Monday March 18, 2024
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Family-friendly activities that include crafts, music and games will be part of Archaeology Day at Wickliffe Mounds State Historic Site on Sept. 21.

The day – part of Kentucky Archaeology Month — will feature demonstrations and hands-on educational activities about archaeology for the whole family from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Activities include a mock excavation for kids, artifact laboratory station, spear and atlatl throwing, stickball game area, flint knapping, bow and arrows, finger weaving, basket weaving, corn shuck dolls, a drum circle and make and take home a pottery craft.

This event is sponsored in part by the Kentucky Heritage Council.  Entrance to the activities is included in the museum admission of $5 for adults and $4 for kids, seniors and military.  Parking is free. For more information, call the park office at 270-335-3681 or email carla.hildebrand@ky.gov .

Wickliffe Mounds is an archaeological site of a Native American village of the Mississippian culture. The park features a museum, mounds, walking trail, picnic area, visitor center with tourism information and a gift shop.  The park is located along the Mississippi River’s Great River Road National Scenic Byway at 94 Green Street, Highway 51-60-62, Wickliffe, Ky. For more information about this and other Kentucky State Parks, visit www.parks.ky.gov

Kids can get their hands on 18th century history at Fort Boonesborough State Park’s first Hands on History for Kids event Sept. 7-8.

This event allows children to learn about life in the 18th century. Hands on skills will include churning butter, grinding corn, baking ash cakes, carving on powder horns, carding and spinning and many other pioneer skills.

The displays will be available 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days and are free with paid fort admission. Admission is $8 for adults, $5 for children ages 6-12 and children under 6 are free.

There will also be a puppet show featuring Punch and Judy and a demonstration on falconry. The Fort Boonesborough Foundation will have concessions available throughout each day.

Fort Boonesborough State Park marks the site of a fort built by Daniel Boone and other settlers in 1775 along the Kentucky River. The state park near Richmond has a reconstructed fort, a campground, hiking trails, mini-golf, picnic shelters and a gift shop.

Seven Kentucky State Parks were recognized in Kentucky Living magazine’s “Best in Kentucky” Awards announced Thursday at the 2019 Kentucky State Fair: My Old Kentucky Home, Cumberland Falls, John James Audubon, Green River Lake, Dale Hollow Lake, Natural Bridge and Barren River Lake.

“We’re proud of all of our Kentucky State Parks and the people who work there,” Parks Commissioner Donnie Holland said. “We appreciate being recognized by our guests.”

My Old Kentucky Home State Park in Bardstown received first place in the historic site category. The centerpiece of the park is Federal Hill, a mansion completed in 1818 by the Rowan family. Tours of the home and special events are offered throughout the year. The park also has a golf course and campground.

Cumberland Falls State Resort Park near Corbin received two 2nd place awards for long weekend getaway and day trip. Cumberland Falls is the home of a beautiful waterfall, 125-feet wide and 65-feet high, that also produces a “moonbow” during a full moon. The park has a lodge, cottages, restaurant, campground, hiking trails and many other recreational activities.

Other Kentucky State Parks recognized were:

  • John James Audubon State Park in Henderson received 2nd place for museum.
  • Green River Lake State Park near Campbellsville received 2nd place for camping spot.
  • Dale Hollow Lake State Resort Park near Burkesville received 3rd place for golf course and for houseboating lake.
  • Natural Bridge State Resort Park at Slade got 3rd place for place for adventure.
  • Barren River Lake State Resort Park at Lucas received a 3rd place award for public hunting/fishing area.

For more information about these and other Kentucky State Parks, visit www.parks.ky.gov

Credit: KY State Parks

Learn about snakes and other reptiles with the “World of Reptiles” show planned at Wickliffe Mounds State Historic Site on April 28.

This interactive program, presented at 1 p.m. by award-winning naturalist Scott Shupe, features live snakes and other reptiles.

While at the park, be sure to take a stroll along the Woods Walk Trail and learn about some useful plants and the natural environment. Enjoy a butterfly program in the Welcome Center from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., where kids can make and take a butterfly mobile and pick up your free flower seed packets for butterfly gardens.

Admission for the reptile program is $3 adults/$2 kids.  The reptile program with museum and site tour is $5 adults/$4 kids, seniors and military and includes the butterfly program.  Call ahead for discount rates on groups of 10 or more. This is a great opportunity for Scout troops, homeschoolers or youth groups. For more information, call the park office at 270-335-3681, email carla.hildebrand@ky.gov or visit our website at www.parks.ky.gov.

Wickliffe Mounds State Historic Site is an archaeological site of a Native American village of the Mississippian culture. The park features a museum, mounds, walking trail, picnic area, visitor center with tourism information and a gift shop. The park is located along the Mississippi river’s Great River Road National Scenic Byway at 94 Green Street, Highway 51-60-62, Wickliffe, Ky.

Commercial anglers netted nearly 42 tons of invasive Asian carp from Kentucky and Barkley lakes during the inaugural Carp Madness tournament in 2013.

