Elkhart Historical Society hope to host final two Wild Weekend walks on April 18th and 25th

 

[March 25, 2020] 

“Elkhart Wild Weekends” is hoping for a late start this year and not a complete wash due to the coronavirus.

“Spring will continue, with or without us,” said Elkhart native Gillette Ransom recently when asked about the annual spring nature walks on Elkhart Hill. The Elkhart Historical Society hosts the walks each Saturday in April. Though the activity is outside, the size of the group that would participate would make it a possible violation of the public gathering rules.

Ransom said that the first walk that was set for Saturday, April 4th, and will definitely have to be canceled. There is a good possibility that the walk on April 11th will also have to be canceled as a result of the coronavirus.

Ransom said that they are still hopeful for getting the last two walks in and will use the message on the answering machine for placing reservations as their best way to update the schedule for this year.

The Elkhart walk is a beautiful way to welcome spring to Logan County. The hill is filled with wildflowers that bloom from early spring to late season. Among the highlights of the walk are the carpets of Bluebells that grow wild on the hill in large quantities.

In early spring the woodland is also filled with birds of many varieties and guests have the chance to spot and identify as many as possible.

The Saturday tours also include a guide, often times Ransom herself, who shares stories of the hill, the folklore connected to some of the wildflowers and much more.

On the schedule this year is a special bird banding event on April 25th that will include special guest Tony Rothering. He is a biology professor at Lincoln Land Community College and was the special guest last year for the last weekend of the spring event. During that time he led a catch-band-release program to tag birds that migrate to and reside on Elkhart Hill.

If and when the walks take place this year, there will be two tours each Saturday, one at 10 a.m. and a second at 2 p.m. Tours also offer a lunch option at Wild Hare Café, if permissible.

To make a reservation, get details on pricing and find out when tours may start up, call 217-947-2238.

[Nila Smith]