Every Day
Arrowhead Necklaces ($): Humans have been coming to Big Bone Lick for 10,000 years to hunt and make salt. Until Europeans came to the area, Native Americans used stone tools to hunt and process meat. Each participant will make an arrowhead necklace to take home.
Location: Museum Ages: All Ages Fee: $3.00 per necklace
Lewis and Clark Junior Ranger Badge: Stop by the museum to earn a Junior Ranger badge by completing an activity booklet. Activities will guide you to check out the park you're visiting and to find out why this site is important to the Lewis and Clark Expedition story. As you fill-in-the-blanks, you'll learn about Native lands. As you decode messages, you'll get to know expedition members’ diverse backgrounds and skills. Become a junior ranger today!
Location: Museum Approximate Time: 45 minutes Ages: All Ages
Big Bone Scavenger Hunt: Do you think you can complete Harlan G. Sloth’s scavenger hunt? Pick up your list at the campground store to find out! Work in teams or lead a solo adventure. Prizes awarded to teams who finish the hunt!
Location: Campground Store Approximate Time: 45 minutes Ages: All Ages
Mini Golf ($): Play a round of mini golf! Pick up clubs and balls from the campground store.
Location: Campground Store Approximate Time: 45 minutes Fee: $2.50 – children $3.50 – adults
Fresh Popcorn Pick-Up: Happy Memorial Day Weekend! Stop by the campground store for a complimentary bag of freshly popped popcorn.
Location: Campground Store Approximate Time: During Store Hours Ages: All Ages
*For campground guests only
Thursday, July 3
10:00 A.M. Solar Ray Prints*: This cool paper creates pictures with just sun light and water. Join the Park Interpreter as we search for interesting objects to “photograph”. Each participant will create a picture to take home. *Subject to cancellation due to inclement weather
Location: Recreation Shelter Approximate Time: 30 Minutes Ages: All Ages
1:00 P.M. Fire Starting, the Pioneer way: Would you be able to start a fire without matches or a lighter? Come discover how to start fire using flint and steel like the pioneers did. Everyone will have a chance to try their hand at starting a fire.
Location: Recreation Shelter Approximate Time: 45 Minutes Ages: All Ages
3:00 P.M. Atlatl, Prehistoric Weapon of Choice*: Prehistoric people came up with a rather ingenious device in order to hunt for large animals and for protection, the atlatl. This device allowed a person to throw a long dart up to several hundred yards. See how far you can throw an atlatl dart.
Location: Museum Approximate Time: 45 Minutes Ages: *8+ to throw
Friday, July 4
10:00 A.M. 4th of July Magnets: Create your very own patriotic magnet to commemorate your 4th of July visit at Big Bone Lick!
Location: Recreation Shelter Approximate Time: 30 Minutes Ages: All Ages
11:00 A.M. Meet the Big Bone Bison: Did you know that Big Bone is home to live American Bison? They are a living link to the Ice Age, 10,000 years ago. Come learn about bison then and now while getting to know the Big Bone bison herd. Drop by the Bison Viewing Area at any time between 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., to hear stories and answering questions. To access the viewing area, follow the Bison Trace trail for 0.25 miles.
Location: Bison Viewing Area Approximate Time: 2 Hours Ages: All Ages
1:00 P.M. Water Balloon Toss: Ready, set, toss! Grab a partner and test your abilities! Last team standing wins a prize.
Location: Recreation Shelter Approximate Time: 45 Minutes Ages: All Ages
3:00 P.M. Patriotic Craft Celebration: Stop by the recreation shelter to show off your patriotic spirit! Create your very own custom 4th of July themed magnet, flag, hat, or glasses. Temporary tattoos also available.
Location: Recreation Shelter Approximate Time: 45 minutes Ages: All Ages
5:00 P.M. Tobacco Hiking Sticks ($): Come decorate your own piece of Kentucky heritage, the tobacco stick. These sticks were used to hang and dry tobacco on farms all over Kentucky. Today they make awesome walking sticks! You can paint, wood burn and feather your own special tobacco stick to take on the trail.
