LC Nature Park: Under the Beams

LC Nature Park is a unique preserve in Northeast Indiana. It is a 200 acre preserve in the Little River Valley. The land was originally the preserve of Chief Akima Neewilenkwanka of the Myaamia. The goals of the park are to:

• Preserve native species.
• Preserve the park as one unit.
• Expose the beauty of Indiana flora and fauna.
• Provide a venue and opportunity of education, camaraderie, friendship, and fun through food and fire.

 
You know the valley is a natural beauty because ACRES LandTrust and Little River Wetlands Projects also have neighboring preserves down the road. However, the other preserves look like preserves. They are either wetlands or prairies. L.C. Nature Park is different. It resembles a safari park. It has two old barns that have been restored. It has grasslands, ancient dune, and wetlands. The park has a herd of bison representing the biodiversity that was pre- European settlement Indiana. There is also a herd of elk. They also represent the other large mammal population that was part of pre-settlement Indiana.  The park has five miles of hiking trails. It is home to the Trillium Fest. Events include birding, lectures, bonfires and singing, and camps. In the future both the two herds and a foraging hike will be highlighted. However, this post is not about animals, it is about barns.
 
 On a beautiful Friday evening in July the park presented, Under the Beams. This was a presentation by Duncan Campbell. He served as past director of the Historic Preservation Graduate program at Ball State University. He is the acknowledged local expert on all things related to historic barns in Northeast Indiana. The presentation was held in the educational center which highlighted many of the concepts of barn architecture he discussed. His lecture and PowerPoint presentation drew a picture of immigration to the area. The forms of barns were determined by the materials present and the jobs the barns were tasked with. He gave an ethnohistory of the structures while we enjoyed locally brewed coffee and apple pie. The evening ended with a hike to the second barn and as a group we applied what we learned. LC Nature Park proved you can have an interesting educational experience, have fun, and enjoy a beautiful setting at the same time. 

---