Fellows to Fellows: A Year’s Worth of Advice

Connections

Focus on connections during your time at Dunes Learning Center. There are 3 main connections that I see can be made during your time here. The first connection is with nature. Working in the dunes the last three years has given me a greater appreciation for the world around me than I ever thought possible. I have been outside and “outdoorsy” my entire life, but my appreciation for nature has grown over the last three years more than the rest of my life combined.

The next connection is connection to the community and kids that we serve. I truly believe that being an Environmental Educator in the midwest is one of the most important places to do environmental education. The midwest is often overlooked in terms of natural spaces when compared with the mountains of the west and the oceans to the east. But I firmly believe that what we have in the Midwest and Northwest Indiana deserves just as much attention for protection. Teaching the next generation of stewards about a national park in their backyard should not be something that is taken for granted. It has been one of my greatest joys at DLC.

The third connection is the connection with your coworkers. You are lucky enough to work with other fellows in the same stage of life as you that probably care about similar things. They may have different expertise than you, but they know something that you do not. Learn from them. It will make you a better and more well-rounded educator. Get to know them outside of work as well. You never know,  they may turn into your life long friends. I know my coworkers have.

Finally, enjoy every minute of your time here. I do not say this lightly when I say this is a special place. Have a great year. You will do amazing.

Alex Butina,

Third Year Environmental Educator

Rooted in Place & Memories

My biggest piece of advice for future educators is to truly soak all of it in. No matter how long you’re here for or where you’re headed next, the time will move faster than you expect. Be present for all of it - the early mornings and late nights, the sand-filled shoes and overstuffed backpacks, the chaotic bus rides to Beach Party, and the quiet moments on Cowles Bog. It all passes quickly, and it will mean more to you than you realize.

Alongside soaking it all in, don’t forget to be authentic. When you’re working with such a wide range of students and backgrounds, your genuine enthusiasm and passions are what make you memorable to them. Let them see what excites you. Be silly with them. When you teach from a place of honesty rather than performance, students feel it and lean into it. The job becomes richer when you weave who you are into what you teach.

As for programs, as educators we should build relationships with the place just as intentionally as we build our lesson plans or get to know our students. Know the land you are teaching on like you would know a friend. Let curiosity guide your programs rather than rushing to deliver information. Slowing down enough to leave space for noticing will create deeper and more meaningful learning.

You won’t always be able to see the long-term outcome of your work, but your role is to help spark connection. To show students that they are part of something bigger, that they belong to and can help protect the natural landscapes around them.

Cleo Johnson,

Second Year Environmental Educator

The Imperfection in Nature

When it comes to nature, there is no such thing as perfection. Perfection implies being completely free of error or flaw. However, microorganisms, bugs, plants, animals, and more are constantly growing and adapting to their conditions in order to thrive. By that definition, nature may seem imperfect, but I believe it is something more than that. For example, bilateral gynandromorphism in butterflies, a rare genetic mutation where one side has male characteristics and the other side has female characteristics. At first glance, someone might think of this as a flaw. In reality, it is one of the rarest and most unique genetic mutations that can occur. Sometimes what appears to be a “flaw” is actually something extraordinary. This is quite similar to the experience of being an educator for your first year.

Throughout my life, especially in school, I have been a perfectionist. My family is from Mexico, and they have made a lot of sacrifices so that we can succeed here in the United States. Therefore, I often feel a strong desire to make them proud and be successful. However, that mindset can sometimes make it hard to accept mistakes. The truth is that achieving perfection isn’t realistic, especially in outdoor education. Once you become an educator, you also become a lifelong learner. Mistakes are a part of the process. Maybe you forget the fifth layer of the Eastern Deciduous Forest, accidentally lead your group on the wrong trail, or even feel like your program didn’t go well. It happens and it’s easy to be hard on yourself when things don’t go perfectly. As a recovering perfectionist, I want to reassure you that it is okay to get it wrong because that’s how you learn. When you’re starting your journey, there is a lot of information to take in and it’s normal not to remember everything. Lean on your teammates and your support system. Ask questions. Believe in yourself and trust the process. This fellowship is all about growth. You won’t be the perfect educator on day one. Just like in nature, you are going to change and adapt to this experience. There is beauty in the imperfection and there is so much beauty in the journey itself. I wish you the best with it all!

Ixchel Barraza Zapata,

Second Year Environmental Educator

Breathe Deep and Jump In

I've had such a fun and impactful year at the DLC, and so much of it came from moments where I pushed past feeling a bit apprehensive and decided to just go for it. We have a lot of fantastic training for each of our programs, but I still worried, "Will kids listen to me? Will I explain this right? What if it all goes wrong?" In the end, there's nothing to do but give it a shot. Things almost always work out better than you expect, and if programming does go awry, all that training sets you up with the skills you need to pivot with confidence. Kids match your energy, so the more authentic excitement and joy you bring, the more you'll get back from your group.

