Special events... just for you!

While older brothers and sisters are in school, bring the preschoolers to Deep River County Park for a program designed just for them. Children may hear stories, play games, make a craft, sing songs, do finger plays, and take home a treat or coloring page. Make lasting memories by having fun alongside your preschooler. Everyone is invited to bring a brown bag lunch and picnic and hike in the Park on your own before or after the program. Meet at the Visitor Center to begin your program. Our programs will be held, rain or shine.

September 9	Puppets	Enjoy a puppet show, then make your own puppet and perform your own show.
September 16	Johnny Appleseed	Who was this Johnny Appleseed character and why do we learn about him today?
September 23	Quilts	Cuddle in a quilt, hear a story, then make a quilt block of your own to take home.
September 30	ABC’s – What fun!	We will play games with the ABC’s and hear stories, learn finger plays
October 7	Colors of Fall	Gold, yellow, brown, red. . .we will gather all the colors of Fall and enjoy playing with them.

The same topics listed above are available to day-care groups on Wednesday of the same week at 10:30 a.m., 12:00 p.m. or 1:30 p.m. The one-hour programs are by reservation only for a fee of $25.00 per program for a group of 20 or less, payable in advance. You may picnic or hike in the Park on your own before or after your program. Call 219-769-PARK to make your reservation.

Students will tour Wood's Historic Grist Mill and learn about the earliest industry in Lake County and why it was important to the early settlers in the area. They may also select one of the following topics:

Adults interested in any aspect of photography are welcome to attend the monthly meetings of the Lake County Parks Photography Club. Meetings include announcements of area shows, contests and exhibits. Members receive a monthly newsletter, enjoy outings together, and exhibit their works locally. They may show works at a Show and Tell session at the monthly meetings where they help each other improve skills. Film and digital photography users are accepted. There are no dues or obligations to attend the meetings. Doors open at 6 p.m. for those who wish to come early and socialize. For more information, call 219-947-1958 or contact the club via the Internet at

Doors open at 6 p.m. for those who wish to come early and socialize. For more information, call 219-947-1958 or contact the club via the Internet at LCParksPhotoClub@aol.com

The Lake County Parks Department Photography Club is open to all interested adults of all skill levels. No dues are required for membership and there is no obligation to attend all meetings.

Quilting Bees

Deep River County Park on the fourth Sunday of the month

Sunday, August 22, September 26, October 24 1-4 p.m. Free

Just like apple pie and baseball, quilting is truly an American tradition. Volunteers continue to enjoy this craft by donating blocks and assembling them into a unique piece of art. They have worked through the spring and summer sewing blocks for their next quilt, The Honey Bee.

The ‘Friendship Star’ quilt may be seen as it nears completion, after which it will join other recently-completed quilts, ‘The Corn Quilt’, ‘The House Quilt’, ‘Sunbonnet Sue’, ‘Goodie Jars in Grandma’s Pantry - Food’, ‘Goodie Jars in Grandma’s Pantry - Other’, and ‘Lotsa-Potsa Flowers’, currently on exhibit throughout Wood’s Historic Grist Mill. Stop by during a Quilting Bee, sit a spell, or put in your own stitches.

Honey Bee Social

Deep River County Park Visitor Center Meeting Room

Fridays, August 6 and August 20 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. Free

Bring a sack lunch and drink. Come when you can to one or both days

Every year volunteers make a quilt from donated blocks to hand-quilt during the next season. This year we are asking for the “Honey Bee” quilt block; and since honey bees are social insects, we decided to have a HONEY BEE SOCIAL. We will meet some of our block donors, help novice sewers assemble their block, trade fabric swatches, and just have a good time. If you’d like to make a block, help others, need help yourself, or just want to meet and share a good time, come to the Park on one or both Fridays.

Supplies needed: Hand-sewing needles, Pins, Thimble, Scissors, Thread - white or beige, Iron-on fusible interfacing, Tape Measure

If you have fabric to bring, you will need the following: Flowered Fabric, Medium green leafy fabric, Light yellow tone-on-tone, Light Blue tone-on-tone, Black solid

Note: If you do not have fabric to use, packets will be available at the Social for purchase. A sewing machine will be provided, assistance will be given beginners, and blocks will later be assembled into a quilt top for the 2011 quilting bees.

Sewing, Quilting and Crafting

Deep River County Park Visitor Center Meeting Room

Thursdays, August – October 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. Free

Bring a sack lunch and drink

Many of our volunteers, quilters, friends and helpers like to get together and sew, quilt, or craft. They bring their own projects; projects they might need help with or projects to teach others. These may include personal sewing or sewing for Park staff and volunteers (fabric, pattern, thread provided); crocheting; knitting; cross-stitch; scrap craft or other. A sewing machine is available or you may bring your own. Join when you can and enjoy great social time as you work on a project or learn a new one. No reservations are needed.

