Want to volunteer at Allen County Parks?

We would love to have you!!!!

We need volunteers for all kinds of activities, be it
program help, maintenance help, removal of invasive
species, filling bird feeders, small construction projects, hosts/hostess, anything you’d like to do!!

All potential volunteers for the Allen County Parks
Department must complete a volunteer application
before volunteering. A link to this application can be
found at our website on the Volunteer in the Allen
County Parks page.

What's Happening at Metea County Park?

To view a complete and up-to-date list of activities occurring at Metea Park, please see the Wild Grapevine, available at the Allen County Parks website.

Monday Mornings with Michael @ Payton

March 29

Greet the day from the beginning and watch world come alive. A sunrise experiential walk Payton Park. Dress weather appropriate, and hiking is easy to moderate and often wet.

Mar. 7:00AM
Cost: $2.00
Pre-register by: Prior Friday
Min: 5
Max: 15

To register or more information:
Email:mgobert@allencountyparks.org
Call: 449-3777
Michael Gobert

Summer 2010 day camp

Fox Island County Park Camp Schedule:

June 21-25: Survival Kids Camp

June 28-July 2: Fish Camp 2

NO CAMP :( July 5-9)

July 12-16: Jr. Naturalist Camp

July 19-23: Creepy Slimy Investigations “CSI” Camp

July 26-30: Nature Art Camp


Metea County Park Camp Schedule :

August 2-6: Float the Creek Camp

August 9-13: Back Country Camp Skills & Campfire Cookin’ Camp

Summer Day Camp series is open Monday-Friday, 9:00-5:00, starting

June 21st and ending August 13th, 2010. Camp is for children ages 6-12.


Fish Camp is returning this year! Campers will go fishing every day!

Survivor Kids is a new camp that takes surviving in the wild to a whole new level. Your child will learn how to access water from the earth and sky.

Jr. Naturalist Camp will have your camper jumping like a frog one day and doing the dragonfly bop the next!

During “CSI” camp, be prepared to be slimed!

Explore your creative side in Nature Art Camp.

At Metea County Park , campers explore Cedar Creek from the center of a tire tube!

Back Country Camp Skills & Campfire Cooking campers will learn how to set up camp as well as how to cook while enjoying camp life!

Each year we try to change the activities offered for each camp. We strive to encourage your camper to become enthusiastic about nature!

Registration deadline is two weeks prior to each camp. Early bird deadline is May 21, 2010

Download a registration form and brochure from our website: www.allencountyparks.org.

Camp fee is $100.00/camper/week of camp.

Check out our early-bird and golden park pass rates in the website brochure!


Non-flowering plants - the Moss and Fern Life Cycles - 2 NISTEM points

March 30, Tuesday 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM

We will be using the microscopes to study these small, plantlike organisms. Students must have their Microscope operators’ license to sign up for this program.

Cost: $3.00/student
$2.00/adult
Pre-register by: 3/22(REQ’D)
Min: 5 Max: 10
Must be 12 years old or older

To register or more information:
Email:rdivelbiss@allencountyparks.org
Call: 449-3778
Ron Divelbiss

Fourth Friday Night Hike

March 26, Friday 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM

As we near the end of owl nesting season, we will try to get an owl family to visit us on our hike. Flashlights are welcome, but not needed. Be prepared for Indiana weather.

Cost: $2.00
Pre-register by: 3/22
Min: 5
Max: 45

To register or more information:
Email:bdispenza@allencountyparks.org
Call: 449-8619
Bob Dispenza

Monday Mornings with Michael @ North Metea

March 22

Greet the day from the beginning and watch the world come alive. A sunrise experiential walk at the North Metea Nature Preserve. Dress weather appropriate, the hiking is easy to moderate and often wet.

March 7:00 AM

Cost: $2.00
Pre-register by: Prior Friday
Min: 5
Max: 15

To register or more information:
Email:mgobert@allencountyparks.org
Call: 449-3777
Michael Gobert

Race into the Wild spring day camp

Fox Island’s RACE into the WILD Spring Day Camp is open for registration! Camp runs April 5-9th, 2010, Monday-Friday, 9:00-5:00pm. Camp is for ages 6-12. Counselor’s in Training, ages 13 and up, may volunteer their time.

The Camp Directors are Natalie Haley and Ron Zartman.

Campers will experience a week filled with scavenger hunts, survival skill tests and great adventures in the outdoors. They will bring home a self-made survival kit by the end of the week! Building shelters, fire, and finding water will be just some of the challenges presented to our campers this year.

