The 2025 Indiana Master Naturalist Gathering: The History of Place

Each year the Indiana Master Naturalist program holds a statewide Gathering. This is a time to learn, to experience new places, to connect with old friends and make new ones. In 2025 we Gathered at Brown County State Park. The second speaker of the first night was Jim Eagleman. Jim is a retired Interpretive Naturalist. 
 
Jim was the perfect person to set the stage for a Gathering in Brown County State Park. He had worked as a DNR Naturalist at Brown County State Park and Turkey Run State Park for over 40 years. During that time, he also earned a master's degree in Botany. So, at the Gathering he came to us with an impressive history of the park, the peoples, and the surrounding land based on his lived experience. He also came to us with the skills of a researcher.  
 
Jim gave us context, new perspectives, and new eyes and ears to experience the Park landscape and wildlife, the Depression-era buildings, but also the interplay with settlers and the Park, and the artisan community of Nashville Indiana and the Park. We learned how the glaciers that impacted much of Indiana stopped short of what would be known as Brown County. However, the glacier meltwater helped form the ridges, gullies, and slopes of Brown County State Park. The soil, dirt, and stone influenced which trees would grow in the area. The stones, ground openings, and vegetation made it a perfect home for Timber Rattlesnakes. We were reminded that we would learn about the snakes and see one the following day. 
 
He reminded us of how beautiful the Brown County State Park is. It is known as the Little Smokies. The park is almost 16,000 acres in size. Next to the park is Yellowwood State Forest. This was a place of natural beauty and wildlife. Many of the buildings are part of the contribution of the Civilian Conservation Corps from the Great Depression. Jim spoke of how settlers had removed most of the forest in Indiana in a short period of time. He talked about the interplay of the international artisan community of Nashville Indiana and the more modest local farmers. 
 
During the 2025 Gathering we experienced historic rainfall. We did not ride horses, walk trails, or visit historic sites. However, because of his talk we knew how to savor the area on our own. Jim Eagleman was clear, it is our job as Master Naturalists to make the geological history, the natural history, and the human history of the parks and preserves we volunteer at come alive. It is our job to help visitors experience wonder, to ask questions, and to care about the land and wildlife in their areas.  ​

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