Starting kidding around! Wayne County’s full of fun family stuff to do this summer

Summer’s finally here, and there’s no better time of year to go outside and play. For the young kids in the family — and for the young at heart as well, Richmond and Wayne County propose plenty of fun ways to keep the whole brood entertained all season long.
When temperatures rise, it’s easy to cool down at the splash pads stationed at Glen Miller Park and Jack Elstro Plaza. Or don some old shoes and do a little creek stomping at Clear Creek Park or Thistlethwaite Falls in the scenic Whitewater Valley Gorge. Keep your eyes peeled for fossils while you’re at it; grab a free Fossil Hunt Passport from the Old National Road Welcome Center (or download the digital version here) before heading out and collect five specimens to receive an embroidered Fossil Patch.

thistlethwaite_falls

 
For more watery adventures, rent a kayak, rowboat or a paddleboat to explore the picturesque Middlefork Reservoir. Feel free to bring along a fishing pole if you’re feeling lucky. Back on dry land, Hayes Arboretum on Richmond’s east side and Cope Environmental Center near Centerville both offer hiking trails, educational visitor centers and playscape areas that keep little guests happily occupied as they learn about the natural environment.

kayakers_on_middle_fork_reservoir_ns.jpg

 
To burn off serious excess energy, the colorful playground at Glen Miller Park has been a favorite landmark for generations of local kiddos. The park (along with other Richmond locations) also hosts outdoor family-friendly movie screenings at the Roosevelt Hill band shell during the summer months — don’t forget to BYO blankets and popcorn. On the western edge of Wayne County, Dougherty Orchard (the oldest family-owned orchard in Indiana) is where the wild things are in the adorable petting zoo, and a great spot to enjoy live music and seasonal treats.

family_picking_apples_dougherty_orchard_ns.jpg

 
Weather not cooperating? No worries. Spend a morning or an afternoon admiring the resident Egyptian mummies and other intriguing exhibits at the Wayne County Historical Museum and the Joseph Moore Museum of Natural History on the Earlham College campus. Retro Rush and Retro Jake’s arcades let video warriors test their skills against other gamers, or you can let little ones explore their artistic side by decorating their very own custom piece of pottery to take home at Paint the Towne. And Indiana’s Original Fairy Trail provides incentive to seek out magical mini dwellings at shops, cafes, gardens and galleries all across town.

cope_girl_with_wings_-_cope_fb.jpg

 
For more information about fun kid stuff to do throughout Richmond and Wayne County this summer, go to visitrichmond.org.