The mission of the Indiana Master Naturalist (IMN) program is to bring together natural resource specialists with adult learners to foster an understanding of Indiana’s plants, water, soils, and wildlife and promote natural resource volunteer service within the State of Indiana.

IMN participants will spend 10 weeks learning about various components of the southern Indiana bioregion by engaging with videos before class and meeting in person for further education and application of the week’s topic.

Become a certified local steward with us at Wesselman Woods!

More information and the schedule of sessions is available through the ‘Learn More’ button below.

IMN Price: $140 for members, $150 for public

** WESSELMAN WOODS MEMBERS RECEIVE A $10 DISCOUNT **
Please email info@wesselmanwoods.org for the discount link.

The mission of the Indiana Master Naturalist (IMN) program is to bring together natural resource specialists with adult learners to foster an understanding of Indiana’s plants, water, soils, and wildlife and promote natural resource volunteer service within the State of Indiana.

IMN participants will spend 10 weeks learning about various components of the southern Indiana bioregion by engaging with videos before class and meeting in person for further education and application of the week’s topic.

Become a certified local steward with us at Wesselman Woods!

More information and the schedule of sessions is available through the ‘Learn More’ button below.

IMN Price: $140 for members, $150 for public

** WESSELMAN WOODS MEMBERS RECEIVE A $10 DISCOUNT. **
Please email info@wesselmanwoods.org for the discount link.

Woodlore: A Cultural History of Trees

Saturday, May 9 from 1-3 PM

Presenter: Levi O’Brien, Tree Educator and Arborist

Levi O’Brien is a faculty instructor at the New York Botanical Garden as well as an instructor at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. He is ISA Certified and a TRAQ Qualified arborist.

As a complement to his in-person work, Levi reaches a combined audience of approximately 170,000 students across Instagram (@leviobrien_trees), Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, and Patreon.

In this session, Levi blends storytelling with his expertise to explore the cultural and historical relationships between people and trees. He shares how trees have shaped human history and invites participants to see them through a richer, more connected lens.

*Pricing for this special Environmental Studies session is $30 for the public and $25 for members.

Sponsored in part by the Evansville Forest Alliance and the Thomas A & Sharon K Ruder Foundation

Calling all bookworms and nature enthusiasts!

We're continuing the collaboration between the Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library and the Wesselman Woods, where we combine the wonder of literature with the beauty of the great outdoors.

Join us for a day of free activities at Howell Wetlands, on Evansville’s west side:

Saturday, May 9 from 10 AM to 2 PM

Your family can enjoy a day of hikes as well as story time sessions and animal encounters. Vanderburgh County residents can sign up for a library card with the EVPL Outreach Team from 10 AM to 2 PM.

SCHEDULE

Throughout Event (10 AM to 2 PM): Self-Guided Hikes and Themed-Crafts with EVPL

• 10 AM = Storytime with EVPL

• 10:30 AM = Animal Encounter

• 11 AM = Storytime with EVPL

• 12:45 PM = Animal Encounter

• 1:15 PM = Storytime with EVPL

Meet Your Neighbors: Tree Id Hike

Saturday, May 9 from 10 AM to Noon

Presenter: Levi O’Brien, Tree Educator and Arborist

Levi O’Brien is a faculty instructor at the New York Botanical Garden as well as an instructor at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. He is ISA Certified and a TRAQ Qualified arborist.

As a complement to his in-person work, Levi reaches a combined audience of approximately 170,000 students across Instagram (@leviobrien_trees), Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, and Patreon.

Levi O’Brien specializes in tree identification, ecology, and biology through hands-on, field-based learning. In this session, he guides participants in tree identification through observation and exploration in the largest urban old-growth forest in the United States.

*Pricing for this special Environmental Studies session is $30 for the public and $25 for members.

Sponsored in part by the Evansville Forest Alliance and the Thomas A & Sharon K Ruder Foundation 

The Save the Mothers 3 km Mother’s Day Walk is happening at Wesselman Woods.

• 9 AM - Registration

• 9:30 AM - Walk Starts

This walk raises awareness and support for maternal and child health in the developing world.