Location: Recreation Shelter Approximate Time: 1 Hour Ages: All Ages Fee: $5.00 per walking stick
Saturday, July 5
10:00 A.M. Tie-Dye T-Shirt ($)*: Let your imagination run wild and create a personalized souvenir to take home. Supplies limited. Purchase your shirts 30 minutes ahead of the program time.
Location: Recreation Shelter Approximate Time: 1 Hour Ages: All Ages
Fee: $15.00 per shirt – Youth sizes (XS-L) and adult sizes (S-XXL) NEW T-SHIRT DESIGN FOR 2025!
11:00 A.M. Meet the Big Bone Bison: Did you know that Big Bone is home to live American Bison? They are a living link to the Ice Age, 10,000 years ago. Come learn about bison then and now while getting to know the Big Bone bison herd. Drop by the Bison Viewing Area at any time between 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., to hear stories and answering questions. To access the viewing area, follow the Bison Trace trail for 0.25 miles.
Location: Bison Viewing Area Approximate Time: 2 Hours Ages: All Ages
1:00 P.M. Sponge Bomb Wars: Ready…aim…fire! Do you have the best aim in the campground? Can you dip, duck, dive, and dodge all the sponge bombs? Join interpretive staff for a summer dodgeball and snowball fight crossover battle, last player standing wins a prize!
Location: Recreation Shelter Approximate Time: 1 Hour Ages: All Ages
3:00 P.M. Uncle Sam Buddy Craft ($): Create your very own Uncle Sam buddy to tag alone with all your 4th of July festivities! Using foam, googly eyes, and beads to create a patriotic friend.
Location: Recreation Shelter Approximate Time: 30 Minutes Ages: All Ages
5:00 P.M. Big Bone Bingo*: Come play a few rounds of bingo with the interpretive staff at the Recreation Shelter. Prizes awarded to the winners!
Location: Recreation Shelter Approximate Time: 45 Minutes Ages: All Ages
*For campground guests only
Sunday, July 6
10:00 A.M. Last Chance Crafts($): Miss out on any of the craft offerings this weekend and still want to participate? Stop by the recreation shelter to see what is left! Any remaining crafts will be available.
Location: Recreation Shelter Approximate Time: 1 Hour Ages: All Ages Fee: $5.00 per walking stick or $10.00 per tie dye t-shirt
1:00 P.M. Fossil Hunter: This area is known for being the birthplace of American Vertebrate Paleontology but it is also a premier Ordovician fossil location. We will talk about how this area became a premier fossil site, how the ancient invertebrates that lived here became fossils, and most importantly hone our fossil hunting skills. Participants will have the opportunity to handle and identify fossils found on the park.
Location: Museum Approximate Time: 45 Minutes Ages: All Ages
3:00 P.M. Atlatl, Prehistoric Weapon of Choice*: Prehistoric people came up with a rather ingenious device in order to hunt for large animals and for protection, the atlatl. This device allowed a person to throw a long dart up to several hundred yards. See how far you can throw an atlatl dart.
Location: Museum Approximate Time: 45 Minutes Ages: *8+ to throw
FIREWORKS ARE NOT PERMITTED IN THE CAMPGROUND! THIS INCLUDES SMOKE BOMBS, SPARKLERS, SMALL FOUNDTAIN FIREWORKS, ECT.
PLEASE SEE LIST OF LOCAL FIREWORK SHOWS BELOW.
LOCAL FIREWORK SHOWS
The City of Florence
July 3rd
5:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
8100 Ewing Blvd. Florence, KY 41042
Food trucks, kid-zone, live music, and fireworks at 10 p.m.
The City of Independence
July 3rd and 4th
5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
2001 Jack Woods Parkway, Independence, KY 41015
Kid-zone, magic show, live music, and fireworks at 10 p.m.
The City of Edgewood
283 Dudley Rd. Edgewood, KY 41017
Parade, live music, and fireworks.
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