Indiana Campfires Series Back Again

Back by popular demand and funding, Indiana Humanities is bringing back the Next Indiana Campfires series this year. 

The series is about bringing Hoosiers together for food and drink around a campfire to discuss connections between nature, literature and locations, says Director of Programs Leah Nahmias.

“We thing conservations about natural resources and the future of Indiana are really important, but we also think it’s fun to get together to talk about ideas over a beer," Nahmias says.

This year, Indiana Campfires will take Hoosiers to private and public spots within the White River watershed.  A humanities scholar will serve as facilitator and lead attendees on a walk, pausing periodically to read aloud words from Hoosier, Midwest and Pulitzer Prize-winning authors. Participants will then gather for food and drink around a campfire to discuss connections between nature, literature and place.

“We think it’s a really important connector of Hoosiers across rural, suburban and urban areas,” Nahmias says. 

There is a small cost to participate.  Dates are scheduled beginning May 19 through Oct. 24.

The series is funded in part by a $40,000 grant from the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust. Last year, Indiana Humanities was awarded the Schwartz Prize for best humanities program in the country for Next Indiana Campfires.

During the first year of Next Indiana Campfires, held during Indiana’s bicentennial, Indiana Humanities coordinated nature outings in some of Indiana’s most significant natural areas—places like the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, the newly restored “Limberlost” wetlands and the wide-open prairies of Prophetstown. More than 450 people attended 17 events across the state.

In 2017, a limited run of the series continued.

Learn more at www.IndianaHumanities.org/Campfires.