Staff Reports

Monroe Lake is planning its first Salt Creek Valley History Week from Sept. 12 to 18.

Salt Creek Valley is the name for the area around Monroe Lake and was given the moniker because of the many salt springs in the area. The area northwest of Kurtz in Jackson County is part of the area.

The schedule includes some activities that require advance registration (with limited space available) and others that have no registration requirements.

Details and registration links (for programs requiring advance signup) are at bit.ly/scv-history-2021.

Following is a list of activities by date:

10 to 11:30 a.m. Sept. 12: Then and Now challenge, a free event with no registration required at the campground playground at Paynetown State Recreation Area.

5:30 p.m. Sept. 12: Explore Monroe paddling trip at Pine Grove State Recreation Area. The cost is $10 per person and limited to 10 people. Advance signup required, and kayak rentals are available.

6:30 p.m. Sept. 13: Underwater cemeteries. Free public presentation with no registration required at the Lawrence County Museum of History in Bedford.

9 a.m. Sept. 14: Explore Monroe paddling trip at Pine Grove State Recreation Area. The cost is $10 per person and limited to 10 people. Advance signup required, and kayak rentals are available.

10 a.m. Sept. 15: Friendship Baptist Church hike at 10 a.m. A free event limited to 15 people. Advance signup required. The church is located on Friendship Lane.

10 a.m. Sept. 16: Hughes Cemetery Tour at Paynetown SRA. Free event limited to 20 people. Advance signup required.

10 a.m. Sept. 17: Bald Eagle Hacking Tower hike at the Northfork service area. Free event limited to 20 people. Advance signup required.

6 to 7:30 p.m. Sept. 17: Buzzsaw Pioneer Toy at the campground playground at Paynetown SRA. Free event with no registration required.

10 to 11:30 a.m. Sept. 18: Marble games from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at the campground playground at Paynetown SRA. Free event with no registration required.

8 p.m. Sept. 18: Southern Indiana folk music at the activity center and amphitheater at Paynetown SRA. Free event with no registration required.

For programs at Paynetown SRA, the daily entrance fee of $7 per vehicle with Indiana license plate and $9 per vehicle with out-of-state license plate applies. Indiana State Park annual entrance permits also are accepted.

Questions about Salt Creek Valley History Week programming should be directed to Jill Vance, Monroe Lake’s interpretive naturalist, at [email protected] or 812-837-9967.