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The Memorial Day Weekend marks the start of the summer season at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. Get out and enjoy your park by attending a ranger-led program or hike. In addition to a large number of special events in honor of the national lakeshore's 50th anniversary, there over 200 other hikes, talks, or open houses being offered this summer. For information on all of the programs at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, call the national lakeshore's information desk at 219-395-1882 or check the park's website at park website. Here is a listing of the summer programs. 1st Saturday Night Stargazing at National Lakeshore Join members from various local astronomical societies, including the Chicago Astronomical Society, who will bring their large telescopes to introduce the night skies to visitors on Saturday, June 4 at the Kemil Beach parking lot at 8:30 pm.In celebration of the National Park Service Centennial and the fiftieth birthday of Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, this program will be offered most months through November of 2016. In June, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn as well as the Hercules Globular Cluster will be visible. The Kemil Beach parking lot is located at 27 N. East State Park Road, Chesterton, Indiana. For more information on this or other programs at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, call 219-395-1821 or check the park's website at park website Pinhook Bog Open House at National Lakeshore Take an hour-long self-guided hike into Indiana's only quaking bog every Saturday afternoon this summer at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore's Pinhook Bog.Rangers and volunteers stationed along the trail will help you understand this unique place filled with carnivorous plants.Allow one hour to walk the trail and tour the bog. This open house will take place every Saturday from May 28 to September 10 from 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm. This summer also marks the year-round opening of the Pinhook Upland Trail. Unlike the Pinhook Bog Trail, the Upland Trail takes you onto the Valparaiso Moraine where you can explore a beautiful Beech and Maple forest and former agricultural lands. The Upland Trail is accessed from the same parking lot as Pinhook Bog, but unlike the bog that is only open when rangers are present, the Upland Trail is open every day for hiking by the public from 7:00 am until ½ hour after sunset. For more information contact, the national lakeshore's information desk at 219-395-1882. The Pinhook Bog parking lot is located at 700 North Wozniak Road in Michigan City, Indiana 46360.For more information about this bog's open house or other activities at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, contact the information desk at 219-395-1882 or check the park's website at park website Bailly Homestead and Chellberg Farm Open House at National Lakeshore Learn about centuries-old lifestyles of Duneland residents by exploring the Bailly Homestead and Chellberg Farmhouse.This open house takes place every Sunday afternoon from 1:00 pm –4:00 pm from May 29 to September 4. Park in the Chellberg/Bailly parking lot and walk to the Bailly Homestead and Chellberg Farmhouse. You can also get there early and join a ranger-led hike to the Bailly Cemetery at noon. The Cemetery Hike starts in the parking lot and ends at the Chellberg Farmhouse just in time for the open house at 1:00 pm. 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 plan your visit or contact the park's information desk at 219-395-1882. Mount Baldy Hikes at National Lakeshore Join a ranger this summer for any of our 27 guided hikes of Mount Baldy. These 1 ½ hour tours will be offered every Sunday morning at 10:00 am and on most Friday evenings at 5:00 pm. On some selected Friday nights, a sunset hike will be presented. Rangers will guide visitors on a trail on the western edge of the sand dune that scientists have determined to be free of dangerous holes. Because space is limited, you must call the park's information line at 219-395-1882 and make a reservation to be able to attend one of these programs. 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 park website. Campfire on the Beach at National Lakeshore Watch a sunset on the beach and then join a ranger to toast marshmallows while enjoying stories and songs during this 90-minute program at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore's Kemil Beach. The first campfire is scheduled for Saturday, June 11 at 8:00 pm and will be repeated on the second and fourth Saturday of each month with the last one be offered on September 10.Meet the ranger at Kemil Beach in the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. Call the park's information desk at 219-395-1882 for the times of future programs. Kemil Beach parking lot is located on East State Park Road, 1 mile north of the Calumet Dune Interpretive Center.For more information on this or other programs at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, call (219) 395-1882 or check the park's website at park website Midsummer Celebration at National Lakeshore Celebrate the longest day of the year and learn about the traditions of the Swedish immigrants at Chellberg Farm.Enjoy the music, dance and food associated with this special day. This program takes place on Saturday, June 25 from 1:00 to 4:00 pm. You can also check out the farm's new chickens during the program or throughout the summer.Be sure to come back at 7:30 pm for the Summer Solstice Evening Concert by folk artist Chris Vallillo. 