What is the Fox Island Alliance?

The Fox Island Alliance, Inc. is a nonprofit organization whose purposes are:

• To help preserve the natural features of Fox Island County Park
• To assist in its orderly development as a nature preserve
• To raise funds to facilitate its development
• To promote Fox Island's use as an educational center
• To coordinate volunteer efforts

Upcoming Events:

***Become An Indiana Master Naturalist! 2009

The IMN class is full. Anyone interested in the 2010 class may wish to call Kathy Dew at the County Extension 260-481-6826 option 3 to be put on the list. They will get an application blank in September 2009.

***Summer Day Camps - NISTEM 30 points per week

• Fox Island County Park, June 15-August 7, Monday through Friday, 9AM-5PM
• Sign your child (ages 6-12) up for a week of summer camp at Fox Island or consider our Creepy Creek Critters Camp along scenic Cedar Creek at Metea County Park. Registration available at www.allencountyparks.org on the Summer Day Camp link found under Programs and Day Camps. All camps are subject to cancellation.
• Cost: $100.00/week, Pre-register 5 days prior to each week of camp., Min: 12 per week, Max: 30 per week, To register or more information contact Natalie Haley - nhaley@allencountyparks.org, (260) 449-3246

*** Birds and Blooms of the Lake and Field

• Fox Island Nature Center, July 18, Saturday 10:00 AM - Noon
• Lots of great birds and flowers call Bowman Lake and our old fields home. Discover them on this 1 1/2 mile stroll. Binoculars provided.
• Cost: $ 2.00, Pre-register by: July 13, Min: 5 , Max: 15 To register or more information contact Ron Zartman - zartman@allencountyparks.org, 449-3186

***Preschool Discovery Hour - Frogs and Toads

• Fox Island Nature Center, July 21, Tuesday 1:00 - 2:00 PM
• A short discovery session and story will be followed by a frog hunt and a snack.
• Cost: $3.00/child, $2.00/adult, Pre-register by: July 16, Min: 5, Max: 20, To register or more information contact Ron Zartman - zartman@allencountyparks.org, 449-3186

***Zoomobile at Fox Island

• Fox Island Nature Center, July 22, Wednesday 10:30AM
• Join Allen County Park Educator, Natalie Haley and the Fort Wayne Children's Zoomobile in a Reptile Romp in the swamp! Program in the nature center classrooms.
• Cost: $3.00/person, Pre-register by: 7/17/09, Min: 5, Max: 75, To register or more information contact Natalie Haley - nhaley@allencountyparks.org , (260) 449-3246

***Scrap-booking Series

• Fox Island County Park, July 24, Aug. 28, Sept. 25, Oct. 23 & Nov. 13, Fridays 6PM-Midnight!
• Join Allen County Park Educator, Natalie Haley in a scrap-booking evening of saving memories with Creative Memories Consultant, Sherina Hewson (www.mycmsite.com/sites/shewson). Bring a friend and catch up on each other's lives.
• Cost: $10.00/person, Pre-register by: 7/19/09, 8/23/09, 9/20/09, 10/18/09, and 11/8/09, Min: 6 is recommended, Max: 20, To register or more information contact Natalie Haley - nhaley@allencountyparks.org , (260) 449-3246

***Preschool Discovery Hour - Turtle Tracks

• Fox Island Nature Center, August 18, Tuesday 1:00 - 2:00 PM
• Youngsters will meet our exhibit turtles, search for wild turtles at the wetland and have a snack.
• Cost: $3.00/child, $2.00/adult, Pre-register by: Aug 13, Min: 5, Max: 20, To register or more information contact Ron Zartman - zartman@allencountyparks.org, 449-3186

***Prairie Ramble

• Fox Island Nature Center, Aug 23, Sunday, 1:00 - 3:30 PM
• Our restored prairie has a wide variety of local grasses and wildflowers.
• Cost: $2.00, Pre-register by: Aug 18, Min: 5, Max: 15, To register or more information contact Ron Zartman - zartman@allencountyparks.org, 449-3186