Pre-registration cut-off date is March 26, 2010. Minimum registration of 10 campers is required in order to run this camp. Maximum registration of 30 campers will be accepted. All programs are subject to cancellation.

Download a registration form and brochure from our website: www.allencountyparks.org!

Camp fees are $100.00/camper for the week. Check out the early-bird date and Golden Park Pass discounts in our website brochure.


Junior Indiana Master Naturalist class

The mission of the Jr. Indiana Master Naturalist class is to bring together natural resource specialists with young people, ages 9-13 years, to foster an understanding of Indiana ’s plants, water, soils, and wildlife, and promote volunteer service in local communities.

The class schedule is as follows:

Location - Fox Island County Park :
  • April 14th, 6-8PM, Wilderness Survival with Michael Golbert, Allen County Parks
  • April 17th, 9-11AM, Birds with Soarin’ Hawk and Stockbridge Audubon Society
  • April 17th, 12-2PM, Geology with Ron Zartman, Allen County Parks and Soils with Scot Haley, Natural Resource Conservation Service
  • April 21st, 6-8PM, Plants and Trees with Larry Yoder, Yoder Farms, & Natalie Haley Allen County Parks
Location - Metea County Park :
  • April 24th, 9-11AM, Naturalists and Conservation with Scott Beam, Maple Wood Nature Center and Bob Dispenza, Allen County Parks
  • April 24th, 12-2PM, Rivers and Creeks with Jerry Hohla, Hoosier Riverwatch
  • April 28th, 6-8PM, Frogs, Snakes and Turtles with Chris Barlow, Ivy Tech
  • May 5th, 6-8PM, Monarchs, Milkweed and Wildflowers with Karie Harding

In addition, class participants will be required to volunteer six hours in a pre-approved natural environment and must attend 80% of their classes in order to earn their Jr. Indiana Master Naturalist certification.


Deadline for registration is March 26th, 2010. Class fee is $70.00 per student and includes three field guides, class materials, room rental and IDNR registration.

For more information or to download a brochure visit us at www.allencountyparks.org or contact Natalie Haley, Environmental Educator at 260.449.3246 or email at nhaley@allencountyparks.org


Scrapbook Night at Metea

March 19, April 16, Fridays, 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM

Beginning Scrapaholics. Need a night to catch up on your scrapbooking? Need some time for your self? Want a Girl’s Night Out? New to scrapbooking? Leave the kiddies at home, come and relax & work on your scrapbook projects, family albums, mini albums, cards, and home décor.

Cost: $10/session (advance), $15 at the door.
Register 6 people and save $10.

To register or more information:
Email: paulcorrine2005@aol.com
Call:260-460-0851
Corrine Paul

Add your name to my MONTHLY UPDATES (by email) to get hints and instructions for special projects and challenges at the next crop.

Reserve Your Table Today!!

The Metea Challenge

March 20, Saturday 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Come and learn about our new Metea Challenge Program. This 2 hour workshop will introduce new games, initiatives, and challenge courses.Ages 10 or older. Dress to be comfortable and active.

Cost: $3.00
Pre-register by: 3/16
Min: 6
Max: 16

To register or more information:
Email:mgobert@allencountyparks.org
Call: 449-3777
Michael Gobert

Monday Mornings with Michael @ Metea

March 15

Greet the day from the beginning and watch the
world come alive. A sunrise experiential at Metea
County Park. Dress weather appropriate, and the
hiking is easy to moderate and often wet.

Mar. 7:00 AM
Cost: $2.00
Pre-register by: Prior Friday
Min: 5
Max.: 15

To register or more information:
Email:mgobert@allencountyparks.org
Call: 449-3777
Michael Gobert

Payton’s the Place @ Payton County Park

March 13, Saturday 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM

Let’s spend the day getting to know Payton County Park, by assisting in the development of a new trail through the mature deciduous woods. Dress for the weather and for working outdoors. Some tools provided. Tools needed for clearing brush.

Cost: Free
Pre-register by: March 11
Min: 1
Max : 100
Free Lunch!

To register or more information:
Email:mgobert@allencountyparks.org
Call: 449-3777
Michael Gobert

Monday Mornings with Michael @ Payton

March 8, 29

Greet the day from the beginning and watch world come alive. A sunrise experiential walk Payton Park. Dress weather appropriate, and hiking is easy to moderate and often wet.

Mar. 7:00AM
Cost: $2.00
Pre-register by: Prior Friday
Min: 5
Max: 15

To register or more information:
Email:mgobert@allencountyparks.org
Call: 449-3777
Michael Gobert