Middlebury Riverfest, Barron Lake Triathlon offer families outdoor experiences

Here are three events to get you and your family outside for some fun and, maybe, a little learning.

Middlebury Riverfest

Paddle a bit, see wild fish and critters up close, do some art and learn a lot at this year’s free Riverfest in Middlebury, which has shifted to an evening program from 3 to 7 p.m. Aug. 24 at Riverbend Park , 511 E. Warren St. The brief, guided kayak trips on the Little Elkhart River will provide transportation back to the park. Soarin’ Hawk and Indiana Wild will show the critters, while an electro-fishing demonstration at 3 p.m. will safely pull fish from the river to see. Kids can make boats from recycled materials that will be provided, then race them. A local artist, Linda Pieri, will guide kids in painting eagles. There will be “train” rides through the park. And food trucks will sell eats. At the end of the festival, the movie “Finding Dory” will be shown.

Barron Lake Triathlon

This race in Niles on Aug. 24 caters to kids and adults, and it features a clinic for beginners and youths from 4 to 6 p.m. Aug. 23 during packet pickup. The adult race offers a 500-yard swim, 15-mile bike ride and 3.1-mile run. The youth races for ages 6-11 include both competitive and non-competitive versions, each going for a 25-yard swim, 1.2-mile bike ride and half-mile run. The cost for adults is $75 per individual, $95 per team, and for youths is $30. For details and to register, visit barronlaketri.com .

Bats and ice cream

See how a bat is safely caught in a mist net, then evaluated for scientific data in a program at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 5 at St. Patrick’s County Park in South Bend. This comes while you learn about the bat species found in Indiana . Follow up with a “bat nana split” as you watch bats exit the park’s red barn. The cost is $5 per person. Register by Sept. 2 at 574-654-3155.

Find columnist Joseph Dits on Facebook at SBTOutdoorAdventures or 574-235-6158 or jdits@sbtinfo.com .

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Middlebury Riverfest, Barron Lake Triathlon offer families outdoor experiences