Join Ranger Maria and become an Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore Web Ranger. Make discoveries and learn fascinating facts about Indiana Dunes, Lake Michigan, plants, animals, and people on your way to becoming a Web Ranger. Earn a certificate. Learn more on Park Fun page.

Kids and adults alike can also take our Water Safety Challenge with DERF, the robot. You can find DERF on the Park Fun page.

Looking for something fun to do during your visit to the lakeshore? Be sure to check out the Junior Ranger page to learn about activity guides you can do with your family.

Student Gallery

Check out what other young people are writing, drawing and photographing from their visits to Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. This page is dedicated to showcasing the work of young people who visit the park. If you or your class recently visited the national lakeshore, and you have produced something interesting to share, please call Edwin Alcox at 219 395-1548. We can't promise it will make the gallery, but we will review the work and let you know if it can be used.

National Park Week student program at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore

Over 100 second grade students from Peifer Elementary School in Schererville, IN participated ina special kick-off program for National Park Week at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. The students visited the Paul H. Douglas Center for Environmental Education on Monday, April 19 for a full day's field trip.

The second graders rotated through a variety of learning stations conducted by Valparaiso University students who were taking a science methods course in elementary education. Their professor, Dr. Victoria Chiatula, arranged the two-way learning experience for her students as a way to provide them with real world teaching experience. The university students created lesson plans and activities to teach about the resources at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. The stations provided hands on learning activities for the second graders such as pond studies, hiking the trails, bird watching, and animal adaptations.

This innovative program was coordinated by park staff who provided the training to the 13 pre-service teachers during their course time and worked with the school to set up the field trip.

Check out the letters and drawings from Liberty Elementary School. Mrs. Janes brought her class on a field trip to Chellberg Farm and participated in the Autumn Harvest program with Park Ranger Christy Gerlach in October. The student then wrote letters and drew pictures about their experiences and shared them with the park. See more...