About
BENEFITS FOR YOUTH:
The DSEP offers educational programming for all ages. The Park is primarily focused on environmental education. DSEP strives to help teachers and students by providing various program opportunities for schools and other learning organizations.
The DSEP works closely with teachers, youth leaders, and others to provide a unique learning experience for both youth and adults while visiting the park.
We have specialized programs for preschoolers, girl scouts, cub scouts and boy scouts. We will also develop programs to meet the special topics for other youth groups.
DSEP field trips allow children to experience nature and the environment first hand. Repeated experiences outdoors are vital to children as they grow and learn. This way our future citizens will learn to appreciate nature and in turn, become stewards of our environment.
BENEFITS FOR COMMUNITY
Besides what we offer for the local and surrounding school systems and youth groups we also have available the following:
• Open to the public dawn to dusk 7 days a week 365 days a year.
• 2 shelters that can be rented in advance for family picnics or other events.
• Conference area seating for 60 for meetings, workshops, family gatherings and other events..
• Low-ropes course with certified instructors.
• A maintained turf walking trail which winds around the 64 acres. The trail is marked for 5K, 4K and 3K.
• We also provide a scenic location for weddings.
We offer workshops on topics of interest. (Examples orienteering, container gardening, butterfly gardens, wreaths and other nature crafts and photography)
We also have regularly scheduled nature walks, bird watching walks, and the frog watch program as well as astronomy opportunities.
Directions to the Park
From Aurora
In Rising Sun at the Intersection of State Roads 56 and 262 turn left toward the river. Go 1 block to next stop sign, turn right. Continue on State Road 56 approximately 2 miles to the intersection of State Roads 56 and 156. Turn right on State Road 56 and then immediately turn right again on to Walston Rd. The Park Entrance (to the parking lot) is the 1st drive on right. The Park Office is the 2nd drive on the right. Use this 2nd drive only when no special events are occurring as there is very limited parking space at the office.
From Patriot
At the Intersection of State Roads 56 and 156, turn left on State Road 56 and then immediately turn right on to Walston Rd. The Park Entrance (to the parking lot) is the 1st drive on right. The Park Office is the 2nd drive on the right. Use this 2nd drive only when no special events are occurring as there is very limited parking space at the office.
From Vevay
Follow State Road 56 and go down Miller Brick Hill to the bottom. Just before the stop sign at the intersection with State Road 156, turn left on to Walston Rd. The Park Entrance (to the parking lot) is the 1st drive on right. The Park Office is the 2nd drive on the right. Use this 2nd drive only when no special events are occurring as there is very limited parking space at the office.