AUGUST PROGRAMS AT NATIONAL LAKESHORE

Date: July 30, 2013
Contact: Ryan Koepke, 219-395-1882

Program Announcement #1

Every Day is Family Day at the Douglas Center

Enjoy family-friendly activities every day in August between 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore’s Paul Douglas Center. In addition to lots of indoor activities, get outside and let the kids enjoy the new Nature Play Zone where unstructured play in nature is encouraged. You can also hike the new Miller Woods trail extension all the way to Lake Michigan. After you return to the Douglas Center, step inside and help feed the resident turtles and fish.

The Paul H. Douglas Center for Environmental Education is located in the western portion of the national lakeshore at 100 North Lake Street, about one mile north of U.S. Highway 12. For more information on this or other programs at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, call 219-395-1882 or check the park’s website at www.nps.gov/indu.

Program Announcement #2

 Kid’s Rule at National Lakeshore Visitor Center

Join a ranger in the Indiana Dunes Visitor Center’s activity room for a Sunday afternoon of kid’s activities, puppet shows, stories and fun. Stop in between 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. to help your children learn a little more about your neighborhood national park. All children must be accompanied by an adult. You can also pick up a Junior Ranger booklet or explorer sheet while at the visitor center. Once completed, each participant will earn a junior ranger badge, sticker, or temporary tattoo.

The Indiana Dunes Visitor Center is located at 1215 North State Road 49 just south of the intersection of 49 and U.S. 20 in Porter, Indiana. For more information about this program or other activities at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, contact the information desk at 219-395-1882 or check the park’s website at www.nps.gov/indu.

Program Announcement #3

Music Heritage Series at National Lakeshore

Join in with the Save the Tunes Council as they perform traditional music associated with the summer and the month of August. Tune up your vocal cords and gather up for a sing-along on August 16, from 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore’s Visitor Center.

The Save the Tunes Council is a group of local musicians devoted to preserving and passing on folk songs in the traditional way, using a variety of musical instruments including guitar, autoharp, dulcimer, banjo, harmonica, bagpipe, penny whistle, hurdy gurdy, and other obscure instruments.

Meet at the Indiana Dunes Visitor Center located at 1215 N. State Road 49 just south of the intersection of 49 and U.S. 20 in Porter, Indiana. For more information about this program or other activities at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, contact the information desk at 219-395-1882 or check the park’s website at www.nps.gov/indu.

Program Announcement #4

 Stewardship Day at the National Lakeshore – Bailly Cemetery Clean-up

Join a ranger and help clean-up the historic Bailly Cemetery on August 17 between 9:00 a.m. and Noon during this Stewardship Day event at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. Wear comfortable clothes; work gloves and equipment will be provided. Insect repellent and sunscreen are recommended.
Meet at the park headquarters parking lot located at 1100 North Mineral Springs Road in Porter, Indiana. For more information about this program or other activities at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, contact the information desk at 219-395-1882 or check the park’s website at www.nps.gov/indu.

Program Announcement #5

Cowles Centennial Celebration at National Lakeshore
 
In 1913, pioneering ecologist Henry Chandler Cowles, led an international group of scientists on an exploration of the Indiana dunes. On Saturday, August 3, you can retrace their footsteps. Join the National Park Service and guest speakers for a full day of special programs and hikes in commemoration of the centennial of the 1913 International Phytogeographic Excursion.
 
The day starts with a Cowles Bog Hike led by national lakeshore staff from 9:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Meet at the south parking lot for Cowles Bog on Mineral Springs Road. At 1:30 p.m. join USGS scientist Noel Pavlovic at the national lakeshore’s Paul H. Douglas Center for a one-hour talk on British scientist Arthur Tansley, who attended the 1913 excursion. Tansley, like Cowles was a pioneer in the science of ecology. After the talk, follow Dr. Pavlovic on a guided hike of the national lakeshore’s Miller Woods, retracing the 1913 historic excursion. The hike length, ending around 4:30 p.m., will be determined that afternoon based on the weather conditions and participant ability.
 
If you prefer to make a full day of it, a workshop, hosted by the Dunes Learning Center, will provide bus transportation to all the day’s activities along with lunch and a program by Cowles biographer Victor M. Cassidy at the center’s Cowles Lodge. A copy of Cassidy’s book, “Henry Chandler Cowles – Pioneer Ecologist” is included with the workshop. There is a fee of $60 for the workshop to cover the food, book and transportation. Contact the Dunes Learning Center directly for details at 219-395-9555.

For more information on this or other programs at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, visit the park website at www.nps.gov/indu/planyourvisit or contact our information desk at 219-395-1882.
 

Program Announcement #6

Junior Wildland Firefighter Programs at the National Lakeshore
 
Meet Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore’s fire crew and hear about their jobs and equipment. Learn how they use fire as a tool to protect the park’s diversity. After this 60-minute, hands-on program, children will receive their very own Junior Wildland Firefighter activity book and free patch.
 
This program will be offered two times this month: August 10, 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m., at the Dunewood Campground Amphitheater and on August 24, 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., at the West Beach Contact Station. Note: There is a fee of $6 per car at West Beach during the summer.
 
For more information about this program or other activities at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, contact the information desk at 219-395-1882 or check the park’s website at www.nps.gov/indu.
 

