All posts by Friends of Lincoln State Park

Fundraising, Latest News

Remember to Support Us When Shopping Online

SUPPORT FRIENDS OF LINCOLN STATE PARK THROUGH ONLINE SHOPPING!  If you plan on doing any of your holiday shopping online at Amazon this season, don’t forget that you can support us with your online purchases through Amazon Smile.  To get started, just follow this link:  https://smile.amazon.com/ch/20-1033838 and sign in using your existing Amazon account.

If you don’t follow the link provided, just go to smile.amazon.com and sign in using your existing Amazon account to make your purchase and designate Friends of Lincoln State Park as the charity your wish to support.

A small percentage of your purchase will be donated by Amazon to the Friends of Lincoln State Park.

Happy shopping and Happy Holidays from the Friends of Lincoln State Park!

Events, Latest News, Newsletters

2021 Friends of Lincoln State Park Activity Report

2021 began with the completion of a 2020 project – our Friends group purchased all new message boards for the park with help from a grant from our local community foundation.  Those message boards were installed early this year and have been a help to the park staff in posting information about events and activities throughout the park. 

On May 1st, we hosted our annual Mr. Lincoln’s Neighborhood 5K Run/Walk after cancelling in 2020 due to COVID.  We had around 80 registrants and a very successful event.  Each participant received an event t-shirt (with a design that paid homage to the Mars Perseverance Rover wearing a Lincoln stovepipe hat).  We also received donations for door prizes that were given away in a drawing after the event. 

In August, we volunteered on a Saturday to renovate the outdoor bird viewing area at the Nature Center.  We removed a lot of overgrown vegetation, placed a new liner in the pond that we purchased, and then placed stones around the edge of the pond.  We also installed a new water pump in the pond donated by local sports shop owner Barbara Ayer and purchased some new bird feeders. 

In September, we provided popcorn and drinks and information about our Friends group at the Pioneer Day event held at the Col. William Jones Historic Home.  Other volunteers demonstrated pioneer skills including cooking, spinning, and hatchet throwing.  Plans are for this to be an annual event that we will help with and support in the future as well.    

The Friends group also purchased four dog waste receptacles with signage that have been recently installed in the park for dog walkers who have already put them to good use.

In October, we once again hosted our Fall Frolic events in the campground which included lots of crafts, games, pumpkin painting, hay rides, popcorn, and a Halloween egg hunt.  We charged modest fees for most of the activities (as usual) and this serves as a significant fundraiser for us each year.  These activities were also back to normal after being severely scaled back in 2020 due to COVID. 

Our efforts to attract new members included mailing letters seeking memberships as well as having our information flyer available in the park and at events.  We also posted membership information on our Facebook, Instagram and Twitter pages and on our website. 

We made a concerted effort to increase our number of volunteers this year.  Each year we are a sponsor of the Lincoln Amphitheatre located in the park and in return we receive two tickets to each event that we give away in random drawings.  This year we created an online entry form that included a survey with several questions including gauging interest in volunteering.  We were able to take the responses to the survey and contact several new volunteers who helped at our Fall Frolic events. 

Our current major project that will go into 2022 is providing funding for significant trail improvement work on trail #1 around the lake…which is the most popular trail in the park.  At the end of 2020, we received a generous donation of $5,000 from a member of the community and we have earmarked those funds for the trail improvements.

Save these dates for events coming up in 2022:

First Wednesday of each month at 6 PM CT:  Monthly meetings

Wednesday, Feb 16               Member Appreciation Dinner

Saturday, May 7                    Mr. Lincoln’s Neighborhood 5K

Saturday, Oct 1                      Pioneer Day at Historic Col. Jones Home

Saturday, Oct 15                    Fall Frolic

Saturday, Oct 22                    Fall Frolic

Events, Lincoln Amphitheatre

Enter to Win Lincoln Amphitheatre Tickets

The Lincoln Amphitheatre concert season is in full swing and even though some events have sold out, we have tickets to every single concert in the 2021 season and we want to give them away!

Entering our contest is simple. Just complete and submit the survey form below and you will be entered and have a chance to win tickets to each and every 2021 event. You only need to submit the form once to be entered in every drawing. When you submit the form you can choose to be entered for all concerts or only the ones you choose. Good luck!!

We will select winners Thursday afternoon before each event except that the winner of tickets to the July 17 concert will be selected on Saturday morning. Be sure to provide a valid email address and phone number where we can contact you if you are a winner. Notifications will be made by email and text message.

