Big Walnut Nature Preserve one of chosen sites for 'Natural Treasures' Challenge

With summer in full swing, Indiana's natural areas are calling Hoosiers' names, inviting you to get outside and explore. While you're at it, take a photo -- and you may win a new car.

The Nature Conservancy in Indiana and Honda announce the Natural Treasures challenge that gives Hoosiers an opportunity to explore natural sites in Indiana as well as the chance to win a Honda Civic Hybrid.

One of the nine chosen sites in Indiana is Big Walnut, located in Putnam County near Bainbridge.

The Tall Timbers Trail provides a scenic one-mile loop through the northern part of Big Walnut. The trail takes visitors through the forested hills and ravines of the preserve, as well as along Big Walnut Creek. There are songbirds aplenty, so binoculars are advised.

The challenge runs Aug. 1-Sept. 30 (more information at nature.org/treasure).

The Nature Conservancy and Honda developed the Natural Treasures challenge as a way to help showcase some of Indiana's protected "hidden gems," and to encourage learning about different natural features of the state. Since 1959, the Conservancy has protected more than 80,000 acres of critical natural lands in Indiana.

"Natural Treasures highlights the diversity of our state's extraordinary natural areas, and it shows families that experiencing nature is closer and easier than you think," Mary McConnell, executive director of The Nature Conservancy in Indiana, said. "If Hoosiers discover and come to know these areas, they'll be inspired to help us protect them."

It's as simple as taking a 'selfie.' For a chance to win, participants can visit one or more of some of Indiana's best natural areas and record their visit by taking a photo of themselves, then upload the photo to nature.org/treasure to enter the sweepstakes.

Each time they visit a new site, they get another entry in the sweepstakes. Only one entry is allowed per site. Participants also may enter by uploading a picture of themselves taken at their favorite place in nature. Only one entry of this type is allowed.

For the full list of the recommended sites in Indiana, participants can visit nature.org/treasure. One grand prize winner will receive a new Honda Civic Hybrid.

The Nature Conservancy is a leading conservation organization working around the world to protect ecologically important lands and waters for nature and people. To date, the Conservancy and its more than one million members have been responsible for the protection of more than 119 million acres of land and 5,000 miles of rivers worldwide.

In Indiana, the Conservancy has worked for 50 years at more than 195 sites to protect more than 80,000 acres. Working from eight offices across the State, the Conservancy works with local communities on issues of vital interest, including the quality and quantity of Indiana's freshwater.