The mission of the Indiana Master Naturalist (IMN) program is to bring together natural resource specialists with adult learners to foster an understanding of Indiana’s plants, water, soils, and wildlife and promote natural resource volunteer service within the State of Indiana.

IMN participants will spend 10 weeks learning about various components of the southern Indiana bioregion by engaging with videos before class and meeting in person for further education and application of the week’s topic.

Become a certified local steward with us at Wesselman Woods!

More information and the schedule of sessions is available through the ‘Learn More’ button below.

IMN Price: $140 for members, $150 for public

** WESSELMAN WOODS MEMBERS RECEIVE A $10 DISCOUNT **
Please email info@wesselmanwoods.org for the discount link.

The mission of the Indiana Master Naturalist (IMN) program is to bring together natural resource specialists with adult learners to foster an understanding of Indiana’s plants, water, soils, and wildlife and promote natural resource volunteer service within the State of Indiana.

IMN participants will spend 10 weeks learning about various components of the southern Indiana bioregion by engaging with videos before class and meeting in person for further education and application of the week’s topic.

Become a certified local steward with us at Wesselman Woods!

More information and the schedule of sessions is available through the ‘Learn More’ button below.

IMN Price: $140 for members, $150 for public

** WESSELMAN WOODS MEMBERS RECEIVE A $10 DISCOUNT. **
Please email info@wesselmanwoods.org for the discount link.

The Evansville Philharmonic Orchestra (EP) will return to Wesselman Woods for their New Traditions... tradition!

Enjoy an outdoors jazz performance by the Eykamp String Quartet at the Odonata Amphitheater (near the Nature Playscape) at 2 PM.

This performance is FREE and open to the public.

We encourage guests to enter through the bike path in Wesselman Park for easier access to the event. (Look for the directional signs!)

In case of inclement weather, this outdoor event will be canceled. Follow EP and Wesselman Woods on Facebook for up-to-date information!

The mission of the Indiana Master Naturalist (IMN) program is to bring together natural resource specialists with adult learners to foster an understanding of Indiana’s plants, water, soils, and wildlife and promote natural resource volunteer service within the State of Indiana.

IMN participants will spend 10 weeks learning about various components of the southern Indiana bioregion by engaging with videos before class and meeting in person for further education and application of the week’s topic.

Become a certified local steward with us at Wesselman Woods!

More information and the schedule of sessions is available through the ‘Learn More’ button below.

IMN Price: $140 for members, $150 for public

** WESSELMAN WOODS MEMBERS RECEIVE A $10 DISCOUNT **
Please email info@wesselmanwoods.org for the discount link.

The mission of the Indiana Master Naturalist (IMN) program is to bring together natural resource specialists with adult learners to foster an understanding of Indiana’s plants, water, soils, and wildlife and promote natural resource volunteer service within the State of Indiana.

IMN participants will spend 10 weeks learning about various components of the southern Indiana bioregion by engaging with videos before class and meeting in person for further education and application of the week’s topic.

Become a certified local steward with us at Wesselman Woods!

More information and the schedule of sessions is available through the ‘Learn More’ button below.

IMN Price: $140 for members, $150 for public

** WESSELMAN WOODS MEMBERS RECEIVE A $10 DISCOUNT. **
Please email info@wesselmanwoods.org for the discount link.

Wesselman Woods Schedule

1 PM = Guided Hike

2:30 PM = Raptor Encounter

Ohio Valley Birding Festival is a two-day event in April with some awesome birdwatching and hiking. Evansville Audubon Society in cooperation with Wesselman Woods Nature Preserve and John James Audubon State Park in Henderson, Kentucky, are sponsors.

Past activities have included the following:

• Hikes led by birding experts at Audubon Wetlands, John James Audubon State Park, Patoka River, and Eagle Slough

• “Raptors Wild!” live birds of prey shown by Talon Trust, raptor rescue and rehab professionals

• Family Birding Fun!—”Make-N-Take Birdfeeders and Bird Callers,” plus the “Great Migration Challenge” giant board game

• “Owl Puke—Yuck! Or Not?” owl pellet dissections

• “Basic Birding 101” class to get you started on birding skills

• “Hands-on Bird Banding” opportunity for citizen-science and close-up photography of birds

• “Junior Birders Hike” in John James Audubon State Park for ages 8-18 and their parents

Enjoy the trails for free TODAY!

