to just one thing...morel mushrooms. Unfortunately, most of us either can't afford the ones in the grocery store ($50/pound...ouch!) or have no idea how or where to hunt for them. Luckily, Brown County State Park hosts an annual morel mushroom festival. At this event, you can get tips on how to find the elusive fungus and then go on a guided hike to try your luck. In addition, there will be live music, arts and crafts, a cooking demonstration, free recipes, geo-cache hikes, various talks about morel mushrooms and even a live raptor show. There will also be mushrooms for sale in case you are not lucky enough to find any on your own. A few CIWC members will be going down for the day to check out the events. If you would like to join us for this event, please meet in the nature center parking lot at 10:00am. Events run until 5:00pm. The festival is free but you will need to pay a $5 per car park entrance fee. For more information about the festival, see their website: http://www.in.gov/dnr/parklake/5784.htm.

May 15, Kids Day Hike, Holliday Park

10:00am

Cost: Free

We are beginning to schedule monthly events for families with children. This is an opportunity for pre-school aged children to share outdoor experiences with their peers, but kids of all ages are welcome too. We will be starting with short hikes, and working up to overnight hikes. For our first get-together, we will meet at Holliday Park (6363 Spring Mill Road, Indianapolis) for a short hike followed by some playtime at the playground. We will meet in the nature center parking lot at 10:00am. Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Bring the kids and your ideas for exciting family-friendly adventures! In the event of bad weather the walk will be re-scheduled.

June 12, Cataract Lake Paddle

Come join us for a fun day of paddling on Cataract Lake located at Richard Lieber State Park. We will meet at the boat ramp in Cunot at 9:00am and paddle up towards the Cataract Falls.

Directions to the ramp from I-70 are 231 south at exit 41 through Cloverdale to State road 42 then west, after you cross the bridge over the lake just a little further you will turn right on Boat Dock Road and it will take you down to the boat ramp. State road 243 was closed for repairs just past the Park entrance the 3rd weekend of May when we were there, it may or may not be open by the time we have our paddle trip in case you want to try this route. Bring your own lunch and snacks for the day. Also there are no outfitters on the lake so you will need to bring your own boat and PFDs. We do have a limited number of extra boats if you want to borrow one for the day. Please let me know in advance though so we can make arraignments to have them there. DNR Lake Permit sticker is required ($5.00), www.in.gov/dnr/parklake/5058.htm.

Please review the recommend paddle gear (Word document) and get the Medical Information Form (Word document). Before you come on the trip, complete the medical form and keep it with you in a zip lock bag within your gear or person. At the launch site you will be asked to sign the club waiver form and inform the trip leader of the location of your medical form. General information about club trips can be found at Trip Signup.

To confirm if you plan on making the trip please contact trip leader Joni Moore.

June 27, Sugar Creek Day Paddle

We will be doing a day paddle on Sugar Creek starting from Deermill and ending at Cox Ford Bridge (15 Miles). We will be using Sugar Valley as our outfitter if you need to rent a canoe or kayak. Cost for rental is $25 canoe, $17 kayak, please call the outfitter if you need a boat and make reservations. The website is www.sugarvalleycanoes.com or the phone number is (800) 422-6638. If you bring your own boat they will haul it for you for a extra fee. Please bring your own lunch and snacks for the day. We will depart from Sugar Valley at 9:00am. Please be there 45 minutes early.

To confirm if you plan on making the trip please contact trip leader Joni Moore.

July 31, Day Hike, Eagle Creek Park

Location: Eagle Creek Park, 7840 W. 56th St, Indianapolis

Come out and explore the many trails at Eagle Creek Park. We will hike 4-5 miles, leaving the parking lot located inside the 56th Street entrance promptly at 9:00am. For those without a pass, the park charges $5 per car. Feel free to contact Jeanette with questions and please email to let her know you are planning on making it. Also let her know if you would like to meet outside the park and carpool. We will go someplace nearby for lunch afterwards. Hope you can make it!