When you're doing your best to bring the energy all the time, it's easy to get worn out and feel a little snippy with those students who are struggling to follow directions. But the great thing about being a DLC educator is that during the tough moments, you're still outside. Every day you are in a beautifully unique national park and can find peace in your surroundings. On Cowles Bog days, while I am waiting on a few students to take a bathroom break, I stop to look up at the trees swaying in the breeze and breathe deeply. I listen to the rustle of leaves and the birds calling to each other. I let myself be still. When my group is all back together, I am reset and ready to motivate and encourage my students through our last couple of miles.

Jenna Thayer,

First Year Environmental Educator

The Practice of Grace

Something I’ve learned during my time as an educator is that I’m going to make mistakes—and that’s okay. Those moments of messing up have actually helped me grow the most in this job. When we dwell too much on the past, we can miss the opportunities right in front of us to grow and become stronger educators. This job can be overwhelming at times, and it’s important to give yourself space to step back and recognize your limits. Take time to reflect on what happened and think about what you might do differently next time. Every experience—good or bad—can teach you something valuable. Growth comes from the willingness to learn, adjust, and keep moving forward. Over time, those moments that once felt like setbacks often become the lessons that help you become stronger and more confident in your work. The most important thing you can do for yourself is to ask for help if you need it. Don’t feel like you have to take on the burden because there is a whole team that is there to support you. I wish that I could meet you all, but I know that you are all going to do great and thrive just as I did!

Lauren Williams,

First Year Environmental Educator

Don’t be Afraid of a Little Detour!

After working an internship in Zion National Park my sophomore year of college, I knew that I would someday take a job with the NPS. Come senior year, I started reaching out to old coworkers and supervisors for application advice and resume refinement. There was just one week in October when seasonal positions would open, and I had to be ready. That week came and went, and I submitted as many applications as I could. From there, it was a waiting game. So I waited, and waited, and waited….

It wasn’t until December that I started hearing back and had my first interview scheduled. I was through the roof with anticipation! Then, a hiring freeze was implemented for positions in the federal government, my interview was canceled, and I had no idea what I would be doing after graduating college.

But I didn’t let that stop me! I started scavenging for positions, and I came across the Dunes Learning Center. It sounded like an AMAZING position, and it was part of a partnership with the National Park Service. I applied, interviewed, and eventually accepted the job, and what a fantastic job it’s been! The Dunes Learning Center has done so much to expand my perspective on environmental education and how rewarding a position like this can be. I’ve been able to give such a wide breadth of programs and build up my skills as an interpreter. I’m starting my first season with the National Park Service this year, and I couldn’t have done it without the support and experience of the Dunes Learning Center. So, future educators, when things don’t go according to your original plan, take the detour! You never know where it’ll take you!

Emily Burnett,

First Year Environmental Educator

Ride the Waves

Dear 2026-27 Fellows,

A great year of exploration is ahead of you. Here is my advice for you all; embrace the constants and the changes in this next year, and in all of this, remain true to yourself. Accept the challenges when they arise and meet them with a strong and gracious mindset. Trust your capabilities; these are times to learn and grow. Be joyful, and celebrate the fun times and adventures. These are moments to treasure. Let things move you to new experiences, new ways of being and thinking, so you can come to an even better understanding of yourself. Try something new. Always be reflecting and reminding yourself what makes you you. Be genuine in everything that you do. Find the people who see you and support you. I won’t get to meet you all, but I believe in you and the amazing work you can do for the Earth and the next generation.

Happy Trails!

Gabrielle Unzicker,

First Year Environmental Educator

Be a Passionate Student

Fellows,

I wish I could meet you all, but I know each of you will thrive in your own way. I’ll invite you to explore new passions and old passions, to blend them both into your fellowship. Any time you have freedom in the programs to lead an activity, create something that lights you up and that you will enjoy working on. Don’t be afraid to fail or flop on something if you try something new. This is the perfect place with a supportive environment to push outside of your comfort zone. Lastly, I’ll invite y’all to soak in all of the professional development and learning opportunities that we get to experience. From visiting museums, to learning about different interpretation styles, to connecting with National Park Rangers, you have the opportunity to be a student too. I wish you all the best on your journey as a fellow and outside of work. Remember to fill your cups with experiences and down time to be the best versions of your beautiful selves.