Events, Fitness, Hiking, Latest News

Mr. Lincoln’s Neighborhood 5K Results

Thank you to everyone who participated in the 11th Mr. Lincoln’s Neighborhood 5K a success! Your support and the help of our volunteers with an assist from Honest Abe himself made for a very successful event. We hope you had a good time and will join us again next year. If you didn’t make it, be sure to save next year’s date of May 7, 2022.

We want to congratulate our top finishers (pictured below) for a job well done. The top adult male finisher and top finisher overall was Donald Scherers of Celestine who finished with a time of 20:42. The top adult female finisher was Kathy Flannagan of Santa Claus with a time of 25:29. The top boy finisher under 16 was Casey Steczyk of Ferdinand with a time of 25:14 and the top girl finisher under 16 was Dylan Steczyk of Ferdinand with a time of 27:27. Congratulations to the winners and everyone who persevered and finished the course! Complete results are at the end of this post.

Pictured above left to right: Don Scherers of Celestine, Dyaln and Casey Steczyk of Ferdinand, and Kathy Flannagan of Santa Claus. In the center is President Abraham Lincoln (of course) portrayed by Dean Dorrell.

Final Results

PlaceFirst NameLast NameHometownCategoryTime
1DonaldScherersCelestineman20:42:00
2Mike BrownChrisney man25:02:00
3CaseySteczykFerdinandboy-0-1525:14:00
4KathyFlannaganSanta Clauswoman25:29:00
5Bridget FlannaganSanta Clauswoman25:32:00
6EmiSteczykFerdinandwoman25:44:00
7DylanSteczykFerdinandgirl-0-1527:27:00
8JaymeBlessingerNewburghboy-0-1527:28:00
9ChadSchniedersSanta Clausman29:17:00
10JeremyEvansNewburghman31:30:00
11MarkWahlLincoln Cityman32:37:00
12SarahKluenderLamarwoman37:03:00
13RyanFlanaganSanta Clausman37:37:00
14JamesMarchinoEvansvilleman39:18:00
15JeffJonesOwensboroman41:05:00
16GinaDuppsOakland Citywoman43:17:00
17LilyanaHoffmanBirdseyeboy-0-1544:25:00
18Angela HoffmanBirdseyewoman44:26:00
19EarlenePreher Leopoldwoman44:39:00
20NevaehHaydenChrisneygirl-0-1545:26:00
21AveryHaydenChrisneygirl-0-1545:29:00
22KyleighPascoRockportwoman45:31:00
23AbbyPolster Troywoman49:21:00
24CalebPolster Troyboy-0-1549:22:00
25CathyLeistnerDuboiswoman50:56:00
26DianaCoxFt. Branchwoman51:42:00
27AudraCoxFt. Branchwoman51:44:00
28ElyHarrrisGrandview boy-0-1553:24:00
29ArcherHarrisGrandview boy-0-1553:25:00
30MaryFulkerson Grandview woman54:07:00
31NancyKamufOwensborowoman54:07:00
32CarolineWilsonTennysonwoman54:37:00
33JoycePhilippsFerdinand woman54:38:00
34BonnieHohlLincoln Citywoman54:43:00
35LoganMusgraveSanta Clausman54:44:00
36MarkMagillBoonvilleman54:48:00
37PamBlessingerSt. Anthonywoman55:04:00
38Dean BegleLincoln Cityman55:13:00
39JohnGintarSanta Clausman55:20:00
40TonyElpersman55:22:00
41AmyHarrisGrandview woman55:25:00
42KatyMagillGrandview woman55:26:00
43Faye MagillSmithChrisneywoman55:27:00
44JimAndersonGentryvilleman56:48:00
45RussellPascoRockportman59:52:00
46MyraJamesonChrisneywoman59:58:00
47LeoStriegelJasperman59:58:00
48TroyHaydenChrisneyman1:00:04
49JosephBegleLincoln Cityman
50Joy ZookChrisneywoman
51JeffZookChrisneyman
52CalebHaydenChrisneyman
53AprilHaydenChrisneywoman
54NoraHarrisBoonvillewoman
55KayleePascoRockportwoman
56KaisonPascoRockportboy-0-15

We would also like to thank the management and staff of Lincoln State Park for their help and support for today’s race and Dean Dorrell for his appearance as President Abraham Lincoln.

Finally, we would like to give one final thank you to all of our sponsors for today’s event: Dubois County Tire, Holiday Foods, Lincoln Amphitheatre, Messmer Mechanical, Spencer Industries, Price & Associates, LLC, Julie E. Schmitt Tax & Accounting Service, Martin-Serrin Insurance, Spencer County Bank, Uebelhor & Sons, Universal Design Associates, Thermwood Corporation, Pro-Rehab, and Freedom Bank.