BASE BALL! When the first warm days of spring arrive, the players are eager to meet on Grinder Field at Deep River County Park for practices. Then the games begin, both at home and away. The team travels to Michigan, Ohio, Illinois and throughout Indiana playing their special game of vintage base ball. Other teams from around the Midwest meet the Grinders on their home field.

What is so special about this game? That's easy. It's the gentlemanly behavior of the players and the rules they play by. The men portray players of the mid-1800s, when courtesy prevailed on and off the playing field. There is no swearing, no spitting and no ungentlemanly behavior anywhere during the games. Rules written in 1858 govern the play.

Some differences in the rules of today that cranks (fans) might notice are: no bunting, no sliding into bases, no leading off and no mitts or other protective gear. Players are called hurlers (pitchers), behinds (catchers) and rovers (shortstops). Nine players at a time take the field and substitutions are made freely. Strikers (batters) are encouraged to strike the ball and "Leg it" to first base 90-feet away. Then if the runner is lucky enough to cross home plate safely, he is to proceed to the tally table where he asks that his ace be tallied for his team. He is then instructed to ring the tally bell, letting players and cranks know his score has counted.

Since this game was originally played for exercise instead of competition, friendly banter can be heard between the teams. Phrases such as "Hit a daisy cutter, Sir," and "Well done," are often shouted to opposing team members. Come enjoy this vintage sport, sip an ice cold sarsaparilla, munch a hotdog and join in shouting "Huzzah" for both teams.

Indiana’s premier vintage base ball Club Nine, the Deep River Grinders, continue their 16^th season of play under the original 1858 rules. If you’ve see a match, you know that they play barehanded and follow the maxims of gentlemanly behavior – no spitting, arguing, cursing, or wagering. It is commonplace for members of both teams to encourage and applaud the good play of each other. Games are played, as they were in baseball’s infancy, more as recreation and exercise than competition. The Deep River Grinders truly play for the love of the game, using leather-covered hand-sewn hard balls, hand-turned bats, and homemade bases. Nine-inning games are played on ninety-foot base paths. Cranks (you, the fans) can enjoy an ice cold sarsaparilla, the official drink of the Deep River Grinders, and indulge in a hot dogs, both for sale at home games.

The Grinders, playing since 1991, are charter members of the Vintage Baseball Association, a national organization formed to preserve, promote, and perpetuate the game of baseball as it was played in its formative years in the mid-nineteenth century. For more information on our beloved Deep River Grinders, or to join the team, contact the Visitor’s Center at 219-947-1958. The Deep River Grinders may also be contacted via email at DRGrinders@aol.com For the rules of 1858, the players roster, and other information about the Beloved Deep River Grinders: www.deeprivergrinders.com

If you are interested in becoming a Grinders, call 219-947-1958 and say "I want to be a Grinder." Leave your name and number and you will be contacted.

Buckley Homestead - Enjoy the quiet, steady pace of the horses as they pull the hay wagon around the back 80 acre trail. Look for pheasant, deer, and coyote as you travel through the wooded areas and open fields past the pioneer log cabin. Individuals and families may ride on a first-come, first-serve basis on Saturdays and Sundays, September 26 through October 31, 2010 (except October 9 & 10) during the Fall Festival) at 1 and 2 p.m. for only $3 per person. Remember: Groups may reserve evening hayrides by calling the business office at 219-769-7275.

Deep River - Take a ride over the river and through the woods along the trails of Deep River. Individuals and families may ride on a first-come, first-serve basis on Saturdays and Sundays, October 2 - 24, 2010 at 1:30 and 2:30 p.m. for only $3 per person. Groups may reserve evening hayrides by calling the business office at 219-769-7275.

Who doesn't love sitting around a crackling campfire, telling scary stories and watching the flames dance in the dark? Your family can experience this during our annual Campfire Chillers.

Wind whistling through the trees, dark shadows playing on the ground, the rustling of fallen leaves, and firelight dancing in the darkness . Sound enticing? This is what the entire family will experience when they attend Campfire Chillers storytelling program.

Northwest Indiana Storytelling Guild member, Karen Slager, will offer up some spine-tingling tales, sure to chill and thrill you. Then she will offer the microphone to any child with a short story to share with the group. While you may experience the proverbial "chill down your spine" from time to time, this program is suitable for the entire family, but you know your child best.

No need to register. Bring your own lawn chairs, marshmallows and roasting sticks to use AFTER the storytelling. Be prepared for the weather. Dress warmly. The program will be held rain or shine. In the event of inclement weather, the program will be held inside Wood's Historic Grist Mill.

This program is offered every other year and may be presented again in 2012 - keep a look out

You will be able to make your own pure maple syrup if you have access to large maple trees, a few supplies, and a little instruction. Learn how and when to tap the trees, how to collect and preserve the sap, and how to produce your own pure maple syrup. You may already have a drill, some buckets, a camp stove or grill, bottles and pans. Other items, such as spiles, filters and sap buckets may be purchased at the workshop.