Peace out, Maria Signorino,

First Year Environmental Educator

Respect You, Too

Dear Current Fellows,

This job is amazing. There is nothing else quite like it and I am sad to leave it. I have had some really good experiences: I learned how to have confidence within myself by giving so many different and unique programs, how to work with kids, how to be more of an empath, how to be a good friend and roommate, how to line dance, how to open up to people, and so much more. Just by being surrounded by these amazing people, my fellow Fellows, I have learned so much.

With that being said– learning takes a lot of energy. As an educator, you are constantly reteaching yourself just so that you can teach others. Not only that, but we work outside everyday and go on way more hikes than the average person. This job requires a lot of mental and physical activity, which can sometimes be a lot. It’s important that, while learning and connecting with your job and the people that come along with it, you take care of yourself.

The 3 ways we tell students to use respect here at DLC is with nature, other people, and themselves. If we teach kids that one of the ways to use respect is to respect themselves, then we had better not be hypocrites about it. So when you’re feeling overwhelmed, take that walk. Go outside, outside of work hours. Write in your journal. Confide in your fellow Fellows. Breathe when you need to. Take the time to yourself and know the importance of it, because if you don’t, how are you going to tell kids to do the same?

Deuces, Campbelle Caudle,

First Year Environmental Educator

Summer Camp Kaleidoscope

On a warm, sunny Monday morning, in the middle of July, a kid is dropped off at the Dunes Learning Center for a week of summer camp. They’re welcomed by their educator and moved into their cabin. A full week of hikes, games, new friends and campfire songs awaits them. But first… time to tie-dye their Summer Camp T-shirt! With every color of the rainbow at their disposal, this is their chance to freely express themselves and have fun.

The summer time is full of bright colors. Nature is expressing itself in its own tie-dye of patterns and colors. Sometimes bright colors in nature can be an invitation, like wildflowers attracting pollinators. Sometimes that rainbow can be a cautionary tale, like a tropical blue tree frog letting predators know it’s poisonous. Whatever the reason, nature’s vibrancy can be seen all around us. Here’s some pieces of the rainbow you can find at the DLC over the summer.

Nature’s Color Wheel

Red. You’ll have to look close to find the first color in the rainbow. A good place to start is the Secret Garden, where ladybugs like to crawl around. Ladybugs are a great creature to have in our gardens; they eat pests like aphids, protecting our fruits and vegetables. You spot them by their red shell, called an elytra, which is covered in black dots. The white spots on their back tell us this is a ladybug, not their invasive cousin, the ladybeetle.

Orange. A glowing campfire or an Aphrodite Fritillary butterfly; both a flickering kaleidoscope of oranges. Campfires are a common and fun part of summer camp, with songs, skits and s’mores to end the night of camp on a high note! Aphrodite Fritillary butterflies are as beautiful as the Greek goddess they’re named after. Their delicate patterns remind me of clouds dotting a sunset sky. The caterpillars of this butterfly feed on the first violets that bloom in the spring.

 Yellow. Sunshine is of course a hallmark of summertime. But so are many wildflowers. My personal favorite is Heliopsis helianthoides, the false sunflower. This little beauty looks like a mini version of its iconic cousin, the giant sunflower, but without the huge array of seeds. Pollinators like bees and butterflies can be seen drinking their nectar all summer long. They bring so much joy and brightness to our front garden beds, and are the perfect subject for nature journaling.

 Green. All the plants are green in the summer, full of growth and healthy life. The trees are fully leafed out, and the understory and shrub layers are a verdant overgrowth. Each season of the year, the educators at the Dunes Learning Center learn about edible wild plants. Wood sorrel, wild grapevine, and sassafras are my personal favorites in the summer. The shapes of their leaves are so unique, their nutritional benefits are off the charts, and partaking of these plants is a wonderful way to be in touch with nature. We have the unique opportunity to give this experience to the kids as well, but are always mindful to only take the bare minimum from the plant and respect the natural balance of the National Park. Please don’t eat any wild plants, unless they’re given to you by a DLC educator.

Blue. Summer wouldn’t be complete without a visit to the beach! The Indiana Dunes National Park touches over 15 miles of Lake Michigan’s lakeshore. At summer camp, Wednesdays are spent at the beach, basking in the sun and splashing in the teal blue water. Lake Michigan, like all the Great Lakes, was created by glaciers that melted during the last Ice Age. As they drifted back north, they dug huge carvings into the ground, leaving their footprints, and eventually they filled with cool, clear water. Over 10 million people rely on Lake Michigan, for drinking water, for industries and for recreation!