August 14, Day Hike, Eagle Creek Park

Location: Eagle Creek Park, 7840 W. 56th St, Indianapolis

August 29, Club Picnic

Location: Eagle Creek Park, 7840 W. 56th St, Indianapolis

Don't miss the club's annual picnic!

1:00pm - Hike or paddle. Meet at Shelter G for these group activities. Bring your hiking shoes if you would like to hike. The group hike will be through the extensive network of woodland trails in the park. The paddle will be on the Eagle Creek Reservoir. Bring your own boat or rent one. Canoe/kayak rental is $10 per hour. You can call the Marina at 317-327-7130 for more information about renting.

3:15pm - Chicken and paper goods will be provided. Bring a dish to share, your beverages, and a friend!

3:00-5:00pm - Annual gear sale. Owners oversee the sale of their gear; please bring labels or pen and paper to identify your gear. Time to clean out and/or clean up with a great deal!

There is a $5 fee per car to enter the park.

September 18-19, Hoosier Outdoor Experience

Location: Ft. Harrison State Park, Indianapolis

Parking: Hoosier Outdoor Experience Parking

CIWC will once again participate as an activity provider for the 2010 Hoosier Outdoor Experience. Our display areas will be similar to last year's and we are asking all CIWC members to come out for one or both days!

More information about the Hoosier Outdoor Experience.

The Hoosier Outdoor Experience is a grassroots based, hands-on, interactive learning event that teaches outdoor skills and conservation practices to children, families, and individuals that want to try NEW outdoor recreation activities. For example, there are stations on hunting and fishing skills, camping, compass/GPS skills, wildlife and forest resources, hiking, mountain biking, caving, camping, backpacking, canoeing and kayaking, and much, much more.

This is a great way for those of us who are already CIWC members to try new facets of outdoor recreation and also help the club! You can volunteer for a three or four hour shift in one of our display areas and help us tell the general public about what we do as a club.

If you can help us, please contact one of the club officers below (or any board member) and we will walk you through the plan. This is a great way to attract new members. Thanks!

October 23, Holliday Park Work Day

Holliday Park Nature Center
9:00am to Noon

CIWC Annual Holiday Party

When: Saturday, December 4, 2010
Where: Tidewater Clubhouse, 12046 Pebblepointe Pass, Carmel, IN
(near 116th and Gray Road in Carmel)

Once again it is time to celebrate with your friends at the Central Indiana Wilderness Club! Bring a friend and a dish to share. (Members with last names starting A-R please bring a casserole or salad; members with last names starting S-Z bring your favorite dessert). CIWC provides meat, soft drinks and paper goods. Bring your own alcoholic beverages, if desired.

BYOG (Bring Your Own Gift...or Gag!) Bring a gift for our "Edsel of the Trail" gift exchange. This can be old gear, things that you bought for backpacking that were too heavy and/or you don't use anymore, be creative...but it is supposed to be something related to the outdoors. Don't forget to wrap it to keep the element of surprise.

Please also bring any non-perishable food items for donation to Gleaners.

Kick off the Holiday Season with great fun and entertainment! The sneak preview of the 2010 Trip Schedule will be unveiled and you will have an opportunity to sign up before the official posting of these trips in the Trail Mix! You can sign up for trips and renew your membership until 6:45pm. Seating is limited so if you have a portable chair (like a bag chair) to bring and use, that would be helpful.

Directions to Tidewater Clubhouse, 12046 Pebblepointe Pass, Carmel:

From I-465 on the north side of Indy:

Take the Keystone Ave./IN-431 exit Exit 33
Merge onto N KEYSTONE AVE / IN-431 N toward CARMEL
Turn RIGHT onto E 116TH ST
Go 1.6 miles and turn LEFT onto STONEWICK DR
Turn RIGHT onto PEBBLEPOINTE PASS.
Take the first LEFT onto TARRYNOT LN
Go 0.3 miles and turn RIGHT onto PEBBLEPOINTE PASS and take the first left just past the tennis courts (which will be on your left). The clubhouse will be up ahead on a hill.