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Contact: Ryan Koepke, 219-395-1882
INDIANA DUNES NATIONAL LAKESHORE: The National Park Service will celebrate its 96th birthday this year on August 25. You can celebrate the day with a variety of activities being offered at the national lakeshore. All of the programs listed below take place on Saturday, August 25. Join Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore superintendent Costa Dillon from 10 am - 12 pm at the Paul H. Douglas Center for an informal chat about the park. Superintendent Dillon welcomes your perspectives and questions on the national lakeshore and has been hosting public forums throughout the summer at different locations. The Douglas Center is located at 100 North Lake Street in Gary. Ranger Kipton Walton will lead an easy bike ride from 1 pm to 3 pm at Hobart Prairie Grove bike trail. This is one of the newest areas of the park, and it traverses hardwood forest, colorful prairie, and a small section of Lake George. What better way to celebrate the National Park's birthday than with a scenic bike ride? Bikes, water and safety equipment will not be provided, so please bring your own. Meet at the trailhead located near Robinson Lake at South Liverpool Road and East 53rd Avenue in Hobart. Stop by the Douglas Center and find out what is flying, walking or growing outside during the Open House every Saturday afternoon. Explore the center from 1 pm - 3 pm and check out interactive exhibits, a video, and even a live animal room. If you don't mind the warm weather you can take a hike on the Miller Woods Trail just outside the center. Meet the park's fire crew from 10 am - 11 am and learn about their jobs and equipment. After this hands-on program, children will receive their very own Junior Wildland Firefighter activity book and patch during this 60-minute program. This program will be held at the amphitheater in the Dunewood Campground. The Dunewood Campground is located at the cross streets of Highway 12 and Broadway in the eastern portion of the national lakeshore. Join a ranger on the park's newest trail from 9 am - 10:30 am to look for birds and other wildlife while exploring a portion of the restored Great Marsh wetland. The Great Marsh parking lot is located on Broadway just north of the Beverly Shores Fire Department. Gather around the campfire with a ranger and learn about the incredible diversity of park resources and how fire plays an important part in keeping the park healthy. This one-hour program begins at 7:30 pm and will be held at the Dunewood Campground Amphitheater. The campground is located at the cross streets of US Highway 12 and Broadway in the eastern portion of the national lakeshore. Join a ranger for a Chellberg Farm Open House and see a traditional craft demonstration or farming presentation. This open house runs from 1 pm - 4 pm at Chellberg Farm. The farm's parking lot is located at 618 North Mineral Springs Road in the national lakeshore. For more information on these programs and others, contact the park's information line at 219-395-1882. Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore is part of the National Park System. More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America's 397 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. |
Last updated: April 10, 2015