Purple. Our last color in the color wheel. It brightens up the prairies and woodlands with its vibrant hue… check out spiderwort! This cool prairie wildflower is food for pollinators like butterflies and bees. It blooms at a critical time when other wildflowers aren’t out yet or have already finished their season, so pollinators benefit hugely from this plant’s nectar. The plant’s leaves and stem make a milky white, sticky sap that resembles spider silk, hence the name. It has nothing to do with actual spiders.

 The summertime is full of wonderful colors and natural beauties. Look around your home or neighborhood to see if you can spot any bright colors this summer. You can come recreate and explore at the National Park too and find all these plants and more! Just remember that this place is for everybody, including the wildlife. Happy trails!

Gabrielle Unzicker

First-Year Environmental Education Fellow

Summer at the DLC is to DYE For!

As the sun rises on another summer, we here at the DLC have so much to look forward to. Our weeks of summer camps kick off this month, and we are so excited to have kids back on campus! Playing more rounds of Where the Summer Wind Blows, performing more weather skits, putting on more layers of sunscreen and bug spray, singing more songs around the campfire, digging more holes at the beach, but perhaps my favorite is creating more amazing tie-dye shirts!

THE COLORFUL AFTERMATH OF TIE-DYING

Believe it or not, tie-dye has existed in some form or another for thousands and thousands of years! Originating in South Asia, bandhani is one of the oldest techniques for tying and dying clothing. For more than 5,000 years, bandhani clothing has been produced by tying several very small knots in fabric and then dropping it into a vat of natural dye. Shibori is another technique using natural indigo dyes. This form originated in Japan around 1,300 years ago and has 6 traditional sub-techniques. Not only was fabric tied and dyed, but it was also folded, stitched, and clamped for a variety of intricate designs. Flashing forward to the 1910s, the debut of RIT dye in America made dyeing clothes at home much easier, more accessible, and set the scene for the 1920s and 30s when tie-dye would become a chic and thrifty hobby that could be done from the comfort of one’s home. A few decades later would see the tie-dye boom of the 60s and 70s, and now it’s a popular article of clothing for summer camps across the nation!

AN EXAMPLE OF THE SHIBORI PROCESS AND FINAL RESULT

            My own experience with tie-dye dates back to my days as a girl scout in elementary school. I still have the very first tie-dye shirt I ever made at a girl scout camp! I remember being told we could only pick two colors per person, and while some girls agonized over which two to pick, it was an obvious pink and blue combo for me. Despite picking the colors and the pattern, I had no idea what the final product would look like, and I could hardly contain my excitement! It’s like Christmas in July when you first rinse, unwrap, and wash your tie-dye! Since then, I’ve tie-dyed shirts, bucket hats, tote bags, and I think at one point I even tried to paint a tie-dye design on my nails with nail polish. The excitement never wears off, no matter how many times I tie-dye!

            Tie-dye goes beyond the surprise that comes with seeing the final product. First, it’s a way to express yourself artistically! Some people pick their favorite colors (like I did with my pink and blue masterpiece way back when), and others pick color combinations they think look good together. Regardless, the colors in a tie-dye say something about the creator. Second, it’s a great way to make memories! Aside from remembering the creation process, you also get a physical memento to take home with you. With each of my tie-dye pieces, I’m reminded of the time and place where I made them. Finally, tie-dye can be a great community builder! Some kids that come here are experienced campers and know a thing or two about tie-dying, and it’s really sweet watching them help the first-timers make their shirts on the first day. The last day of summer camp is affectionately deemed “Tie-Dye Friday” because all the kids get their t-shirts back and wear them for our camp’s graduation ceremony. It’s so amazing to see a giant circle of 70 kids all wearing their unique creations, but it’s even more amazing to see each of them go from person to person and sign each others’ shirts! I can’t think of a better way to commemorate the summer.

GRADUATION CEREMONY, SUMMER 2025

STAFF AND CAMPERS SIGNING SHIRTS ON THE LAST DAY OF CAMP

If you’d like to make a groovy tie-dye of your own this summer, there’s a link below with instructions and patterns. Not everyone is a museum-worthy artist, but I assure you that everyone can make a tie-dye!

Tie Dye Tips and Techniques:

https://www.tiedyeyoursummer.com/techniques

Emily Burnett, First Year Environmental Educator

Sources:

Fit to Be Dyed, 2021

https://www.sciencehistory.org/stories/magazine/fit-to-be-dyed/

The Ancient Japanese Art of Shibori, 2019

https://veritasjournal.org/2019/06/21/the-ancient-japanese-art-of-shibori/#:~:text=The%20earliest%20existing%20examples%20of,parts%20of%20the%20shibori%20process.

