Nature Park - Camping

Camping at the Nature Park

Camping: Tent camping is permitted on weekends for DePauw groups (students, employees, parents, alumni) by reservation only. The Campground is "primitive" in design thus no electricity or showers. There is a spigot with running water at the campground and there is an outdoor restroom (port-a-let) at the campground. Each campsite has a fire ring and a picnic table. Public restrroms and covered shelter are available at the nearby "Welcome Center".

Dates: April 1 to October 31. Camping is available most Friday and Saturday nights, however limited event exceptions may be arranged with Nature Park Director depending upon weather and staffing resources.

To reserve a campsite:

Contact Nature Park Director's Office (765) 658-5018 or submit your request at least one week in advance of your requested date via e-mail to: naturepark@depauw.edu
Reservations must be made at least one week in advance to ensure Park staffing and resources are available.
Campsites are reserved on a first-come first-served basis. Confirmations will be provided via e-mail.
Camping equipment such as tents, cookware, grounds tarps and ground pads are available for use by contacting the Park Director. Sleeping bags are an indivudual personal item and not available from the Park Service.

Fees: $10 per night per campsite. Additional $5 if you are renting nature Park Tents and equipment. Write a check payable to "DePauw University" with memo note "Nature Park Camping". Give your check to the Park Ranger on duty when you check in at the campsite. Please contact the Park Staff when you arrive by calling our Public Safety Office at 765-658-4261 and asking to meet the Park Staff Ranger on duty.

Check In and Out Times: Check in with the Park Ranger after 12 noon, check out by 12 noon on the following day. Given the unique terrain and landscape of the Park, campers must be at their campsite prior to sunset.

Quiet Hours: Quiet hours are from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. Campers may not leave the campsite area after sunset unless resources are need at the "Welcome Center". Emergency services (Blue Light Emergency Phone) are available at the Welcome Center. Campers are also encouraged to have a cell phone for access to Park staff and emergency resources.

Trash: Campers must clean their campsite as they leave the park. Trash may be removed from the site or placed in a trash dumpster.

Number of People/Tents per Site: Six people is the maximum number allowed at a campsite. Each site may have two small tents or one large tent. No vehicle camping or camping trailers are permitted. Again our campsites are intended to offer a primitive camping experience, thus no generators or other machinery is permitted without approval of the Park Ranger.

Vehicles: Vehicles must be left in the main parking lot unless approved by the Park Ranger or Director. You may drive to the campsite to drop off and pick up supplies when you first arrive and when you are ready to depart, but you may not make repeated driving trips to and from the campsites during your stay.

Site Responsibility: The person reserving the campsite is responsible for guests and campsite activities.

Campfires: Campfires are permitted only in the fire ring provided at the campsite. Campfires must be attneded at all times and extinguished before leaving the site. Firewood will be provided by the Park staff. Please do not remove wood from the property.

Picnic Tables: Each site is outfitted with a picnic table. Borrowing tables from other sites is allowable only with permission .

Nature Park Rules: All rules for the Nature Park apply (no hunting, fishing, swimming, alcohol, drugs, rock climbing, etc.).

For information about the Park, contact:

Brien Holsapple, Park Ranger 765-658-1076; or ...Doug Cox, Park Director 765-658-5018

Emergency contact: call DePauw Public Safety 765-658-4261 or 911 or contact the Park Ranger on duty. Emergency blue-light phones are located at the Main Gate, and next to the Welcome Center, and Prindle Institute parking lot.