***Fall Trail Guide Training

• Fox Island County Park, August 30, Sunday 1-4PM
• Join Allen County Park Educator, Natalie Haley in the fall training of our volunteer trail guides. They will be learning about the history of Fox Island while enjoying the autumn fall color. Bring a friend and become a volunteer trail guide!
• Cost: $FREE, Pre-register by: 8/25/09, Min: 5 is recommended, Max: 30, To register or more information contact Natalie Haley - nhaley@allencountyparks.org, (260) 449-3246

***Dune Dig Historic Hike

• Fox Island County Park, September 1, Tuesday 10:00AM
• Join Allen County Park Educator, Natalie Haley on a hike along the Fox Island dune. Picture yourself as an American Indian, an army tank tester, or a tenant farmer and learn the history of our nature preserve wonder.
• Cost: $ 3.00/person, Pre-register by: 8/27/09, Min: 5 is recommended, Max: 20, To register or more information contact Natalie Haley - nhaley@allencountyparks.org, (260) 449-3246

***Preschool Discovery Hour - Butterflies

• Fox Island Nature Center, Sept 22, Tuesday 1:00 - 2:00 PM
• Explore the lives of butterflies, enjoy a story, search for them in our butterfly garden and have a snack.
• Cost: $3.00/child, $2.00/adult, Pre-register by: Sept 17, Min: 5, Max: 20, To register or more information contact Ron Zartman - zartman@allencountyparks.org, 449-3186

***Tai Chi

• Fox Island Nature Center, Sept 23 - Nov 18, Wednesdays 6:00 - 7:00 PM
• Instructor Sandy Gebhart will teach the Sun Short Form to novices and advance into the seventy three form with continuing students in this eight week Tai Chi class. The Sun Short Form is a gentle, non-strenuous form that can be practiced by all.
• Cost: $50.00 for eight weeks, Pre-register by: Sept 18, Min: 10, Max: 25, Special Note: Registrations accepted through 3rd week. To register or more information contact Ron Zartman - zartman@allencountyparks.org, 449-3186

***Glow in the Dark Hike - NISTEM 2 points

• Fox Island Nature Center, Sept 26, Saturday 8:00 - 9:30 PM
• Join Naturalist Ron Zartman to search for glowworms and bioluminescent mushrooms. No flashlights to preserve night vision.
• Cost: $2.00, Pre-register by: Sept 21, Min: 5 , Max: 15, To register or more information contact Ron Zartman - zartman@allencountyparks.org, 449-3186

What's newish on the web site?

2/10/08 Vera Dulin has written an article on Sue Foreman. You can find it under the "Articles" link or you can go directly to it here: Sue Foreman

2/10/08 Cyntia Powers has written an article on "Volunteering in the Bird Building." You can find it under the "Articles" link or you can go directly to it here: Volunteering in the Bird Building

1/26/08 ***PLANT IDENTIFICATION: I have added a page to give the plants that I have observed at Fox Island. You can find this page by selecting the "Living Things" link. Select the "Plants_Schutt" to see the list online. (You can go directly to that page here: Plants_Schutt.) You can also download an Excel version of the list in the same place or you can find it here: Plants_Schutt (Excel)

11/12/07 IMPORTANT UPDATE! I have deleted the prior contact e-mail. I was getting about 3000 spam e-mails per month. IF YOU ASKED TO HAVE YOUR NAME APPROVED FOR THE NATURE OBSERVATIONS BLOG, I DID NOT FIND IT BECAUSE OF ALL THE SPAM. SEND ME A NEW E-MAIL TO THE CONTACT E-MAIL BELOW AND I WILL APPROVE IT SO THAT YOU CAN EASILY ADD POSTS.

1/15/07 FLASH UPDATE! Want to post an observation that you've made at the park. Go to the Nature Observations Blog and let us know what you've seen at the park. Go to our RSS feed to get automatic updates.

9/14/06 I have added a new link titled "articles" to the menu bar. Follow it to check out the article, "A Brief History of Fox Island and the Fox Island Alliance."

11/5/06 My son, Noel, added an image "randomizer" to the home page. Hit "reload" to see a new picture.