Reflection of Growth

I often talk with kids when they arrive for summer camp or a field trip that they will be doing things that are hard. I tell them that they will need to meet and interact with new people, walk outside at night without a flashlight, and hike over 4.5 miles up and down sand dunes. I tell them that it will be hard, but that they are stronger than they think and they can do it. I tell them that accomplishing hard things makes them stronger people. As I look back over my three years, I wish I could remind a new educator Alex those things. I started at Dunes Learning Center at the beginning of summer, 2023. I did not know what to expect. What if it was too hard? What if I wasn’t good at it? What I found when I got to DLC was a supportive group of educators (many who had the same fears I did), and a leadership team that believed in the educators they were tasked with supporting. Throughout my first year, I slowly gained confidence. Key word: slowly. I still had nerves before a big Cowle’s Bog hike, but  then the hike would be amazing! The kids would be curious and everyone would have a great time. The more times this pattern came up, having nerves before a program and then the program going well, the more confidenceI gained. I got better at the job. I started to love the job. I had amazing coworkers, and being able to teach kids about things I was passionate about was so fulfilling.

TRAIL IN INDIANA DUNES NATIONAL PARK

This led me to stay at DLC for a second year. I was able to pass on what I learned to a new group of educators. I continued to grow as an educator and a person. I loved teaching other educators how to be successful. And then, I stayed for a third year. That takes us to today. I have been lucky enough to work at this place for three years. I want to thank every educator I have worked with (by my count: 21), every student and camper who I was able to introduce the wonders of the outdoors to,and for the leaders at Dunes Learning Center who have helped me grow exponentially since I arrived here. It has been an honor to do this job for three years.

Alex Butina, Third Year Educator

Spring Pools Bring Salamander Jewels

Ex-tree! Ex-tree! Read all about it! The biggest salamander event of the year is here, where our local slimy celebrities showcase their brilliance with their bright and colorful spring coats, to raise awareness for the vulnerability they face when it comes to habitat loss, pollution, other human disturbances, and much more. Right here in the dunes, residing under logs and other dampened ground cover in the Eastern Deciduous Forest, these slippery stars have slithered their way down the leaf-litter carpet for their annual Mander Gander Gala. And I, Campbelle Caudle, your very own educator here at the Dunes Learning Center, am hosting this event. We have a few stars that will certainly shine bright this evening.

RED-BACKED SALAMANDERS (Plethodon cinereus) PHOTOGRAPHED BY DANIEL J. HOCKING.

The Red-Backed brothers make their stunning entrance, as they do every year, bringing with them very contrasting looks. Shadow, pictured on the left, brings with him a striking coat: mostly deep brown in base, with bright stars speckled on the sides and a prominent tan stripe running down his back. His brother, Blaze, pictured on the right, wears a coat with similar patterns, but tremendously different colors. The base of his coat is a much deeper color, almost black, and the stripe painted with the utmost remarkable red ever witnessed on this leaf-litter carpet. These soigné salamanders appear every year at the Mander Gander Gala, but spend most of their days in moist forests under luxury ground cover, such as fallen leaves or bark, logs, rocks, and even sometimes decaying root systems. The Red-Backed family doesn’t only consist of our two brothers here, but many slimy sisters and other relatives that can look fairly unrelated at times, having skins of varying brown tones with stripes that could be orange or yellow in color, or no stripes at all. Although the Red-Backed brothers reside here in the Indiana Dunes National Park, their relatives are spread all across the Northeastern United States, some bloodlines even spreading into Canada. On the other side of the midwestern states, though, we find more salamanders such as this madam…

EASTERN TIGER SALAMANDER (Ambystoma tigrinum) PHOTOGRAPHED BY CJ HILLARD.

Introducing Tigris, she wears a stunning, sharp coat grounded in black, and spotted in fierce, tiger-like blotches. This unwieldy lady has striking eyes that could pierce right through your heart, with a face that has a much similar effect. Although her appearance may be intimidating, she is one of the more serene jewels you will find here tonight. Her calmness exceeds her, graciously exposing her golden heart. You are likely to find her browsing the Great Marsh in the Indiana Dunes, or sometimes in more wooded, sandy lands. In perceiving the lady’s pacific nature, unexpected but respectful guests seem to go without reprimand. She loves to entertain conversation, especially in the warmer and comforting months. Although carrying a social, adventurous spirit, she prefers spending her life deep in the dirt when it becomes the cold, bitter outside we all experience upon wintering times. Something the masses can all relate to. Speaking of the masses, here is another slippery star that everyone loves learning from…

JEFFERSON SALAMANDER (Ambystoma jeffersonianum) PHOTOGRAPHED BY BRADY O’BRIAN.

