Big Bone Lick

This short video features a few samples of Salt Festival music at Big Bone Lick State Park.

Have you ever wondered what galaxies look like from Earth?  What about the far away stars you can’t see with the naked eye?

Join two special guests from Northern Kentucky University — Dr. Wayne Bresser and Dr. Ray McNeil — and use their telescopes to view the wonders in the heavens above.  This free event is on Friday October 28, 2011 from 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm at the Big Bone Lick Campground Store.

The 26th annual Salt Festival is coming to Big Bone Lick State Park this weekend.  The festival is open to the public on Saturday, October 15, 2011 from 10am to 6pm and on Sunday from 10am to 5pm.  Admission is $4.00 per person with children age 6 and under free.  Parking is free.  The museum, bison field, and nature trails are also open.

The Salt Festival will feature demonstrations of pioneer and Native American life, salt making, delicious food, crafts, music, and more.

This photo shows Changing Tymes playing traditional Folk songs and original ballads about the American Frontier.

Check out photos from the 25th Anniversary Salt Festival in 2010.

Big Bone Lick State Park is hosting its “Lick the Wild: Survival Skills Weekend” September 9-11, 2011. 

Join the park naturalist for a full weekend of pre-historic based survival training.  Taught from a “no modern tools” perspective, these classes are designed to teach you how to cope with various difficulties when in survival situations.  Registration is required and is limited to a first-come, first-served basis until all spots are full.

The $75 fee includes primitive camping for two nights and all class fees.  The program begins 4-6 p.m. Friday and ends at noon on Sunday.  Email todd.young@ky.gov for more information and registration.

The Friends of Big Bone will hold a dinner and roast to honor former Boone County Judge Executive Bruce Ferguson (1963-1982 and 1986-1992).  As President of the Big Bone Historical Association, Ferguson worked with William Fitzgerald (secretary) to raise funds to establish a park in the Big Bone Lick area.  On December 12, 1958, they purchased 17 acres of land from Alpha and India Hance for $5,000.  This land became the seed for Big Bone Lick State Park, which was formally established in 1960.  Ferguson has remained a supporter of the park over the years.

The dinner-roast will be held October 6, 2011 at Receptions Conference Center on Donaldson Road in Boone County.  The reception starts at 5:45 p.m. with dinner at 6:45 p.m.  Cost is $55 per person.  Funds raised by this dinner will be used to upgrade the Visitor’s Center and further promote and preserve the history of Big Bone Lick State Park.

The Friends of Big Bone are looking for anyone who has worked with Judge Ferguson or who wishes to participate in the roast.  To receive an invitation to the dinner, call (859) 689-5631 or send an email.

Stay cool on a hot summer day while learning about nature.  Join the Big Bone Lick State Park naturalist to see all the wonders that can be experienced in Big Bone Creek.  The event will be held on Saturday, July 2, 2011 from 12:00 pm – 2:30 pm.

Caution: You will get wet, extremely wet.  Parents must accompany children, and registration is required.  Not recommended for very young children.  Weather permitting. 

To register and get more information about what to bring, please contact Todd Young at todd.young@ky.gov or call (859) 384-3522.

With the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq continuing, deployments can be quite challenging for active U.S. military and their families.  To help service members and their teenager children reconnect and spend quality time together, the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service is offering several high-adventure camps this year, including Wilderness Survival Camp at Big Bone Lick State Park.

The adventure camps are open to U.S. military service members (from any branch and any state) on a first come, first serve basis, but priority is given to service members who have been deployed at least once.  Teenagers should be between the ages of 14 and 18.  The camps are free of charge, and all equipment and meals are provided.

The Wilderness Survival Camp at Big Bone Lick is August 12-14, 2011.  There is space for up to 20 participants (10 service members and 10 teenage children).  There are additional camps available at other Kentucky State Parks through the summer.

The camps were made possible by a grant from the Department of Defense.  Partners include the Life Adventure Center, Devers Middle School and Teen Center, and the UK Family Center.

For an application packet or more information, visit the Military-Extension Adventure Camps website or contact Lauren Smith at 859-257-3072 or email lauren.w.smith@uky.edu.

Wilderness Survival Camp Flyer
Original Story

Join our special guest professors Dr. Wayne Bresser and Dr. Ray McNeil from Northern Kentucky University as they show you the wonders of the sun.  If you have ever wondered what the sun really looks like close up, you can be one of the few people in the area to safely look through a filtered telescope and see the sun in full view.  Both Ray and Wayne will be on hand to answer any questions you might have after viewing the sun.

Saturday, June 11, 2011, 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM

A long time ago, in a galaxy far far away…  Okay, this isn’t star wars, but have you ever wondered what the galaxies actually look like from Earth?  What about the distant stars you can’t even see with the naked eye?  Here is your chance to see galaxies, stars, planets, and the Moon from right here on Earth. 

Join our two special guests from Northern Kentucky University, Dr. Wayne Bresser and Dr. Ray McNeil, as they set up telescopes so that you can view the wonders in the heavens above.  See for yourself the beauty and splendor as you search for the stars.

Friday, May 27, 2011, 9:45 PM – 11:30 PM

Park enthusiasts from Friends of Big Bone and Todd Young, naturalist and interim park manager, discuss ghost-hunting at Big Bone Lick State Park.  Find out how investigators use digital voice recorders, EMF detectors and motion sensors to scan historical sites.

When: Thursday, June 16, 2011 @ 7 p.m.

Where: Boone County Main Library
1786 Burlington Pike
Burlington, KY 41005

Contact: 859-342-2665