Refugees connect with nature through Hoosier National Forest 

The Hoosier National Forest recently partnered with nonprofit Common Earth Gardens to provide refugees of war-torn countries the chance to connect with nature.& More than 20 resettled refugees met with forest employees at the Tipsaw Lake Recreation Area in Southern Indiana to learn about public lands, hiking and Leave No Trace guidelines for minimizing impacts in outdoor environments.& “It was great to have visitors from Burundi, Somalia, Sudan, Iraq, Afghanistan and Burma,” said Cheryl Coon, Hoosier National Forest economic partnership coordinator. “It was a great cross-cultural event for everyone.”& Hoosier National Forest staffer, Jeremiah Heise, helps newly arrived Somali immigrant, Muhammad Hassan, prepare for hiking on forest trails (Photo provided/USFS) The trip also included classes on camping techniques and recreational opportunities on public lands.& “I enjoyed the trip to the Hoosier National Forest very much,” said Muhammad Hassan, a recent immigrant from Somalia. “I’ve never been to a national forest. I didn’t know about all of the opportunities available. Now, I’m looking forward to coming back with my family and hiking along the trails.”& As new U.S. residents, many of the participants were unaware of public lands and where they were located.& “Being able to share the benefits of access...