The Indiana State Parks & Reservoirs’ volunteers and partners mission is to build widespread support for the division’s programs, facilities, and resources (natural, cultural, and human) by individuals, groups, and the business community, and to foster philanthropic traditions through recognition of this support.
Why Friends?
Friends Groups provide a unique support system for our properties. Members are people who love our parks and reservoirs and want to help keep them healthy for future generations. Our friends groups volunteer to help with events, work on trails, fundraiser for specific projects and offer other financial support for the purchase of equipment, supplies, or other materials as needed. In the process, the people who belong to these groups meet new people, have opportunities to learn and grow and gain the satisfaction of helping support our sites.
In general, the purposes of our local friends groups include the following:
- Support the conservation and enhancement of the natural and cultural resources that are the foundation of state parks and reservoirs.
- Support interpretation and education that enriches visitor experiences and encourages land use ethics and appreciation for the unique natural and cultural resources of Indiana.
- Support the design, construction, and maintenance of facilities that enhance visitor experiences at state parks and reservoirs.
- Support scientific research that leads to a better understanding of the natural and cultural resources of state parks and/or reservoirs.
- Generate funding, separate from revenue and legislative appropriations, to be used for conservation of resources, facilities, and interpretation through memberships, grants, gifts, bequests, or other means.
- Provide an avenue of volunteer service for Indiana’s citizens that enriches their lives.
Support a Local Friends Group
There are several ways to help a Friends Group. One is to become a member. Each of our Friends Groups needs new members. You can be a monetary member. Yearly memberships are inexpensive but greatly help the property. Or you can be an active member. Active members are needed to help keep events and projects going. Please consider joining a group today. Don’t feel like joining but still want to help? Come to one of the many events sponsored by our Friends groups.
Upcoming Events:
- None at this time
Which Sites Have Friends Groups?
We currently have friends groups for these properties:
- Blue Grass Fish & Wildlife Area (FWA)
- Brown County State Park:
- Cagles Mill Lake (Lieber SRA)
- Charlestown State Park:
- Clifty Falls State Park
- Falls of the Ohio State Park:
- Fort Harrison State Park:
- Hardy Lake:
- Harmonie State Park:
- Indiana Dunes State Park:
- Indiana Parks Alliance (State Parks and Nature Preserves):
- Lincoln State Park:
- Loblolly Marsh Nature Preserve:
- McCormick's Creek State Park:
- Mississinewa Lake
- Mounds State Park:
- Ouabache State Park:
- Pokagon State Park:
- Potato Creek State Park:
- Shakamak State Park:
- Spring Mill State Park:
- Tippecanoe River State Park
- Turkey Run and Shades State Parks:
- Upper Wabash Interpretive Services (Salamonie and Mississinewa Reservoirs and J. E. Roush Lake Fish & Wildlife Area):
- Versailles State Park
NOTE: If you visit the links above, you are leaving the Indiana Department of Natural Resources website. The DNR does not control and cannot guarantee the relevance, timeliness, or accuracy of the materials provided by other agencies or organizations, nor does the DNR endorse other agencies or organizations, their views, products, or services.
How Can I Start a Friends Group?
If you are interested in helping to start a friends group for your favorite state park or reservoir property, contact the property manager or the full-time interpretive naturalist to see if it is an option in that location. You will need a core group of individuals who can work hard; serve as the initial officers; coordinate articles of incorporation; establish non-profit status with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS); publicize and support the groups organization the first few years. There is time and energy involved, but it can be a rewarding effort.