Carp Madness returns to the lakes in June with a new twist: it’s a tournament for bow anglers. The top prize is $10,000 for the team on the winning boat in each division, with total prizes of $23,000.

The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources and the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency are partnering with the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Kentucky State Parks and the Bowfishing Association of America for Carp Madness 2. The tournament is set for the night of June 23-24.

The tournament is another way to remove carp from the lake while building awareness of the invasive fish.

“We anticipate that Carp Madness 2 will remove more than 100,000 pounds of Asian carp in a single night of bowfishing,” said Ron Brooks, fisheries division director for Kentucky Fish and Wildlife. “Proceeds beyond the cost of the tournament payouts and prizes will go to the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Foundation, which works with our department on fish and wildlife habitat, the Salato Wildlife Education Center and sponsoring the department’s summer conservation camps for kids.”

The Bowfishing Association of America is sanctioning the event.

The entry fee is $150 per boat. Contestants can pay an extra $25 for entry into the big fish contest. Teams may consist of 2-4 anglers, but no passengers.

The top three weights harvested per boat from each division (lake or river) will win prize money. First place pays $10,000 per boat, followed by $1,000 for second and $500 for third. The big fish payout will be combined for both divisions and depend on the number of entries.

Contestants who weigh in Asian carp will receive a commemorative “Carp Madness 2” T-shirt. Contestants weighing in at least 250 pounds of fish will receive raffle tickets for chances at donated prizes. The Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Foundation is providing support for raffles, t-shirts and donations to the tournament. The foundation will also sell “Carp-Madness 2” T-shirts to support Asian carp removal efforts.

The tournament begins at 7 p.m. (Central time) June 23 and continues until 7 a.m. the following morning. Launch is set for the Kentucky Dam Marina Boat Ramp, located at the Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park near Gilbertsville, Ky. Bowfishing anglers may harvest any of the Asian carp, including the silver, bighead, grass and black carp.

Pre-registration opens today on the Bowfishing Association of America website: baastore.bigcartel.com.  Participants may also register at the event (cash only).

Credit: KY State Parks

John James Audubon State Park will host a Ladies Spring Tea party and a Kentucky Chautauqua performance on May 12.

The tea party will feature delicious hors d’oeuvres and fine music at the John James Audubon State Park Museum at 11 a.m. Music will be provided by Henderson’s talented Keith Vincent. Jennifer Spence, the Audubon curator, will also give a brief talk about Lucy Audubon, John James Audubon’s wife.

The admission fee is $15, and registration is required. Call the museum to register and pay by phone at 270- 827-1893.

Following the tea, ladies will be invited to attend the Kentucky Chautauqua performance of “Aunt Molly Jackson, a Pistol Packin’ Woman” (1880-1960), portrayed by Anne Shelby.

Feisty, funny, and completely fearless, Aunt Molly Jackson lived for nearly 50 years in the coal camps of southeastern Kentucky, where her father, brothers, husband, and sons were miners. In the camps, Aunt Molly delivered babies, nursed the sick, organized for the union, and wrote songs that described the miners’ lives.

The Chautauqua performance will start at approximately 12:15 p.m. at the Audubon Museum.  The performance is free to the public, with limited seating. Please call to register if you are interested. The Chautauqua performances are sponsored by Kentucky Humanities, which is a statewide source. Every year Kentucky Humanities provides funding for more than 550 public humanities programs. They are sponsored by local organizations.

For further information about the programs, contact Kim McGrew-Liggett, arts administrator at the John James Audubon Museum. Kim.mcgrew@ky.gov or (270) 827 1893.

Credit: KY State Parks

Learn about wildflowers and enjoy the spring season at Red River Gorge with the Kentucky Native Plant Society’s Wildflower Weekend April 13-14 at Natural Bridge State Resort Park.

The annual event includes hikes at the state park and in Red River Gorge on Friday and Saturday. Admission is $10 for adults, $3 for ages 13-17. Ages 12 and under are free. More information is available at www.knps.org.

Natural Bridge State Resort Park at Slade has a lodge, cottages and restaurant.

There are several other wildflower opportunities at Kentucky State Parks during April and May. They include:

  • Second Saturday Hike on wildflowers at Lake Barkley State Resort Park near Cadiz on April 14 starting at 10 a.m.
  • Spring Wildflowers and Wild Edibles Hike at Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park at Calvert City on April 14 at 10:30 a.m.
  • Wildflower Extravaganza at John James Audubon State Park in Henderson on April 14. Hikes start at 9 a.m.
  • Wildflower Pilgrimage at Carter Caves State Resort Park at Olive Hill on April 21.
  • Wildflower Hikes at Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park near Dawson Springs on April 7 and May 3 at 10 a.m.
  • Wild Wonderful Wildflower Hikes at Pine Mountain State Resort Park at Pineville on April 21 starting at 9 a.m.

For more information about these wildflower events, visit http://parks.ky.gov/wildflowers.aspx. For more information about Kentucky State Parks, including lodging and camping reservations, visit www.parks.ky.gov.

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