For Immediate Release

#OptOutside With The Indiana State Nature Passport

INDIANAPOLIS? (Nov. 16, 2021) -?Are you looking for an alternative to shopping on Black Friday??Opt Outside?and earn prizes from Visit Indiana and the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR). If you #OptOutside, you get free admission to any DNR property that charges a gate fee and get a bonus check in with your?Indiana State Nature Passport?throughout Thansgiving weekend.

?Our state parks offer some of the more beautiful sites in Indiana over the course of the year and that includes now in the late fall and early winter,? said Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch. ?There are several ways to get involved, get outside and connect with Hoosier nature this Thanksgiving, and I encourage Hoosiers to get started by planning a visit to one of our wonderful state properties.?

Here's a checklist for planning your visit:? Download the?Opt Outside Scavenger Hunt?for any DNR property.? Remember to check in when you arrive at any DNR property currently listed in the?Indiana State Nature Passport Program.? Once you complete the scavenger hunt, you can return it to?[email protected]?to be entered into a separate drawing for prizes and experiences. BONUS: Get your special Nature Passport Scavenger Hunt PIN, and you will be entered in a drawing for a 2022 Annual Entrance Pass and an Outdoor Indiana magazine subscription. The PIN for the scavenger hunt will be posted in the same location as each property's usual State Nature Passport PIN.? Post photos on social media. Use DNR social media handles using the hashtag #OptOutsideIN2021 to win additional prizes. Posts that do not use that hashtag are not eligible for the drawings.

Everyone who posts a photo as described or participates in the scavenger hunt will be entered in a grand prize drawing for a gift pack from outdoor gear retailer REI in Castleton. REI is a supporter of the Indiana Natural Resources Foundation and Indiana State Parks.?

"Indiana's natural beauty is an under-told story," said Elaine Bedel, Secretary and CEO of the Indiana Destination Development Corporation (IDDC). "At IDDC, we make it a priority to tell and share these stories."

For more information on the Indiana State Nature Passport,?click here. For more information about Opt Outside Day,?click here. To follow Visit Indiana on social media, Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. ### Media Kit?