We have improved your program registration experience! We have transitioned to a new online registration system, making it much easier to register for all of the Parks’ programs from your computer, smart phone or tablet. Don’t worry though, phone and walk-in registration are still available! This new system will also allow us to accept credit card payments for both program registration and select event purchases (check and cash are still accepted).

In order to make this transition as smooth as possible, we recommend you hop online to www.darkecountyparks.org now to register your household with our system. Taking this one-time step now will save you time in the future when you register for programs. We are very excited about this new system. If you have questions, don’t hesitate to ask Robb at the Nature Center.

Freezing nights and thawing days are the start to a bottle of maple syrup! This early spring event at Shawnee Prairie offers guided tours through history and science as we learn the process of turning sap into syrup. After our tour of the woods, we’ll visit the sugar shack where you can warm up in the steam-filled evaporator room as the sap spends countless hours boiling down to syrup. Be sure to stop by the log house or blacksmith shop to visit with our pioneer volunteers, and the Nature Center gift shop (full of maple goodies) to complete your day at the prairie. Tours will begin at 8am.

The Friends of the Parks will once again be serving up a hearty breakfast of waffles, sausage, juice, coffee, and pure maple syrup for just a $6 donation towards the Friends’ mission! Children ages 3-12 are only a $3 donation and those under 3 years old are free! After breakfast, take a maple syrup tour, grab some fantastic maple-themed baked goods, enter the 50/50 raffle, and visit the log house historical area. Stop by the Nature Center to purchase your pre-sale tickets, or tickets can be bought at the door. Breakfast will be served from 8am-12pm.