We will need about 500 sweet gum "gumballs" and about 500 three- or four-inch pine cones for the kids' crafts area, so if you have either of these available on your property, please consider donating some! If you have gum or fir trees but don't have time to collect gumballs or pinecones, that's okay. We can find someone to come out and collect them.
The outline below is TENTATIVE, but gives a general idea of what we are hoping to put together. If you would like to act as lead organizer / chairperson of planning a specific area of the festival--or if you have contacts in the community who could help us plan or donate supplies -- we'd love to hear from you. If you would like to volunteer at the event, we'd love to hear that, too!
We are also looking for local businesses who would be interested in sponsoring a Halloween inflatable display along the hayride route for $150. Sponsors will be recognized in printed event materials and will be named on a sign at their sponsored inflatable. Sponsors can also underwrite a specific area of the festival (kids' crafts, speakers, a hay wagon, etc). For more details or to sign up for a sponsorship, please contact Susan at shaislip@wesselmannaturesociety.org or (812) 479-0771 ext. 100.
ACTIVITIES
non-scary hayrides in Wesselman Park
concessions -- hot dogs, chili, chips, soda, apple cider, hot chocolate, S'mores kits
painting miniature pumpkins -- we are looking for a source to donate or deeply discount the pumpkins and paints
kids' crafts in the nature center lobby
raptor programs
owl pellet dissection workshops
fall leaves talk presented by Julie McDonald from Audubon State Park
gourd talk presented by Master Gardener Debbie Goedde
bat program - ??
2 half-hour Owl Prowl hikes
S'Mores around the campfire ring
stargazing on the golf course
VOLUNTEER TASKS:
solicit donations of money or supplies
pick up donated supplies from donors
pre-event prep work (cut craft supplies, make S'Mores kits, package concession items, etc.)
help with setup
collect money at the gate
work the concession booth
help with the hayrides (load wagons, manage lines, etc.)
supervise pumpkin painting activity
manage campfire area
help with kids' crafts -- three simple crafts, two people for each craft
lead 1 or 2 Owl Prowl hikes each night
tear down
Please contact me (Gena) directly if you have info, want to chair an area, or would like to volunteer! You can email me at masternaturalists@gmail.com or call (812) 204-8475.
