Mishawaka Res

09/30/2026

As we all know, Autumn is on its way! Some of us will welcome the cooler temperatures, some of us, not so much! Here at The Res we are witnessing the autumnal change! Here's a little lesson for kids and adults alike about the change of colors in the leaves we all "ooh and aah" about! Remember, our Mission here at The Res is recreation, education and nature!

09/30/2026

Bethel University joined us this morning and we accomplished so much! 🌲

The Emmans Shelter, Rangers Cabin, and our raised garden beds ALL got facelifts. This crew of 25 students was speedy, driven, and a lot of fun!

There’s a lot of fun things happening at The Res. You’ll want to stay tuned for some exciting updates!👀

09/27/2026

The Res is 50 years old! A few nights ago we had a dinner celebrating 50 years as the Preservation of the Res. A great time was had by all who attended. We watched slides from the time it was a Scout Reservation in 1920 until it became a non-profit in 1976. Eric Murray was the first ranger and 3 of his sons came for the dinner. Phil Rea, along with other community members such as Rick Doolittle, who was in attendance, campaigned to "Save the Res". Rea family members, Naomi and Jeff, also came. Russell Melin was the first board President and his wife, Betty, and family members came to celebrate this milestone too. Here are some photos from that evening.

09/23/2026

The 50th anniversary dinner is TOMORROW!

Our silent auction is LIVE!⚡️

Open to the public- anyone can bid!

Fundraising tech can be difficult. Whether you're hosting an event or fundraising online, we've got your back.

09/17/2026

Calling all scrappers, foundries, private landowners, architects!🛠️
The Mishawaka Res' beautiful new bridge is doing its job---but now it's time to get the OLD steel bridge dismantled and find it a new home. Whether it's smelted and made into new wonderful things, used as architectural detail or used to enhance personal property, you'll be taking a bit of the Res' history with you.
Come down, take a look at it, if you're interested, please email us at [email protected] or call 574-259-1850 for more information.

Note: the materials are free but you must dismantled and remove it from the property on your own.

09/14/2026

We received an email from our friends at Old Hickory today about the two caned benches we had shipped down to Shelbyville for repair. They have been cleaned, tightened, pieces replaced where needed and spruced up---next they will start the re-canning process!! Here are some pics of how the restoration is going. We can't wait to get them home! We could never have had this done without you, our friends of The Res----We'll let you know when they're back!

09/13/2026

The Res began and ended it's weekend with what makes this Mishawaka gem tick----volunteers!
Today several members of the Res' Board of Directors came out to clean up the Kiwanis Cabin ----inside and out! We got off to a great start with everything that needs to be done for upcoming fall rentals. Thank you!!

09/11/2026

What a start to the weekend! ☀️

The nature center deck needed a facelift so a local volunteer power washed it and then our friends and a board member at Tri Kappa Mishawaka Beta Gamma spent this morning painting! 🖌️🎨

Come take a walk and see how beautiful it looks!

09/09/2026

Dear Friends of The Res,

This year, The Res is celebrating something special—50 years! Fifty years of bringing education, recreation and nature together for our area families. We will be celebrating this milestone with a dinner and recognition of the family members of those who established this beautiful Mishawaka gem.

A little background on the beginnings of The Res. In May, 1970, the Boys Scouts were experiencing financial trouble, the concern from community members was to make sure the 23- acre property was not taken over by developers. Community leader Phil Rea spearheaded a campaign to buy the property from the scouts and form the present-day non-profit, Preservation of The Res, Inc. It is run by a dedicated Board of Directors, the very first President of the Board was Russell Melin.

For those of you who never had the chance to meet Eric Murray, he was the Ranger when the property, now The Res, was a Scout Reservation. When the Scouts sold the property he continued as Ranger, staying on to manage The Res. Eric and his family lived in the cabin on the property beginning in 1970 and for two decades served as the volunteer Ranger. His dedication to those who came to camp and experience nature is unsurpassed.

We are thrilled that family members of these great individuals—those who paved the way so that we have what is today, a piece of paradise here in Mishawaka—will be attending.
Community support is so vital to The Res and with your help, we will be able to continue to bring education, recreation and nature to future generations.

Please see the invitation below to make your reservation.

Thank you!
Board of Directors
Mishawaka Res

09/08/2026

Sometimes we go walking through the woods, taking our four-legged family members for some exercise, or maybe just out for a little "me" time. We hear the birds calling and out of the the corner of our eye see something, not sure what, scampering through the underbrush. In the last couple of days at The Res, these two beauties were spotted. Small, easily missed but beautiful.
The American Dagger Moth caterpillar (yellow) and the Fall Webworm caterpillar.
Our 23 acres of forested trails here at The Res are full of critters you may not see in your neighborhoods. Come out, take a walk, you never know what you'll find!