Visit us and enjoy over four miles of trails, the five-acre Welborn Baptist Foundation Nature Playscape, the Arwood Family Treehouse, and the Bernhardt Family Bird Sanctuary.

If you’d like to contribute to making free admission days possible, please contact us!

Enjoy the trails for free TODAY!

Visit us and enjoy over four miles of trails, the five-acre Welborn Baptist Foundation Nature Playscape, the Arwood Family Treehouse, and the Bernhardt Family Bird Sanctuary.

If you’d like to contribute to making free admission days possible, please contact us!

The mission of the Indiana Master Naturalist (IMN) program is to bring together natural resource specialists with adult learners to foster an understanding of Indiana’s plants, water, soils, and wildlife and promote natural resource volunteer service within the State of Indiana.

IMN participants will spend 10 weeks learning about various components of the southern Indiana bioregion by engaging with videos before class and meeting in person for further education and application of the week’s topic.

Become a certified local steward with us at Wesselman Woods!

More information and the schedule of sessions is available through the ‘Learn More’ button below.

IMN Price: $140 for members, $150 for public

** WESSELMAN WOODS MEMBERS RECEIVE A $10 DISCOUNT **
Please email info@wesselmanwoods.org for the discount link.

The mission of the Indiana Master Naturalist (IMN) program is to bring together natural resource specialists with adult learners to foster an understanding of Indiana’s plants, water, soils, and wildlife and promote natural resource volunteer service within the State of Indiana.

IMN participants will spend 10 weeks learning about various components of the southern Indiana bioregion by engaging with videos before class and meeting in person for further education and application of the week’s topic.

Become a certified local steward with us at Wesselman Woods!

More information and the schedule of sessions is available through the ‘Learn More’ button below.

IMN Price: $140 for members, $150 for public

** WESSELMAN WOODS MEMBERS RECEIVE A $10 DISCOUNT. **
Please email info@wesselmanwoods.org for the discount link.

Romain Subaru Presents:

Earth Day at Wesselman Woods

Saturday, April 18 from 10 AM to 2 PM

Celebrate Earth Day with a day of adventure, discovery, and action at Wesselman Woods! This FREE community event brings together passionate local and regional organizations to share fun, hands-on activities and resources that showcase the important ways we can all make a difference for our planet.

• Explore & Engage – Enjoy interactive booths, nature-based activities, and live demonstrations designed to inspire sustainability and environmental stewardship.

• Wander & Play – Our trails and Nature Playscape will be free to explore from 9 AM to 5 PM, so you can soak in the beauty of the largest urban old-growth forest in the U.S.!

• Savor & Support – Delicious eats from local food trucks will be available outside our gates from 11 AM to 2 PM.

Together, we can create a greener, more sustainable future. Join us for a day of celebration, education, and appreciation for the Earth!

Tailored to children ages 3 to 5, Little Eco-Scholars (LES) introduces early learners to environmental and ecological principles through exciting and thoughtful games, simple projects, and exploratory play in the Nature Playscape.

Our program, aligned with Indiana’s Early Learning Foundation, is designed to build on imaginative skills through playing in the local ecosystem. Some of our problem-solving activity topics include invention, memory, new experiences, decision-making, empathy, and many more! We encourage parents/guardians to participate with their toddlers during this program.

• Program Age Range: Tailored to 3-5 year old children

• Dates: Select Fridays at 9 AM

• Program Cost: Free with paid admission to the Nature Center, free for members! Pre-registration is requested.

Questions? Contact our Director of Environmental Education, Payton Broshears, at payton@wesselmanwoods.org for further questions.

The mission of the Indiana Master Naturalist (IMN) program is to bring together natural resource specialists with adult learners to foster an understanding of Indiana’s plants, water, soils, and wildlife and promote natural resource volunteer service within the State of Indiana.

