Bedford Park Outdoor Program Series presents Wilderness Ethics

BEDFORD – Mia Gilbert and Virginia Lauterbach from the Hoosier National Forest will present a program on how land management agencies preserve wilderness and keep areas wild and pristine on Tuesday, July 27th as part of the Bedford Park Outdoor Program Series. The program will be at 6:00 pm at the Otis Park Bath House. The Bath House is between the Red Brick Mansion and the main office for the golf course.

If you have hiked the Charles C. Deam Wilderness, climbed the fire tower, or ridden horses on the trails in the area, this is a program for you. The program will cover wilderness ethics and stewardship, and includes a variety of other topics.

Gilbert works in Public Affairs, and Lauterback in Forest Recreation and the two will discuss how those who visit and use the natural areas are key to the preservation and conservation of any special area. They will discuss Leave No Trace ethics, fire safety, recreation, and ecological management, and managing wildlife habitat in the Deam Wilderness. They can explain what you can do to help protect these natural resources. Bring your questions, and learn about these special places and what you can do to protect them.

The free, one-hour educational program will be presented in the historic Otis Park Bath House.  The bathhouse is enclosed and air-conditioned. Please RSVP for the program by June 23 at 812-275-5692 to ensure they have enough handouts and chairs accessible for all attendees.

Mark your calendar for August 17 for a program on Soil Health Fertility. The speaker is Richard Beckort, who is with Purdue Extension in Jackson County.

Though the park programs were canceled during 2020 and early 2021 due to concerns over Covid19, the sponsors are glad to once again offer this series of outdoor programs to the public.