Green Gary Celebration at National Lakeshore - 2016

Date: April 11, 2016

INDIANA DUNES NATIONAL LAKESHORE: Join in the celebration of Earth Day, the National Park Service Centennial and the 50^th anniversary of Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore at the annual Green Gary on Saturday, April 23, from 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. This fun, family-friendly event takes place at the national lakeshore’s Paul H. Douglas Center and is presented in partnership with over 20 organizations including the Gary Park Department and the Gary Department of Green Urbanism.

The event kicks off in the Douglas Center auditorium at11:00 amwith a screening of the new film, “Shifting Sands.” Atnoon, join a panel discussion with Shifting Sands producer Lee Botts and others. Another showing of the film will be at1:00 p.m. Some other on-going, activities in the center include “Grow Local, from our Farms to your Table” and lessons on how to “vertical farm” in your home or classroom. Come “bug out” with insect guy Jim Louderman of the Chicago Field Museum. He will have creepy, crawly live and preserved insects on display.

Join a guide for a hike through Miller Woods at10:30 a.m.,12:30p.m., and2:30 p.m. Also, at 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m., join an arborist from NIPSCO to learn what trees will grow best in your yard and how to plant them correctly. Bring your own bike to join the Cycle Miller Beach organization for a bike ride from the Douglas Center to West Beach at1:00 p.m.

Inside the center, see some beautiful art work and photography inspired by this area’s dynamic landscape. This art work was created by area school children ranging from grades K-12. At2:30 p.m., the winners of the “Indiana Dunes Art and Poetry Contest” will be announced on the stage of the auditorium.

Be sure to check out the national lakeshore’s Fire Team and learn how the park service uses fire to maintain the health of the park and keep park neighbors safe from uncontrolled wildfires. Also, let the kids take some time to build a fort or climb a tree in the center’s Nature Play Zone. A pair of kid’s binoculars will be given free to the first 140 children that play in the Nature Play Zone.

Pick up a Junior Ranger Booklet at the front desk. Once completed, take the booklet to teenaged Junior Ranger Aida Frey who has visited 163 national parks. Aida will issuejunior ranger badges and tell about some of her adventures in the national parks.

The Douglas Center is located at 100 North Lake Street in the Miller section of Gary, Indiana. For more information on this program and others, contact Kip Walton at 219-395-1858 or by email at:e-mail us.