IMN participants will spend 10 weeks learning about various components of the southern Indiana bioregion by engaging with videos before class and meeting in person for further education and application of the week’s topic.

Become a certified local steward with us at Wesselman Woods!

More information and the schedule of sessions is available through the ‘Learn More’ button below.

IMN Price: $140 for members, $150 for public

** WESSELMAN WOODS MEMBERS RECEIVE A $10 DISCOUNT **
Please email info@wesselmanwoods.org for the discount link.

The mission of the Indiana Master Naturalist (IMN) program is to bring together natural resource specialists with adult learners to foster an understanding of Indiana’s plants, water, soils, and wildlife and promote natural resource volunteer service within the State of Indiana.

IMN participants will spend 10 weeks learning about various components of the southern Indiana bioregion by engaging with videos before class and meeting in person for further education and application of the week’s topic.

Become a certified local steward with us at Wesselman Woods!

More information and the schedule of sessions is available through the ‘Learn More’ button below.

IMN Price: $140 for members, $150 for public

** WESSELMAN WOODS MEMBERS RECEIVE A $10 DISCOUNT. **
Please email info@wesselmanwoods.org for the discount link.

JFL Maple League is for children ages 9-12, and typically meets the second Saturday of the month from September to April.

Register now to secure your spots!

Members receive a special discount. Email Payton Broshears at payton@wesselmanwoods.org for the members-only link.

Junior Forest League (JFL) is a monthly program designed to encourage youth to engage with their local ecosystem, meet like-minded peers, and become stewards of the environment.

Each Saturday introduces a new environmental topic through activities like Nature Playscape exploration, animal encounters, guided hikes, and nature-based games and projects. All sessions are adapted to align with Indiana Academic Standards and Earth Charter principles.

The program is split into two leagues: Tulip League is for children ages 6-8, and Maple League is for children ages 9-12. Both leagues meet once a month from September to April, 10 AM - 2 PM. Drop-off is from 10-10:15 AM, and pick-up is from 2-2:15 PM. A nut-free snack is provided, but children need to bring their own lunch.

Bee City USA® and Bee Campus USA unite people to make their communities better for pollinators, in particular native bees, by adding high-quality habitat and reducing pesticides. 

Evansville was certified as a Bee City USA in 2025. The Evansville Bee City Committee is launching with an inaugural event to celebrate the certification and promote pollinator friendly practices and policies.

• DATE: April 11, 2026, 8 AM - Noon 

• LOCATION: University of Evansville, School of Business Administration Building

  • 1800 Lincoln Avenue, Evansville

• COST: Free and open to the public. Registration required. 

For more information, contact: Evansville Climate Collaborative [ 812-435-6145 or climate@evansville.in.gov ]

Tailored to children ages 3 to 5, Little Eco-Scholars (LES) introduces early learners to environmental and ecological principles through exciting and thoughtful games, simple projects, and exploratory play in the Nature Playscape.

Our program, aligned with Indiana’s Early Learning Foundation, is designed to build on imaginative skills through playing in the local ecosystem. Some of our problem-solving activity topics include invention, memory, new experiences, decision-making, empathy, and many more! We encourage parents/guardians to participate with their toddlers during this program.

• Program Age Range: Tailored to 3-5 year old children

• Dates: Select Fridays at 9 AM

• Program Cost: Free with paid admission to the Nature Center, free for members! Pre-registration is requested.

Questions? Contact our Director of Environmental Education, Payton Broshears, at payton@wesselmanwoods.org for further questions.

The mission of the Indiana Master Naturalist (IMN) program is to bring together natural resource specialists with adult learners to foster an understanding of Indiana’s plants, water, soils, and wildlife and promote natural resource volunteer service within the State of Indiana.

IMN participants will spend 10 weeks learning about various components of the southern Indiana bioregion by engaging with videos before class and meeting in person for further education and application of the week’s topic.

Become a certified local steward with us at Wesselman Woods!

More information and the schedule of sessions is available through the ‘Learn More’ button below.