Jeff Jefferson struts in (a fairly creative name, I might add). Although his look may seem a bit muted, there’s never a dull moment with this guy. This mysterious man brought with him a snazzy, taupe-colored suit, sleek and speckled in soothing pale blue. In the upland deciduous forests of the Indiana Dunes National Park, he spends most of his time underground in homey burrows, hunkering away unless provoked by hunger… or the spring season, when he likes to spend vacation days cooling off in a nearby pond. While laying in the spring’s pools, he’s fairly popular with the ladies, often surrounded by young maidens looking for company. Jeff already has a fairly large family, mostly consisting of females, one of which he brought with him: his cousin from the Blue-Spotted side of the family tree!

BLUE-SPOTTED SALAMANDER (Ambystoma laterale) PHOTOGRAPHED BY PETER PAPLANUS.

Well look who the cat dragged in: Oxford Blue. This full-time trouble-maker, part-time heart-breaker, is one bewildering young lad. These charming blue freckles cover his slim, black coating, climbing all over this astounding ensemble head-to-toe, and even crawling up onto his cheeks. He sure puts on a show. If this isn’t pompous confidence, I’m not sure what is. Much like his cousin, he spends a lot of time in pools laying out, enjoying the swaps of Northern Indiana. When not on the prowl for ladies, he can be found aboveground, slithering through the undersides of leafy logs and fallen forest leaves in hardwood areas and sandy woodlands. This guy might seem approachable with his well-known hunger for attention, but he has a temper like no-other. With any irritation that hops its way into the vicinity, his tail becomes slicked with an off-putting substance. This cerulean stud might hold onto his charms, but he also holds a temperament. Holding onto anger isn’t much of a desired quality, but many might say that having a sturdy, mossy home is.

FOUR-TOED SALAMANDER (Hemidactylum scutatum) PHOTOGRAPHED BY INDOOR ECOSYSTEMS.

Speaking of, there’s Four-Toed Tom! He’s one of the only guests here tonight that owns a moss-studded residence, one of the more exquisite approaches to a salamander’s lifestyle. Though, we likely won’t see him here for long, as he’s known to “scut” out shortly after making these memorable, flashy appearances. This year, it seems he’s got a brown-based coat, speckled with red-orange bursts of color. But that’s not all, under this seemingly-striking coat is a much more impressive attire: a belly lathered in eggshell-white, mottled in these enticing, black splotches that expand head-to-four-toe. Four-Toed Tom is quite the special one- it’s in the name. He is the only jewel of the season to show up with four toes on all feet! Among the lands of the Indiana Dunes, Tom can be found roaming on land in the more wooded, boggy areas of the park, especially where there’s a mass of moss. With fellow four-toed companions sparse, he’s a bit of an involuntary loner. But at the Mander Gala, there is always, at the very least, momentary camaraderie.

And next we have… I cannot believe what I am seeing!

RED-CHEEKED SALAMANDER (Plethodon jordani) PHOTOGRAPHED BY KEVIN STOHLGREN.

All the way from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP) in Tennessee, is a sweet, southern surprise: jolly Jordan! You might ask, “what makes Jordan so jolly?” This young lady endlessly smiles wide with her big, bright twinkling eyes, and never fails to paint on her cheery-cherry cheeks. She’s put on quite a sleek look for the carpet tonight, bodied in a silky, smooth black dress. But don’t let her slim build and irresistible smile deter you, under all that jolly is a tough southern lady, and a defensive, gluey slime that can easily catch you in a mess. So long as you mean well, though, her gluey-goo sticks to herself.

We have seen a lot of special stars here tonight, most being from the captivating Indiana Dunes, and one from another far-away park: The Great Smoky Mountains. Down in Tennessee, there is an abundance of salamander jewels like no other, and that is what makes Miss Jordan so special: she could only be found there. And you could’ve found me there, too, before starting my fellowship here in the Indiana Dunes. Moving from Tennessee to Indiana has been a wild ride.

I’ve written this to commemorate my time as the DLC Nature Notes Blog editor, as well as my time spent in Tennessee, Indiana, and here: the Dunes Learning Center. What a joy it has been.

CAMPBELLE CAUDLE (First Year Environmental Educator) PHOTOGRAPHED BY MARIA SIGNORINO.

Resources:

https://inherpatlas.org/

https://animaldiversity.org/

Not All Learning Happens in the Light

A STARRY NIGHT ON THE RIVER LEFT TRAIL

Sometimes the most meaningful lessons are taught in the silence; the moments where people are quietly listening and noticing. During Night Hike, these quiet moments of silence teach people to trust—to trust that they are safe even in the dark. Kids learn to trust and rely on their senses, especially when those senses are not as sharp at night. What is only an hour-and-a-half long program, turns into memories that will not be forgotten.

