NR gift ideas for those who don't need more stuff

Indiana DNR Release

The Indiana DNR has gift solutions for the person on your gift list who's more concerned about the state's outdoors than about acquiring more stuff. Convenient contributions in that person's name can be made to support a number of outdoor causes.

Help schools fund field trips for children to Indiana state parks and reservoirs by donating to the Discovering the Outdoors Fund, administered through the Indiana Natural Resources Foundation (IndianaNRF.org). Go to http://www.IN.gov/ai/appfiles/inrf-donations/ and include "Discovering the Outdoors Fund" in the "In Honor Of/Memory Of" line.

Support a person's favorite state park or reservoir with a financial gift in their honor. Contact Ginger Murphy at (317) 232-4143, gmurphy@dnr.IN.gov, or write to State Parks and Reservoirs, 402 W. Washington St., Room W298, Indianapolis, IN 46204. You can also give a Friends Group membership to McCormick’s Creek, Spring Mill, Lincoln, Falls of the Ohio, Indiana Dunes, Potato Creek, Mounds, Turkey Run/Shades or Brown County state parks, Hardy Lake, Cagles Mill Lake (Lieber SRA) or the Upper Wabash Reservoirs using the same contact information.

Support plans to develop a raptor education program and outdoor viewing area for birds at the Salamonie Interpretive Center. This facility supports nature and history programming for Mississinewa Lake, Salamonie Lake and Ouabache State Park. Contact the Indiana Natural Resources Foundation (IndianaNRF.org) at http://www.IN.gov/ai/appfiles/inrf-donations/ and include "Upper Wabash Raptors" in the "In Honor of/Memory Of" line.

Support the Dwight Chamberlain Raptor Rehabilitation Center at Hardy Lake, where injured hawks and owls receive care and are released. Permanently injured birds are used in programming for schools and families. Contact Leslie Grow at (812) 794-3800.

Support the restoration of the kitchen in the John Lusk Home at Turkey Run State Park. Lusk owned and protected the land that eventually became the park. Contact the Indiana Natural Resources Foundation (IndianaNRF.org) at http://www.IN.gov/ai/appfiles/inrf-donations/ and include "Lusk Home kitchen" in the "In Honor of/Memory Of" line.

Contribute to the Crossroads Campaign through the Falls of the Ohio Foundation, which is designed to fund the complete redevelopment of new world-class exhibits at the Falls of the Ohio Interpretive Center in Clarksville. See www.fallsoftheohio.org.

Support land acquisition and a variety of other projects throughout the DNR by contributing to Indiana Heritage Trust. Contact (317) 233-1002, nheinzelman@dnr.IN.gov, or write to: The Indiana Heritage Trust, 402 W. Washington St., W256, Indianapolis, IN 46204

Make sure to give your child or grandchild the gift of a time for a winter hike, a hunting trip or a nature center visit at a state park, reservoir or state forest trail in January. Annual passes, lake permits and state park inn gift certificates are available at any state park or reservoir or online at www.innsgifts.com.

Written acknowledgments for donations can be provided. For up-to-date information about happenings in the DNR, visit dnr.IN.gov.