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 plan your visit or contact the park's website at park website Summer Solstice Evening Concert at National Lakeshore's Chellberg Farm Enjoy the end of the longest day of the year with an early evening concert at Chellberg Farm. Offered in partnership with the Friends of Indiana Dunes, this outdoor concert features Chris Vallillo a nationally acclaimed singer/songwriter and folk musician who strives to "make the people and places of "unmetropolitan" America come to life in song." Gather up on Saturday, June 25, from 7:30 pm –8:30 pm. Bring a blanket or folding chairs, and perhaps a picnic dinner, and find a pick your spot on the farmyard lawn. 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 park website. Miller Woods Hike at National Lakeshore Join a park ranger for a hike through the beautiful oak savanna of Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore's Miller Woods each Sunday afternoon at 1:30 pm. Hikes will be offered on Sundays between June 4 and August 21 and will vary in length depending on the interest and abilities of visitors. Meet at the Paul H. Douglas Center for Environmental Education. Wear sturdy shoes and bring water and insect repellent. 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 park website Find Your Park Film Series at National Lakeshore Each weekend, explore a different National Park Service site through the Find Your Park Film Series. This year-long series celebrates the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service and 50th anniversary of the national lakeshore in 2016. The films last about an hour and are shown at 2:00 p.m. on Sundays at the Indiana Dunes Visitor Center in Porter and on Saturdays at the Paul H. Douglas Center in Miller. 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. The Paul H. Douglas Center for Environmental Education is located in the western portion of the national lakeshore at 100 North Lake Street in the Miller section of Gary, 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 park website Open House at the National Lakeshore's Douglas Center Enjoy fun, family-friendly activities at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore's Paul H. Douglas Center every Saturday from 9:00 am –4:00 pm. Then, take the kids outside to the center's Nature Play Zone where unstructured play in nature is encouraged. You can also help feed the center's resident turtles and fish or join a ranger for a hike in the beautiful Miller Woods. 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 park website Beginning Birding Program at the National Lakeshore Join a ranger every Saturday morning this summer at 9:00 am for a Beginning Birding Hike at the Great Marsh Trail in Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. This 90-minute hike is a great opportunity for beginners of all ages who want to take up this great way to enjoy the outdoors. The Great Marsh Trail parking lot is located on Broadway Street just north of the Beverly Shores Train Station in the Beverly Shores area.For more information on this or other programs at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, call 219-395-1882 or check the park's website at park website Sunset Hike at National Lakeshore's West Beach Stroll down West Beach with a ranger at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore and enjoy the sunset over Lake Michigan. This 60-minute program is offered twice a month during the summer. The first two hikes will be on June 3, at 7:30 pm, and June 18, at 8:00 pm. During this leisurely hike, learn about the threats to our fragile Indiana dunes and what you can do to help protect them. Meet at the West Beach Parking Lot. The West Beach entrance road is located just north of the intersection of US Highway 12 and N. County Line Road in Portage, Indiana. For more information about this program or future program times, contact the national lakeshore's information desk at 219-395-1882 or check the park's website at park website. Try Out a Kayak at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore Starting on June 15, join a ranger Wednesday mornings along the Kemil and Dunbar Beach area of Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore and try out kayaking on Lake Michigan. The ranger will be along the beach, between 9:00 am –11:00 am, with a kayak and lifejackets in tow and will let you try your hand at this increasing popular recreational activity. This is not a formal lesson and time in the kayak is limited so everybody gets a turn. Kemil Beach Parking Lot is located at 27 N. East State Park Road, 1 mile north of the Highway 12.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 park website. Music Heritage Series at National Lakeshore Tune up your vocal chords and join in with the Save the Tunes Council as they perform traditional music associated with the summer season. Gather up on Friday, June 17, July 15, or August 19, from 7:30 pm –9:00 pm at the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore 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 park website Stewardship Day at the National Lakeshore –Attacking Invasive Species Join a ranger on the third Saturday of the month this summer to help with a Stewardship project at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. The first summer project takes place on June 18 from 9:00 am –12:00 pm. Call 219-395-1661 for more information and the location of this month's project. Wear comfortable clothes;work gloves and equipment will be provided. Insect repellant and sunscreen are recommended. |
Last updated: January 29, 2018