IMN Price: $140 for members, $150 for public

** WESSELMAN WOODS MEMBERS RECEIVE A $10 DISCOUNT **
Please email info@wesselmanwoods.org for the discount link.

The mission of the Indiana Master Naturalist (IMN) program is to bring together natural resource specialists with adult learners to foster an understanding of Indiana’s plants, water, soils, and wildlife and promote natural resource volunteer service within the State of Indiana.

IMN participants will spend 10 weeks learning about various components of the southern Indiana bioregion by engaging with videos before class and meeting in person for further education and application of the week’s topic.

Become a certified local steward with us at Wesselman Woods!

More information and the schedule of sessions is available through the ‘Learn More’ button below.

IMN Price: $140 for members, $150 for public

** WESSELMAN WOODS MEMBERS RECEIVE A $10 DISCOUNT. **
Please email info@wesselmanwoods.org for the discount link.

The trails and Nature Center at Wesselman Woods will be closed to the public to observe the holiday.

JFL Tulip League is for children ages 6-8, and typically meets the first Saturday of the month from September to April.

Register now to secure your spots!

Members receive a special discount. Email Payton Broshears at payton@wesselmanwoods.org for the members-only link.

Junior Forest League (JFL) is a monthly program designed to encourage youth to engage with their local ecosystem, meet like-minded peers, and become stewards of the environment.

Each Saturday introduces a new environmental topic through activities like Nature Playscape exploration, animal encounters, guided hikes, and nature-based games and projects. All sessions are adapted to align with Indiana Academic Standards and Earth Charter principles.

The program is split into two leagues: Tulip League is for children ages 6-8, and Maple League is for children ages 9-12. Both leagues meet once a month from September to April, 10 AM - 2 PM. Drop-off is from 10-10:15 AM, and pick-up is from 2-2:15 PM. A nut-free snack is provided, but children need to bring their own lunch.

Tailored to children ages 3 to 5, Little Eco-Scholars (LES) introduces early learners to environmental and ecological principles through exciting and thoughtful games, simple projects, and exploratory play in the Nature Playscape.

Our program, aligned with Indiana’s Early Learning Foundation, is designed to build on imaginative skills through playing in the local ecosystem. Some of our problem-solving activity topics include invention, memory, new experiences, decision-making, empathy, and many more! We encourage parents/guardians to participate with their toddlers during this program.

• Program Age Range: Tailored to 3-5 year old children

• Dates: Select Fridays at 9 AM

• Program Cost: Free with paid admission to the Nature Center, free for members! Pre-registration is requested.

Questions? Contact our Director of Environmental Education, Payton Broshears, at payton@wesselmanwoods.org for further questions.

The mission of the Indiana Master Naturalist (IMN) program is to bring together natural resource specialists with adult learners to foster an understanding of Indiana’s plants, water, soils, and wildlife and promote natural resource volunteer service within the State of Indiana.

IMN participants will spend 10 weeks learning about various components of the southern Indiana bioregion by engaging with videos before class and meeting in person for further education and application of the week’s topic.

Become a certified local steward with us at Wesselman Woods!

More information and the schedule of sessions is available through the ‘Learn More’ button below.

IMN Price: $140 for members, $150 for public

** WESSELMAN WOODS MEMBERS RECEIVE A $10 DISCOUNT **
Please email info@wesselmanwoods.org for the discount link.

The mission of the Indiana Master Naturalist (IMN) program is to bring together natural resource specialists with adult learners to foster an understanding of Indiana’s plants, water, soils, and wildlife and promote natural resource volunteer service within the State of Indiana.

IMN participants will spend 10 weeks learning about various components of the southern Indiana bioregion by engaging with videos before class and meeting in person for further education and application of the week’s topic.

Become a certified local steward with us at Wesselman Woods!

More information and the schedule of sessions is available through the ‘Learn More’ button below.

IMN Price: $140 for members, $150 for public

** WESSELMAN WOODS MEMBERS RECEIVE A $10 DISCOUNT. **
Please email info@wesselmanwoods.org for the discount link.