Yellowstone National Park.

What better way to think ahead to spring and the outdoors than to learn about our National and Indiana State Parks? Please join The Frankfort Public Library for “A Walk in Our Parks” taking place May 5 through May 31. Activities will be held in conjunction with the Friends of the Frankfort Library’s Annual Meeting on May 13, where we will share a variety of programs and exhibits on the history of these parks, breathtaking photos, and captivating authors and presenters.

Mark Woods, author of Lassoing the Sun: A Year in America’s National Parks will kick off the month and hold a virtual author talk on Thursday, May 5 at 6 p.m. Mr. Woods received the Eugene C. Pulliam Fellowship where he built his project around the National Park Service. He will discuss his book where he spent one year exploring the future of our national parks. His plan was to reconnect with the great outdoors, take his mother to a park she had not yet visited, and recreate childhood trips with his wife and their iPad-generation daughter. Five weeks into the year, his mother received a terminal diagnosis, turning the quest into something much more personal. This book is about the national parks, truly connecting with family, the legacies we inherit, and the ones we leave behind.

Exhibit: May 6 through May 31 Enjoy an informative historical exhibit, courtesy of the National Archives, Indiana Department of Natural Resources, and the Indiana Historical Society. Vintage photo prints, including current works by local artist, Cherri Flora, will be available for purchase. Cherri has visited 38 of our 63 national parks, and her   photographs are exquisite!

 Nathan Strange, author of The Complete Guide to Indiana State Parks, will join us at the library on May 13 at 5 p.m. for a book discussion. In addition to writing, Nathan is a naturalist who has visited all 25 state parks.  Each park is profiled in the book, including an engaging history and descriptions of the best trails. Nathan will be   available to sign his books after his presentation.

 Glory-June Greiff, Indiana historian and author of People, Parks, and Perceptions: A History and Appreciation of Indiana State Parks will present in the Library’s Skanta Theatre on May 13 at 6:30 p.m. Ms. Greiff has been working on history and preservation projects for 30 years and has a wealth of knowledge about our parks and history in general. One of her most recent achievements was helping add Frankfort’s TPA Park to the National Register of Historic Places. She will dive deep into the creation of the Civilian Conservation Corps and our state parks. Afterwards, she will also be available to sign her books. Glory-June is also part of our Hoosier Storyteller program, and her presentation will be recorded and archived on the library’s website.

Additional activities on May 13 beginning at 3:30 p.m. are “campfire” stories with our Children’s Department, as well as a sampling of treats prepared by Girl Scout Troop #810 and Hoppy Bray. Indiana Dunes National Park Ranger, Kip Walton, will host a fun and informative presentation with the help of a few animals from that area.

Please be sure to visit the exhibit at the library on May 13 before or after the special programs. These programs and exhibits are free and open to the public.

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