Latest News

5K Early Registration Discount Ends Saturday

Just a reminder that Saturday, May 1 is the deadline for receiving the early registration discount and guaranteeing your event t-shirt for the 11th Mr. Lincoln’s Neighborhood 5K. You have persevered through the pandemic, gotten your vaccine and made it almost halfway through 2021…congratulations! Celebrate with us by coming out to Lincoln State Park on May 8 for the 5K Run/Walk. To sign up and get registered just click here. You’ll be able to register for the discount up until midnight Saturday night. Don’t wait!

Events, Fitness, Hiking, Latest News

Mr. Lincoln’s Neighborhood 5K is Back!

Mr. Lincoln’s Neighborhood Returns on May 8
Early Registration Now Open Online

LINCOLN CITY, IND.—  The Friends of Lincoln State Park and Indiana Department of Natural Resources will co-host the 11th Mr. Lincoln’s Neighborhood 5K Run/Walk on Saturday, May 8 at 9:00 a.m. CDT in Lincoln State Park.  This year’s 5K run/walk route will once again start and end at the Lake Lincoln Beach parking lot.  The route will consist of the paved park roadways and some hiking trails.  Prizes will be awarded to the first place male and female finishers for both adults and kids under 16.  Random door prizes will also be awarded during the event including Indiana State Park annual passes, gift cards, gift certificates, and more.    

“We are very excited to be bringing back Mr. Lincoln’s Neighborhood 5K after having to cancel the 2020 event due to COVID.  Based upon improving conditions and the outdoor nature of this event, we are confident we can conduct a safe and fun 5K.  Our 5K through Mr. Lincoln’s Indiana neighborhood is a perfect way for people of all ages to start or continue a fitness habit and enjoy the natural beauty Lincoln State Park offers. The 5K also supports the many projects and events we do at the park through our Friends group.  Even with COVID limitations in 2020, we were able to provide funds to repair the fishing pier, purchase all new park message boards, a raccoon mount for the Nature Center, and to sponsor an outdoor music performance at the beach.  We are looking forward to supporting more projects and events in 2021 and the 5K will be the kickoff to those efforts.”  

Dan Wilkinson, President of the Friends of Lincoln State Park.

The early registration discount saves entrants $10 when registering by the early deadline of May 1.  Interested walkers and runners may get more details, download registration forms and event flyers, or register online at lspfriends.com.  Completed registration forms can also be sent with a check or money order made payable to Friends of Lincoln State Park, PO Box 601, Chrisney, Indiana, 47611.

  • The early registration fee is $20 per person registering on or before May 1 and $30 from May 2 until race day.  
  • All event participants will receive an event t-shirt while supplies last, with t-shirts guaranteed for early registrants.  Registration forms are also available at the Lincoln State Park office.
  • The registration fee does not include the $7 in-state or $9 out-of-state per car gate fee to enter Lincoln State Park.
  • All proceeds will benefit Friends of Lincoln State Park to support special projects and events at Lincoln State Park. 

For more information regarding the 5K run/walk, participants may call the Lincoln State Park office at (812) 937-4710 or visit lspfriends.com. Lincoln State Park is located 5 miles west of Santa Claus, Indiana on State Road 162 in Lincoln City across the highway from Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial.

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS

Event sponsors as of the date of release:  Dubois County Tire, Holiday Foods, Lincoln Amphitheatre, Messmer Mechanical, Spencer Industries, Price & Associates, LLC, Julie E. Schmitt Tax & Accounting Service, Martin-Serrin Insurance, Spencer County Bank, Uebelhor & Sons, Universal Design Associates, Thermwood Corporation, Pro-Rehab and Freedom Bank.

ABOUT THE FRIENDS OF LINCOLN STATE PARK

Formed in June 2004, the Friends of Lincoln State Park is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization whose mission is to provide volunteer and financial support for events and projects within Lincoln State Park which includes Col. William Jones Home. The organization has invested over $100,000 toward projects and activities at Lincoln State Park since its inception.  Membership in the Friends of Lincoln State Park starts at $25 with varying levels of membership. Membership is open to everyone and all are invited to attend monthly meetings held on the third Wednesday of each month at 6:30 PM in the Nature Center. More information about Lincoln State Park and the Friends of Lincoln State Park can be found by visiting www.lspfriends.com where visitors can get information about membership, activities and events, membership information, sign up to receive a monthly newsletter, and learn about the history contained within the park.

