Friends of Clifty Falls State Park

About Us

Who Are We?

The Friends of Clifty Falls State Park supports Clifty Falls State Park. We began meeting and getting organized and elected our first officers in 2021. We became an official non-profit "501(c)(3)" in September 2021.

We are operate for the benefit of Clifty Falls State Park and its patrons by:

- - helping conserve and enhance the natural resources and facilities of the Park;
  - helping educate the public about the Park and Park-related issues, and encourage park visitation;
  - assisting at natural and cultural interpretive activities such as hikes, crafts projects or by answering visitor questions - helping to connect visitors with park resources;
  - helping the Park staff reach goals through personal assistance and fund-raising;
  - and, importantly, benefiting the lives of our members through this unique service.

See the "Activities and Events" page for meeting information the "Be A Friend" page for how to join.

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Meetings

We meet the 2nd Thursday of the month at the Nature Center from 6-7 p.m. Special business meetings may be called for by the Board Chairperson as needed. E-mail with questions.

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Current Board Members

2024-2026 (elected April 2024)

Cathy Cleveland (2nd year of last term) - Secretary

Joe Arruda (2nd year of last term) - Vice-chairperson

Suzanne Arruda (2nd year of last term) - At-large member

Ken Prince (2nd year of 1st term) - At-large member

James Bruner (2nd year of 1st term) - At-large member

2023-2025 (elected March 2023)

Pat Cleveland (1st year of 1st term) - At-large member

Jean Peddie (first year of 2nd term) - Treasurer

note: the by-laws specify that (1) the term of a Board member is two years and that two terms may be served and (2) the Board elects its officers

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What Do We Do?

We work with the Park staff to identify significant projects for which we can make a difference, we show up to help in various ways, we apply for grants to improve the park, and raise funds to help support the Nature Center and other of our park-related activities.

We regularly participate in Park-sponsored events featuring the removal of invasive species. In addition, we began a routine program of Friends-led (and funded) invasive species control more generally for the Park, in summer 2023 along Trail 8 and is now expanding.

The Park Naturalist sponsors specific days for Park clean-ups, usually targeted at areas of need. We often help supervise and participate in such activities with high school students or other groups working service hours.

In the period 2023-2024, we have received over $20,000 in grant monies that were used to help control invasive species, build a Chimney Swift nest box, and purchase a portable audio system for the naturalists to use on hikes (more below).

We've also spent over $2,000 of our own funding to buy supplies for the Nature Center and, more recently, a new large chainsaw and loppers for the Park staff. We also bought a smaller chain saw and equipment for our own invasive control work.

Up-coming Nature Center events can be found at the Park Website: https://www.in.gov/dnr/state-parks/parks-lakes/clifty-falls-state-park/nature-center-and-events/

Upcoming or Planned Activities/Events

Upcoming Friends events and activities, photos of projects, and posts of past events can be found on our Facebook page. Follow us for news on upcoming events.

GRANTS RECEIVED

Invasive Plant Removal - The Friends of Clifty Falls State Park were awarded funding from the Community Foundation of Madison & Jefferson County though its Fall 2023 Grant Cycle. The funds were used to hire a contractor (Eco Logic) to remove invasive plants in the area of the Nature Center and Clifty Inn in 2024. We re-applied in 2024 and were awarded another grant for invasive removal near the south entrance. That work is completed.

Chimney Swift Tower - The Friends of Clifty Falls State Park were awarded funding from Indiana Audubon Society through the 2023 Mumford & Keller Grants and Scholarship Program for a Chimney Swift Tower located in the Poplar Grove area of Clifty Falls State Park. The structure mimics an actual chimney, serving as roosting and nesting habitat for Chimney Swifts. The site has an interpretive sign with educational information about Swifts and Swift conservation. For this project, the Friends of Clifty Falls partnered with Madison Consolidated High School students to build and install the Chimney Swift Tower. We did some landscaping around the base.

Indiana Parks Alliance - We received funding in 2024 for a Wireless Tour Guide System for use by the interpretive naturalists on larger hikes. The most popular hikes often have 30 participants or more. The trails can be narrow, making it difficult to gather a large group together to share information. The wireless audio transmission system transmits the speaker's voice to receivers the participants carry. In 2005, we received a grant to obtain an audio system so that guests in the bird room of the Nature Center can hear the sounds of the birds and other wildlife outside.

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