Program Announcement #7

Pinhook Bog Open House at National Lakeshore
Explore Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore’s Pinhook Bog during four open houses being offered in August. Tour the bog on your own and talk to rangers stationed along the trail who will help you understand this unique place filled with carnivorous plants. Allow about one hour to walk the trail and tour the bog. These open houses will be held from 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, August 4, 11, 18 and 25.
The Pinhook Bog Parking Lot is located in the national lakeshore at 700 North Wozniak Road. For directions or more information about this program or other activities at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, contact the information desk at 219-395-1882 or check the park’s website at www.nps.gov/indu.

Program Announcement #8

Our Duneland Heritage at the Chellberg Farm in the National Lakeshore

Explore Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore’s historic Chellberg Farm during an open house hosted by a ranger on August 17 from 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Also, see a traditional craft or farming demonstration to learn more about our Duneland heritage.
The Chellberg/Bailly parking lot is on Mineral Springs Road between U.S. 20 and Highway 12 in Porter, Indiana. For more information on this or other programs at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, visit the park website at www.nps.gov/indu/planyourvisit or contact the park’s information desk at 219-395-1882. 
 

Program Announcement #9

Chellberg Farm Open House at National Lakeshore
 
Tour the Chellberg Farmhouse at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore to learn about the lives of early Duneland farm families. This program will be held on August 3, 10, 17 and 24 from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 pm. Park in the Chellberg/Bailly parking lot and walk the short distance to the Chellberg Farmhouse.
The Chellberg/Bailly parking lot is on Mineral Springs Road between U.S. 20 and Highway 12 in Porter, Indiana. For more information on this or other programs at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, visit the park website at www.nps.gov/indu/planyourvisit or contact the park’s information desk at 219-395-1882. 
 

Program Announcement #10

Bailly Homestead Open House at the National Lakeshore
Tour the historic homestead of a French-Canadian trader who moved to Indiana in 1822 to develop Baillytown and discovered that things don’t always work out as planned. This open house is offered on Friday afternoons from 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. on August 2, 9, and 16. Park in the Chellberg/Bailly parking lot and walk about ¼ mile down the trail to the homestead.
The Chellberg/Bailly parking lot is on Mineral Springs Road between U.S. 20 and Highway 12 in Porter, Indiana. For more information on this or other programs at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, visit the park website at www.nps.gov/indu/planyourvisit or contact the park’s information desk at 219-395-1882. 
 

Program Announcement #11

Miller Woods Hike at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore

Join a ranger for a Sunday afternoon stroll at 1:30 p.m. through Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore’s Miller Woods. The length of this hike can vary from one-half mile to three miles, depending on the conditions of the day. Call 219-395-1821 for details of the week’s hike.

The Paul H. Douglas Center for Environmental Education is located in the western portion of the national lakeshore at 100 North Lake Street, about one mile north of U.S. Highway 12. For more information on this or other programs at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, call 219-395-1821 or check the park’s website at www.nps.gov/indu.

Program Announcement #12

Bike the Porter Brickyard Trail at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore

Join a ranger for a Friday morning bike tour of the new Porter Brickyard Trail and the Calumet Bike Trail. This program meets at the Mnoké Prairie parking lot and will be offered on August 2, 9 and 16.

The Mnoké Prairie parking lot is located on Howe Road in the central portion of the national lakeshore. For more information on this or other programs at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, visit the park website at www.nps.gov/indu/planyourvisit or contact the park’s website at www.nps.gov/indu.

Program Announcement #13

Sunset Hike at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore

Enjoy an evening stroll with a ranger and watch the sunset at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore’s Central Avenue beach area. Learn what threatens our dunes and what you can do to help protect them. This one-hour program starts at 7:00 p.m. on and will be held on both August 2 and 9.
Meet at the Central Avenue beach access parking lot located one mile north of U.S. Highway 12 in the eastern portion of the national lakeshore. For more information about this program or other activities at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, contact the information desk at 219-395-1882 or check the park’s website at www.nps.gov/indu.
 
 
Program Announcement #14

Poems of the Dunes Program at National Lakeshore
 
Join author Paula McHugh and illustrator Harold Neulieb for a program about their favorite places in the Indiana Dunes. Inspired by the dunes, they collaborated on the book, “Talking Landscapes: Indiana Dunes Poems.” Meet at the Indiana Dunes Visitor Center on August 3 at 12:00 p.m. for a 30-minute program followed by a book signing. Bring your own book or purchase a copy at the visitor center’s bookstore.

The Indiana Dunes Visitor Center is located at 1215 N. State Road 49 just south of the intersection of 49 and U.S. 20 in Porter, Indiana. For more information about this program or other activities at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, contact the information desk at 219-395-1882 or check the park’s website at www.nps.gov/indu.

Program Announcement #15

View the Persieds Meteor Shower at National Lakeshore

Join a ranger on August 11, at 8:00 p.m. for a spectacular evening light show courtesy of the annual Perseids Meteor Shower. Meet at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore’s West Beach where we will have a telescope available for viewing the night sky. Bring a blanket or chair to make your viewing more comfortable during this two-hour sky watch.

West Beach is located on County Line Road in the western portion of the national lakeshore. There is a $6.00 per vehicle charge at West Beach until 6:30 p.m. Meet at the bulletin board adjacent to the parking lot. For more information about this program or other activities at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, contact the information desk at 219-395-1882 or check the park’s website at www.nps.gov/indu.

www.nps.gov/

Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore is part of the National Park Service. More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America’s 401 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Learn more at www.nps.gov.