Military camping on tap at Hoosier Outdoor Experience

Indiana DNR Release:

Fort Harrison State Park was once the site of a bustling military base, opened in 1906 by President Theodore Roosevelt and named in honor of former President Benjamin Harrison, an Indianapolis resident. Today, visitors to the state park can view the remains of a former military training camp, a Civilian Conservation Corps camp, and a World War II prisoner of war camp.

Military camps like Fort Harrison have had a profound effect on recreational family camping in the last century. That impact will be on display during the Hoosier Outdoor Experience on Sept. 26-27, at Fort Harrison State Park.

“The Museum of 20th Century Warfare plans to teach Hoosier Outdoor Experience participants about the development of current camping equipment as it relates to military equipment, by discussing the history of Fort Harrison,” said Mark Pennington, club member of the Museum of 20th Century Warfare.

Dan Bortner, director of the DNR Division of State Parks and Reservoirs, said: “We are fortunate in today’s day and age to have so many wonderful camping opportunities. Much of what we know about recreational camping comes from what was learned by military campers. This will be an interesting opportunity to learn about those contributions.”

The Hoosier Outdoor Experience is a family-friendly event that is the first of its kind in Indiana. Unlike traditional trade shows, visitors will be able to enjoy hands-on experiences in a wide range of outdoor activities, such as fly fishing, target shooting, archery, kayaking, mountain biking, hiking, rock climbing, camping and much more.

The Hoosier Outdoor Experience is presented by the Department of Natural Resources and the Indiana Natural Resources Foundation, with sponsorship support from the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust; Ball Brothers Foundation; WXIN-Fox 59, Indianapolis; and numerous other sponsors.

Parking, admission, activities, demonstrations and seminars are free to the public, but online registration is required. To register, go to hoosieroutdoorexperience.IN.gov and click on the yellow registration icon.

Event updates can be found at hoosieroutdoorexperience.IN.gov or on Facebook.