Outdoor Living

Last summer, we had season passes to a local outdoor treetop climbing course, Edge Adventures–Rum Village in South Bend. We love it for many reasons: • Sense of adventure – It’s been perfect for teens who want to try new things! I really enjoy the ziplines. • Spending time outdoors – I love being in the trees, seeing the leaves up close, passing squirrel and other nests, and enjoying the fresh air. • Getting exercise – This has been a good workout for us! You can go slower or speed things up as you master basic climbs. • Building climbing skills – The course actually requires problem solving, planning ahead, and figuring out hand and foot holds. • Seeing things from different perspectives – We really do get a bird’s eye view from up in the trees. Such a calming experience when we’re comfortable with the course.

If you’re thinking about going, watch for an online special or discount. Two to three hours are usually plenty for us and wear us out. Reserve your spot online (https://edgeadventureparks.com/) and fill out the online waiver before you go to save time. Check height, weight, age and other requirements to verify you can climb. To protect your hands, bring garden gloves or get gloves at the venue. Tie back long hair. We bring water bottles to sip between courses. Go to the bathroom before you start climbing to optimize climb time. The guides will walk you through putting on the safety harness and gear, give a safety overview, and have you practice a training course close to the ground. This gives the participant a chance to get used to clipping into the course and using the zipline before they get higher in the air.

Once you climb the ladder, there are three levels of difficulty, with a couple of options. The guide will have you do one of the easy levels first, a medium difficulty level, and then you can choose the harder options if desired. To do all three levels, it will take two to three hours. Courses typically get faster over time as you understand better how to get through the challenges. Typically, the guides and other climbers can give pointers on how to tackle the obstacles. Enjoy climbing through the trees!

Dr. Carla Gull blogs at www.insideoutsidemichiana. com and hosts the podcast Loose Parts Nature Play. She is often seen with four tag-along explorers in the greater Michiana area.

Middlebury Community Public Library

Come celebrate the first day of Summer with yoga led by Theresa Hochstetler in Krider World’s Fair Garden. This is a community event for all levels on June 21 at 5:30 p.m. Bring your own mat for a relaxing socially distanced hour on the longest day of the year. Donations accepted with a percentage going to the Middlebury Parks Flower Fund.

This year’s garden was planted with pink on green begonias, not in the traditional ribbon shape but using the logo of Middlebury Walks for a Cure. This garden within Krider World’s Fair Garden is to bring attention to the Breast Cancer Walk which raises money annually for local cancer care. “I walk in memory of those we’ve lost. I walk in honor of those fighting. I walk so that our children will not have to.”

Our parks have increased in value over the past year of the pandemic. People were grateful for Zoom and other social media to keep in touch, but they missed in-person meetings with friends and family. When meeting at indoor spaces was taboo, people found our parks to be an ideal space to enjoy sociallydistanced friends.

A group of women from the Middlebury Church of the Brethren had been meeting at local cafés and restaurants until March but after a summer hiatus they decided in October to meet in Krider World’s Fair Garden. Winter stopped that, but spring finds them once again enjoying each other’s company outdoors.

Likewise, the virtual story hour at the library was a good thing, but as the library’s newsletter said, “We miss seeing your faces IN PERSON and hearing you sing along, so let’s get together at the park.” Miss Beth moved her story hour to Riverbend Park for four weeks, doing the same things they always do for story time: songs, manipulatives (scarves, shakers, etc), books, and fun!

People who live along the trails have noticed an increased number of people using the trails for dog-walking, jogging, or just getting out of the house. How have you used your parks recently?

Mark your calendars for a day of adventure and edu-tainment celebrating toads and other amphibians. It’s gonna be “Toad-ily awesome!”

Contributed by Elma Chapman The Literary Carousel is back after a year’s absence. The format has undergone some dramatic changes which we hope will give more people a chance to be involved and to be safe while participating. Plan now to attend the third Middlebury Literary Carousel, which will be held June 2-11 at the Middlebury Community Public Library, 101 E. Winslow Street. The Carousel is a celebration of the arts: literature, music, storytelling, and drawing. It’s an opportunity for everyone, children and adults, to meet authors, hear their stories, and be entertained. There will be 10 sessions total on various dates. All programs will be outdoors in a tent on the library lawn and are free to the public.

Events begin June 7 at 10 a.m. with the Roz Puppets presenting George and the Dragon, a whimsical retelling of a classic tale in the times of dragons and enchanted creatures. A young lad, George, will face the terrible dragon of legend. But how fierce is this dragon? Is he really as bad as the tale would have us believe? All questions will be answered in this fun, furry and unforgettable story.

