Indiana Department of Natural Resources

FORESTRY EDUCATION: There are always more opportunities to engage with Indiana’s diverse, productive, and resilient forests! Coming up this summer: multiple educator and/or public workshops in north, central, and southern Indiana, as well as Bloom & Buzz, a Pollinator Party at Clark State Forest! Follow the DNR Division of Forestry to join in the fun and explore upcoming events on our website at dnr.IN.gov/forestry.

FORESTRY EDUCATION: Our first-place winner of the 2026 Arbor Day Poster Contest is Alice Kauffman from Goshen, Indiana! To commemorate her winning the contest, Alice also received an eastern redbud (Cercis canadensis) to plant on her school grounds. Congratulations, Alice!
Special thanks to Alice’s art teacher, Mr. Diaz Quezada, who has led his students in participating in the annual Arbor Day Poster Contest each year since it resumed in 2023!

Learn more about the Arbor Day Poster Contest and prepare for the launch of our next contest in fall 2026 at on.IN.gov/arbor-day-poster!

Have you seen this lizard? The DNR Herpetology Program needs your help tracking Common Wall Lizards in southern Indiana. The European species was introduced into Cincinnati, Ohio during the 1950s and has been expanding into southeastern Indiana. Common Wall Lizards have been documented at several Ohio River locations including Lawrenceburg, Aurora, Rising Sun, and other sites. These lizards thrive in urban and suburban settings and are often found basking on rocky structures like retaining walls, landscaping beds, and rip-rap lined embankments. Common Wall Lizards may be greenish to olive or tan with dark or light spotting. They do not have blue tails and generally don’t have yellow stripes like our native skinks.

Have you seen a wall lizard? If so, send your photos to the state herpetologist at [email protected]. A photo is critical for documentation. Please include the location and date of your sighting.

dnr.IN.gov

FORESTRY EDUCATION: The celebration of our Arbor Day Poster Contest winners continues! The second-place winner for 2026 is Zelia Bancroft from Carmel, Indiana! This year’s contest prizes included an education savings deposit curtesy of Indiana529 for our top three contest entries. Congratulations, Zelia!

Thank you to all the fifth-grade students and educators from across Indiana that participated in this year’s contest! Learn more about the Arbor Day Poster Contest and prepare for the launch of our next contest in fall 2026 at on.IN.gov/arbor-day-poster!

TRACK CHAIR UPDATE: The track chairs stolen from Fort Harrison State Park have been returned. As this is an ongoing investigation, no additional information will be released at this time. More: https://ow.ly/ej7S50Z5mRP.

Enjoy a guided hike through a nature preserve, identify trees and learn about frogs and toads, May 30-10. Find more DNR activities at events.IN.gov/dnr.
Sat., May 30
• Guided Hike, Springfield Fen Nature Preserve, 10:30a ET, https://events.in.gov/event/guided-hike-springfield-fen-nature-preserve
• Tree ID Hike, Fort Harrison State Park, 1p ET, https://events.in.gov/event/tree-id-hike-1865
Sun., May 31
• Frog and Toad Fun, Whitewater Memorial State Park, 9a ET, https://events.in.gov/event/frog-and-toad-fun-4447
• Creek Stomp, Spring Mill State Park, 3p ET, https://events.in.gov/event/creek-stomp-2147

FORESTRY EDUCATION: The results are in for the Indiana DNR Division of Forestry’s annual Arbor Day Poster Contest. Fifth-grade students from across the state had the opportunity to artistically explore this year’s theme, Trees and Pollinators Make Perfect Partners, and it is time to celebrate their original work! Our third-place winner is Isabelle Schipp from Ferdinand, Indiana! Congratulations, Isabelle!

Learn more about the Arbor Day Poster Contest at on.IN.gov/arbor-day-poster.

Celebrate your Independence Day by camping at an Indiana DNR property! Electric and non-electric campsites are available at several properties, but are filling up fast. Reserve your spot for before they’re gone. Please note that this holiday’s minimum stay is July 2, 3, and 4, 2026.

Reserve your camping spot today at camp.IN.gov.

FORESTRY EDUCATION: The Indiana DNR Division of Forestry's Community & Urban Forestry program offers guidance and grants for communities to develop and manage their urban forests, as well as educational opportunities for folks wishing to engage with the trees in their community. Events like Indiana Tree Stewards workshops teach volunteers how to care and advocate for their community’s trees, while programs like the Arbor Day Poster Contest challenge students and educators to engage with the trees around them in a creative way!

Want to learn more about what you can do to establish, maintain, and explore your community’s urban forest? Visit dnr.IN.gov/forestry/programs/community-and-urban-forestry/!