Tuesday, April 19, 2011

WALK AND ROLL WEEK CALENDAR OF EVENTS

*All events FREE, unless otherwise noted


May 14 – Saturday, two pre-week events:
     A 10K mapped walk through downtown Newburgh and along the scenic new Rivertown Trail, sponsored by Evansville’s Volkssport club, the River City Ramblers. Start at the Locks and Dam Park any time 9 a.m. to 12 noon and set your own pace, finish by 3 p.m.
     Nature Hike at Wesselman Woods Nature Preserve. Enter the woods with an Indiana Master Naturalist to experience the latest sensations of the season. Encounter wildlife, flowering trees, wildflowers, fungus and seasonal natural phenomena. Starts at the nature center lobby at 10 a.m.

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May 15 – Sunday, 12 noon to 3 p.m.
     Walk and Roll Kickoff Event at Washington Square Mall, sponsored by WNIN and Healthier Evansville. The week’s honorary celebrity co-chairmen, University of Evansville basketball coach Marty Simmons and his wife, Angie Simmons – who together lost a combined total of more than 200 pounds in the past year – will be on hand to help launch the celebration and encourage the community to become more physically active. There will information booths on healthy living and healthy eating. Stage demonstrations will be presented by local healthcare, sports and exercise agencies. Bring the family for an afternoon of fun.
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May 16-20 – Monday through Friday, twice a day, at 11:15 a.m. and 12:15 p.m.
     Downtown Week of Walks, sponsored by the Vanderburgh County Health Department and Deaconess Hospital. Walks start at the mini park at Fourth and Main streets.


May 16 – Monday, 7 p.m. at Wesselman Nature Center
     A showing of the award-winning documentary film, “Ride the Divide.” Chronicles the story of three mountain bikers who attempt the 2,711-mile race named the Tour Divide along the Continental Divide in the Rocky Mountains, from Canada to Mexico. The movie was named the best adventure film at the 2010 Vail Film Festival. No admission fee, but a contribution to help support the Walk and Roll Week events will be accepted. Free popcorn.

May 17 – Tuesday, 7 a.m.
     Walk to School Day at Tekoppel School

May 17 – Tuesday, 9:00 a.m.
     Wildflower Walk at Howell Wetlands – Experience the sights and smells of wildflowers at Howell Wetlands on a guided tour with Kate Lynch, Southwestern Indiana Master Gardener and Southwestern Indiana Master Naturalist. See a magnificent array of wildflowers, prairie grasses, and wildlife in the wetland, woodland and prairie. It’s a quality show you can’t find anywhere else in the Evansville area. Meet at the Conservation Station off Tekoppel Ave.


May 17 – Tuesday, 5:30 p.m.
     River City Ramblers walk at Wesselman Woods Nature Preserve.

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May 18 – Wednesday, 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.
     SUMMIT EVENT: Workshop on planning a Bicycle-Friendly Community. This seminar will examine the steps that would be required for Evansville to achieve the League of  American Bicyclists’ criteria for designation as a ‘bicycle-friendly community.’ It will be conducted by the Indiana State Department of Health’s Healthy Communities Division and the statewide advocacy organization, Bicycle Indiana, with sessions for city and county officials, business and community leaders, in addition to continuing-education credit sessions for professional engineers, architects, planners and students. At the Vectren corporate headquarters.
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May 18 – Wednesday, 9:00 a.m.
     Flutterby Hike at Howell Wetlands – Join Debbie Goedde, Southwestern Indiana Master Naturalist and butterfly enthusiast, to witness the life-cycle stages of these winged beauties in their different habitats in the wetlands, prairie and woodlands, and learn how to identify them. Meet at the Conservation Station off Tekoppel Ave.


May 18 – Wednesday, 6 p.m.
     Ride of Silence, in memory of fallen bicyclists, a 6-mile ride in silence, sponsored by the Evansville Bicycle Club. Gather at Evansville State Hospital in the parking lot off Lincoln Avenue. Route will go downtown and back.


May 19 – Thursday, 6:30-8:00 p.m.
     Birding Hike at Howell Wetlands – Join Wild Birds Unlimited’s Tim Griffith for a hike through this urban wetland and prairie in search of a variety of birds and other wildlife. Expect to see warblers, woodpeckers, herons and more. Families with children and birding novices are welcome. Meet at the Conservation Station off Tekoppel Ave.


May 21 – Saturday, 9 a.m.
     A 10K walk through downtown Evansville and on the Pigeon Creek Greenway, sponsored by the River City Ramblers Walking Club. Gather at the Aztar Hotel lobby. The route will go along the greenway to Franklin Street, then back through downtown along SE First Street, onto the greenway at Waterworks Road and return to the hotel. Walkers will have an option of doing a 5K route.


May 21 – Saturday, 9:30 a.m.
     Fifth Wurst Ride, at Burdette Park and through the Union Township bottomlands. This free, annual ride is for bicyclists of all ages and abilities, so bring your entire family and invite your friends and neighbors. Ride lengths range from 6 miles to 33 miles. Riders will be treated to a free lunch of bratwurst and hot dogs, served up by Park Director Steve Craig and his staff.


May 21 – Saturday, all day
     Citywide Neighborhood Walkability Surveys. Grab your camera, don your walking shoes and take an assessment of your neighborhood. Does it have sidewalks? Are the intersections safe for pedestrians to cross? Are there safe routes for your children to walk or ride their bicycles? How walkable is your neighborhood? To participate, get on the Internet and do a Google search for “Walkability Checklist,” a survey form developed Walkable America. Print out a copy, do the survey, take photos of any hazardous conditions you find, and then send the survey and photos to your neighborhood association president. United Neighborhoods of Evansville and the Evansville-area Trails Coalition will compile the findings into a report for city officials.


May 21 – Saturday, 10:00–11:00 a.m.
     Junior Naturalist Hike at Wesselman Woods Nature Preserve – A special hands-on exploration of Wesselman Woods for children and their parents. An Indiana Master Naturalist will guide hikers to encounter wildlife, wildflowers, fungi, and other seasonal natural phenomena available for viewing. Hikes will leave from the Nature Center lobby promptly at 10 a.m. Free.


May 22 – Sunday, 3 p.m.
     “Walk-It Day” 5K run/walk at Garvin Park and on the Pigeon Creek Greenway. Join the Greater Evansville Runners and Walkers Club in presenting the national Weight Watchers “Walk-It Challenge 2011,” promoting walking as a great way to get moving and burn calories. Event starts at the open shelter by the Garvin pool. Register on-line at www.gerwc.com/walkitday5k. Bring the family and walk for better health on newly built sections of the Greenway that you might not have seen yet.


May 22 – Sunday, 2:00-5:00 p.m.
     Wildlife in the City Paddle down Pigeon Creek. Join Wesselman Nature Society’s Canoe Evansville program for a guided canoe paddle down the heart of the city. See Evansville from a totally new perspective! All equipment provided. Minimum age is 7 years old. $15 per person. Pre-registration is required at (812) 479-0771, ext. 105.


May 22 – Sunday, 6:30-8:00 p.m.
     Birding Hike at Eagle Slough – Wild Birds Unlimited’s Tim Griffith will lead a birding hike through one of the region’s newest natural areas open to the public. Expect to see woodpeckers, waterfowl, warblers and a variety of other songbirds in this wetland forest. Families with children and birding novices are welcome. Meet at the Eagle Slough entrance on Waterworks Road, just north of Ellis Park.

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