We start the night with a game of Bat and Moth. A game like Marco Polo that allows kids to have fun, but utilize senses that they do not often rely on. In the game, they learn it is not about speed, but about trust. With their vision limited, they lean on their classmates for guidance and  sharpen their listening skills as they try to win. It teaches them to trust their senses in a new way. When they focus on sound, they discover how powerful their hearing can be. They learn to trust one another and believe that their classmates, friends, and educators, will help create a safe environment. 

That same theme of trust carries over into one of my favorite parts of the night, the moment of silence. The kids are excited, but unsure as they step into the darkness. I ask them to trust me and trust that I will keep them safe in the woods. I guide them forward as their confidence begins to build. As we move carefully along the trail, I pause at a quiet stretch and tell them they are about to experience something new: a solo hike.

Some of the kids are ready, while others are hesitant. I encourage them to focus on their senses of smell, touch, sight, and hearing as they travel down the trail. I walk the path alone first, modeling what it looks like to move slowly and intentionally, and then give the signal for them to do the same. The first few seconds feel like an eternity in the dark, but eventually they start coming one by one. At the end, I have them wait quietly for their peers and build their confidence with a high five for their bravery. They explain that at first they were nervous to walk alone, but that nervousness quickly shifted into excitement — excitement to do it again. What begins as a scary, but thrilling, activity becomes one of their favorite experiences from our time together.

It is such a gift to share those moments with the kids, especially those who grew up in urban settings. While city life is beautiful, many of them do not realize that, above the skyscrapers and beyond the clouds, is something just as beautiful — the stars. Along the trail, I find an open area and invite them to lie on the ground, giving them space to pause, listen, and look up at the sky. When the silence ends, I ask them to share something they noticed. I help them locate constellations, many of which they have never seen or even realized were there.

At the end of the night, as the kids reflect on their day, I find myself reflecting on my time with them as well. I see hesitation shift into curiosity and uncertainty grow into confidence, and from that transformation comes growth. In watching their confidence build, I realize that I am growing too. As they learn to trust their senses and each other, I learn to trust myself as an educator.

As their confidence grows, so does mine. In those moments, I am reminded that experiences like these truly matter. The kids are not only learning about the night, they are learning about themselves and discovering how to be courageous and aware. Leading night hikes has been the highlight of my time at the Dunes Learning Center. The kids arrive eager, some even a little nervous, but all ready to step into something new. Providing them with an experience unlike any other has made this work incredibly meaningful and exciting.

Lauren Williams, First Year Educator

Biophilia: Brightening up the Winter

This season, the word on my mind is biophilia, the idea that humans have an innate connection to nature–a love of life and living things. I had never heard the term before our educator training for winter programs, but I’ve always felt it. During my college days, my biophilia took the form of convincing my less outdoorsy friends to go to the park when we were stressed to our limit. As we set off down the local trails, we found ourselves breathing a little easier and laughing a little harder. When we finally returned to the car, our problems felt much smaller than before. Biophilia comes with real benefits; spending time in nature improves mental health and reduces cortisol levels, one of the body’s stress hormones. Here at the DLC, as students participate in our Adventure Academy program, they learn to navigate with compasses, build fires, and work as a team all with the goal of increasing their biophilia. Trail group leaders emphasize to our students that anything outdoors might spark your biophilia, but you have to stop and slow down long enough to observe it. This winter, the brightest spark for my love of nature has been the humble squirrel. 

GRAY SQUIRREL (SCIURUS CAROLINENSIS)

All across the Indiana Dunes, animals are utilizing their best winter adaptations to survive. The snakes are brumating in communal dens to share warmth, the coyotes have grown a thick winter coat to insulate their bodies, and the sandhill cranes have migrated south to sunny Florida. Meanwhile, the gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) remains active all winter long. So, how does an animal that weighs only a pound or so find the energy to stay warm?

Perhaps the most famous of squirrels' adaptations is caching. Throughout the warmer months, squirrels gather nuts and bury them in secret spots to save for the winter when food becomes scarce. However, gray squirrels bring another level of complexity to this process–they fake out their competitors through deceptive caching. Squirrels will dig a hole and face away from any competitors they know are observing, then pretend to bury a nut while actually leaving the hole empty. They may even do this multiple times with the same nut before finally burying it in the soil. By deceptively caching, gray squirrels protect their stash from others that may be waiting to dig up their hard work.

