#OptOutside With DNR On Black Friday

Free admission to any DNR property that charges a gate fee will be granted on November 26.

INDIANAPOLIS - Free admission to any DNR property that charges a gate fee will be granted on Friday, Nov. 26 to anyone participating in the annual Opt Outside promotion.

Those who Opt Outside on Black Friday will also be entered in drawings for DNR annual passes, lake permits, Outdoor Indiana subscriptions, Smokey Bear materials, gift cards and DNR staff-led outdoor experiences. To participate, you can do one, two or all three of the following to increase your chances of winning prizes:

1. Share your photos. Post photos of your outdoor Black Friday on DNR social media using the hashtag #OptOutsideIN2021. Posts that do not use that hashtag are not eligible for the drawings. DNR properties you can visit to participate include state parks and state forests, State-managed reservoirs, fish & wildlife areas, and nature preserves, as well as off-road riding state recreation areas. See additional details at on.IN.gov/optoutside.

DNR social media sites for posting include division and/or property pages as well as the links listed below.

- Indiana State Parks Facebook page: facebook.com/INdnrstateparksandreservoirs
- Indiana Fish & Wildlife Facebook page: facebook.com/INfishandwildlife
- Indiana State Forest Facebook page: facebook.com/INdnrforestry
- Indiana Outdoor Recreation Facebook page: facebook.com/INdnroutdoorrec
- DNR Facebook page: facebook.com/INdnr
- DNR Instagram feed: instagram.com/indianadnr

2. Opt Outside Scavenger Hunt. Download and complete the Opt Outside Scavenger Hunt found at on.IN.gov/optoutside at any DNR property, then return it to SPContests@dnr.IN.gov to be entered in a separate drawing for prizes and experiences.

3. Check in at a property with the Indiana State Nature Passport. As a bonus this year, if you check in at any DNR property currently listed in the Indiana State Nature Passport Program at visitindiana.com/explore or if you complete the Opt Outside Scavenger Hunt and enter the special Nature Passport Scavenger Hunt PIN, you will be entered in a drawing for a 2022 Annual Entrance Pass and an Outdoor Indiana magazine subscription. The special Nature Passport PIN for the scavenger hunt will be posted in the same location as each property’s usual Nature Passport PIN.

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.

“Being able to spend time outdoors at one of our DNR properties any time of the year helps make you a winner, but we are glad to offer free admission and these great prizes to add to your outdoor experience as you #optoutside on Black Friday,” said DNR Director Dan Bortner.

REI started the #optoutside initiative in 2015, announcing it would close its stores on Black Friday. For more information, visit rei.com/opt-outside. To read an REI blog about the benefits of being outdoors, visit rei.com/blog/news/a-dose-of-the-outdoors.