Participants in the 10th Mr. Lincoln’s Neighborhood 5K on May 4, 2019.
Nolan Hargus, Jackson Joyal, Mandy Schaffer and Cora Lasher were the top 5K finishers in 2019.
History, Latest News

Moon Tree Continues to Thrive at Lincoln State Park

Last week, we received a message via Twitter from Steve of Indianapolis. Steve has just visited Lincoln State Park for the very first time and sent us this amazing photo (see below) he took of Lincoln State Park’s “Moon Tree”. It is perhaps fitting that the photo shows our solar system’s very own star and life force, the sun, casting a long shadow across the grass, given this sycamore tree’s long and unique journey to Lincoln. If you aren’t familiar with the “Moon Tree” read on to learn the full story.

This photo of the Lincoln State Park “Moon Tree” was recently taken and sent to us via Twitter by Steve (@hailmary13) of Indianapolis.

On January, 31, 1971, NASA launched Apollo 14 which was the third trip to the moon by the U.S. space program. The Apollo 14 crew consisted of Alan Shepard, Edgar Mitchell, and Stuart Roosa. Shepard and Mitchell would land and walk on the lunar surface while Roosa remained in the command module “Kitty Hawk” orbiting above.

Stuart Roosa was the command module pilot on the Apollo 14 moon mission. Image credit: NASA

Roosa was a former U.S. Forest Service smoke jumper and stowed away in his personal kit were 400-500 tree seeds as part of a joint project between NASA and the U.S. Forest Service. Seeds from five different types of trees were selected for the journey to the moon and back: Loblolly Pine, Sycamore, Sweetgum, Redwood and Douglas Fir. Once the seeds returned to Earth, they were germinated by the Forest Service and planted throughout the United States as part of the celebration of the U.S. bicentennial in 1976.

On May 1, 1976, a sycamore tree seedling from Apollo 14 was planted by the Raintree Council Girl Scouts in Lincoln State Park below the dam near the old Nature Center building.

A stone plaque was installed in 1976 to commemorate the planting of the Lincoln State Park Moon Tree. The Girl Scouts also buried a time capsule that was to be opened on 2001. On May 5, 2001, the time capsule was unearthed and opened and a new time capsule was buried to be opened in 2026.
Image credits: NASA/David Ayer

44 year later, the tree is still healthy and growing. Will this Moon Tree survive to see our next in-person visit to our lunar neighbor? Only time will tell. Next time you’re at the park, take a few minutes to find the Moon Tree and check it out.

Some information for this article was taken from the NASA Space Science Data Coordinated Archive. You can read and learn more at https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/lunar/moon_tree.html.

#LincolnStatePark #IndianaStateParks #MoonTree #NASA #Apollo14

Latest News

Mr. Lincoln’s Neighborhood 5K Rescheduled

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 public health emergency and restrictions on public gatherings, we have made the decision to postpone the 11th Mr. Lincoln’s Neighborhood 5K from May 2 to Saturday, September 12.

If you have already pre-registered, no action is required of you at this time as you are automatically registered for the rescheduled event.  If you wish to register for the event on Sept. 12 simply go to our registration page and follow the instructions.  
This event is an important fundraiser for our organization and raises money that we use for projects and activities that benefit Lincoln State Park.  However, if you pre-registered ON OR BEFORE April 8, 2020, cannot attend on the new date, and wish to request a refund of your registration fee, please send us a message through our Contact Us page.  
Thank you for your patience, understanding and support!

Latest News

Support Us With AmazonSmile

While you’re busy ordering your quarantine supplies at Amazon, why not have a small percentage for your purchase donated to Friends of Lincoln State Park every time you shop. It’s simple and doesn’t cost you anything extra.

How does AmazonSmile work?

When first visiting AmazonSmile, customers are prompted to select a charitable organization from over one million eligible organizations. In order to browse or shop at AmazonSmile, customers must first select a charitable organization. For eligible purchases at AmazonSmile, the AmazonSmile Foundation will donate 0.5% of the purchase price to the customer’s selected charitable organization.

What Do I Need to Do?

Just follow the link: https://smile.amazon.com/ch/20-1033838 or click the button below to select Friends of Lincoln State Park as your designated charity and start shopping!

Events, Fitness, Latest News, Naturalist Programs

Important: Program Schedule Cancellation

Due to the latest restrictions related to the ongoing COVID-19 public health emergency, all in-person programs at Indiana state parks have been cancelled. This means that all scheduled naturalist led hikes at Lincoln State Park (including those scheduled on 3/27 and 3/28) have been cancelled as well. State parks remain open with entrance fees waived, but offices and nature centers are closed to the public. Please practice hand washing and social distancing when visiting the parks.