On June 3 at 1 p.m. the Carousel continues with a presentation by John David Anderson, From Start to Finish: How to Write a Story That Hooks Your Reader and Reels Them In. This will be a fun, hands-on fiction writing workshop that will get your imagination going. We will talk about what makes for a compelling story, engage in some fun creative exercises, and then try our hand at writing both engaging beginnings and satisfying conclusions. Bring your brain – everything else will be included. This is for middle school students in grades 5-7 and participation is limited to 25, so registration is required early. Program duration is 45-60 minutes. Anderson’s appearance is provided by the Indiana Humanities Novel Conversations.

On June 4 at 11 a.m. the Indiana State Museum will present Fred the Mastodon, an Ice Age mammal who wanders the Indiana landscape searching for his herd. Animal adaptations and the importance of friendship are explored during this 30-minute interactive show. Children will have a chance to participate in the show through puppetry as other Ice Age animals are introduced, including owls, dire wolves, and bison. The Carousel continues the following week with Pretty Funny Balloons on June 7 at 1 p.m. Tails and Tales will explore the animal kingdom using balloons and humor. We will read and act out a book with audience volunteers and balloons, and teach you how to make your own balloon animal to take home. You will learn about the biggest, smallest, cutest, and deadliest animals in the world and how we can protect the environment where animals live.

Also on June 7 a virtual program will be presented by local artist Maria Guevara. This video showing a step-by-step postcard watercolor project will be released on Facebook for pre-registered participants. Materials to complete the craft can be picked up at the library June 1.

June 8 is a double feature for adults. At 6 p.m. Danny Graber, author of Seasons of Amish Life: Rhythms of the Year, will present Telling a Story Through Photographs. He will explain how to capture the heart of a community through photography, how he approached this visual storytelling project, and the ways in which he gained the trust of the Amish community. He will share photography tips and tricks along with the images from his book. He will also have copies of his book for sale. Then at 7 p.m. Lovina Eicher, the Amish Cook, will talk about her work writing a weekly newspaper column and authoring several cookbooks. She will provide an opportunity to ask questions and purchase a signed copy of her cookbook.

On June 9 at 1 p.m. it’s back to children’s programming with Leonardo, who will present Rockin’ and Reading. Bring your dancing shoes and best air guitar moves! Leonardo is a Parents’ Choice Award-winning family musician from Chicago who will be strumming into town with a humorous, high-energy musical program that inspires little rockers to become big readers. This highly interactive performance has plenty of sing-alongs and dance moves to inspire imagination, creativity, and a love of reading in audiences of all ages and abilities.

On June 10 at 6:30 Lou Ann Homan will present Summer in the British Isles: Faeries, folk and stories that bump in the night. Join her as she journeys across the sea for stories set in England, Ireland, and Wales. These stories will be sure to make you long for lazy summer days and watch for ghosts that meander during the nighttime hours. Her presentations are delightful for the whole family.

Wrap up the activities on June 11 at 10 a.m. with Middlebury Community Public Library’s Children’s Librarian Beth Adcock (“Miss Beth”), and Leap Into Science. Have you ever seen light? Have you ever seen a shadow? Whether you have or you haven’t, this program will help you explore both to a deeper understanding. This family program will be full of asking questions, discussing thoughts, listening to a book and exploring how to make shadows in your home. The program celebrates National Leap Into Science Week.

The Literary Carousel offers something for everyone. Be sure to catch at least some of these great programs!

IGT Indiana, the integrated services provider to the Hoosier Lottery, donated approximately $15,000 worth of technology and equipment. The computer lab will allow the Middlebury Club to serve more than 1,500 children during the school year and summer. “The Boys & Girls Clubs of Elkhart County does a tremendous job serving our youth, and IGT Indiana is honored to provide computers and technology to the Club as part of our continued commitment to charitable giving within the communities we serve,” said Melissa Pursley, IGT Indiana’s Chief Operating Officer & General Manager. The Middlebury Club was able to purchase Chromebooks, a charging cart, LEGO Education Spike Prime supplies and other equipment which will help with STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) programs. “IGT Indiana’s generous donation will greatly enhance the lives of our Middlebury Club members every year by providing them with access to the latest in advanced computer technology,” said Kevin Deary, Boys & Girls Clubs of Elkhart County President and CEO. “This act of kindness demonstrates how much the community cares about the future of our youth, and it will inspire the students to study more, set goals and follow their dreams.” The Boys & Girls Clubs of Elkhart County provide a quality Club Experience that assures success is within reach of every young person who enters their doors, with all members on track to graduate from high school with a plan for the future, equipped with the skills needed to have a successful life, and demonstrating good character and citizenship. “Words cannot describe the excitement of our board, staff and the kids of our Middlebury Club. Education with STEM programming is vital in preparing our children for the future. This lab allows us to show our kids, families and community that preparing our children for the future is our Club’s priority,” said Dean Miller, President of the Middlebury Club Board. “Thank you to IGT Indiana for your support of our kids who need us most.”

106 W. WARREN • P.O. BOX 157

MIDDLEBURY, IN 46540