Joey Rehl

The Patoka Lake Watershed Steering Committee and its partners will host a free “Hike & Learn” event on June 6 in celebration of National Trails Day. The event will take place from 8 a.m. to Noon EDT at the Jasper Farmers Market, located at 100 Third Ave in Jasper. Organizers say visitors can stop by throughout the morning to take part in activity booths and giveaways for all ages, all focused on water quality and forest health education.

With nearly 12 million recreational vessels registered in the United States, millions of Americans are expected to take to the water this season. However, officials continue to stress that boating safety remains critical. Each year, thousands of boating incidents are reported to the U.S. Coast Guard, resulting in thousands of injuries, hundreds of deaths, and significant property damage nationwide.

A boater education class will be offered in Crawford County this summer to help prepare residents for safe and responsible time on the water. The Indiana Boater Education course provides instruction on boat operation and maintenance, emergency procedures, boating laws, and how to make time on the water safer and more enjoyable. Classes are led by volunteer instructors and Indiana Conservation Officers and include a minimum of six hours of classroom instruction.