IU Outdoor Day offers students a chance to play in the woods

The second annual IU Outdoor Day is scheduled for Wednesday at Bradford Woods.\nThe purpose of the event is to acquaint the campus community, families and other area residents with the variety of activities offered at the IU Bradford Woods Outdoor Center.\n"Since outdoor recreation has gained a great amount of popularity it seemed to make sense for us to 'show off' what we can do and how we can serve IU students," said Doug Knapp, coordinator of outdoor recreation and resource management for the School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation.\nActivities scheduled for the family include: cane pole fishing, crafts, games, face painting, a scavenger hunt and a hay ride to a pumpkin patch. \nMore advanced activities provide a professional instructor. Among those activities are canoeing, kayaking, orienteering, hiking, a climbing tower, a ropes course and environment education.\nHome to a Bald Eagle nest, Bradford Woods provides visitors with a glimpse into the life of the bird that represents America's freedom.\nThis year's event is being put on by the IU department of recreation and park administration and IU Outdoor Adventures. The sponsor is The Edwin B. and Lucy Cline Memorial Fund.\nBradford Woods is a 2,500 acre center that was created over 50 years ago to offer school programs, retreats and a large summer camp that all focus on outdoor education, Knapp said. The land was deeded to IU by John Bradford when he died in 1941, according to the Bradford Woods Web site.\n"I have taken my classes there for the educational programs," said Deanna Wenzler, a third grade teacher at Richards Elementary School in Bartholomew County. "It is a wonderful place to learn more about our environment," she said.\nOutdoor Day is free to all and begins at 9 a.m. Activities will conclude at 4 p.m. The Center is located 40 minutes northwest of the Bloomington campus. \nFor more information on the IU Outdoor Day, contact Knapp at 812-855-3094.