Another adaptation that helps gray squirrels to survive the winter is their well-built homes. Squirrels prefer to spend the winter in tree cavities or other protected places. However, with steep real estate competition from other animals, such as raccoons and woodpeckers, squirrels have to turn to construction. Squirrel nests, called dreys, are easy to spot once the trees lose their foliage. What looks like a big clump of dead leaves balances 20 to 30 feet in the air, usually near the trunk of the tree or at the intersection of larger, stable branches. Each drey is a carefully woven structure of sticks and bark, lined inside with moss, pine needles, dried grass, feathers, and shredded bark. They typically have only one entrance and are 1 to 2 feet in diameter. Of course, when faced with a tough housing market, the best thing to do is get some roommates. Gray squirrels overwintering in dreys often share their nests with one or more other squirrels for warmth.

The gray squirrel is one of the most common animals in our area, but it's more often viewed as a pest than a celebrated part of nature. Squirrels certainly can cause big problems; they nest in walls, chew wires, hog seeds at bird feeders, and feast in our gardens. However, their behaviors also come with plenty of benefits to the ecosystem. Throughout the process of caching, squirrels dig and disturb the soil, introducing more oxygen, which can help improve overall soil structure. Additionally, many of the nuts and seeds that squirrels bury get forgotten and left behind in the soil. Some of these seeds will sprout into new trees, rejuvenating forest growth and even impacting which tree species are dominant within the forest. Squirrels are also an important part of our local food web. They support a diverse ecosystem by serving as prey for coyotes, foxes, hawks, and owls. And to me, the greatest benefit squirrels offer is that spark of biophilia. In the long stretches of winter, it is easy to feel discouraged by the short hours of daylight and the wash of gray that seems to fall over everything. But as I look out my window or walk through the DLC campus and see a squirrel braving the cold to perform its acrobatics, it becomes something of a hero in my mind. The winter months might drag on, but the squirrels remain to make me smile.

Jenna Thayer, First Year Environmental Educator

A New Year’s Resolution: The Year of Grace and Wild Geese

During college, one of my dearest friends and I had a running joke every new year: this will be the year of grace. This year, we will give ourselves the grace we deserve. We will allow ourselves to rest, to recover, and to reflect. Regardless of successes or failures, we will move through without judgement and allow ourselves to be simple, messy humans! However, this resolution was often lost, especially when mid-terms, final exams, and end-of-year projects were due. Inevitably, we got swept up in the storm of academia that reduced students to woozy, grade-crazed husks. Occasionally, my friend and I would catch each other in the whirlwind and remind one another that “this is the year of grace.” 

Living at the Dunes has been no different: I am reminded of my failures, of my mistakes I made during programs — perhaps that one student that I didn’t quite reach, or who didn’t have an amazing time. I often found myself in exhausting spirals of anxiety, wishing I could have done more — to reach that one kid, to give an inspiring, environmental message, to have a strong program… My own expectations caused rocks to form in my gut and tangles of anxiety to grow in my throat. I felt so much internal pressure. I wanted so badly for things, for myself, to just be better. 

One day before a support shift, I was feeling particularly lost and distraught. I had woken up that morning not feeling quite myself. I thought that perhaps reading some poems of hope would make me feel a bit better, a bit more human. I picked up “Dreams” by Mary Oliver, a thin, inconspicuous paperback of a book. I started to thumb through it. I came across “Wild Geese,” a poem that had been read to me two years prior. I hadn’t felt much when I first heard the poem, but now, upon reading the opening line, tears came to my eyes. I’m not the kind of person to cry at movies, or books, or even when the dog dies in TV shows, but something settled in my heart when I read Mary Oliver’s words. 

You do not have to be good. 

You do not have to walk on your knees

for a hundred miles through the desert repenting.  

A weight lifted off my shoulders, the constriction around my lungs loosened, and I could finally breathe: I did not have to be good. I did not have to wail and repent. I could freely walk on my own two feet and gain confidence with each step. I had forgotten that this is the year of grace. I had forgotten how to allow myself to live and be human, in all my imperfect ways. Whatever steps I take now are good, not necessarily for the end result, but because I made the effort to take them. 

You only have to let the soft animal of your body

love what it loves

Tell me about despair, yours, and I will tell you mine.

This is the grace that you, I, we deserve. We are bound to make mistakes, to feel small, and to suffer. But all we can ask from ourselves is to love what we love; to be exactly what we are. Trust that there will be others who will share our burdens. At the Dunes, I have found people here who accept me, who give me grace enough that I can give it to myself. I can let my soft animal self love what it loves without fear of being good. Even on the worst days, clear pebbles of rain move across the landscape. The roll of thunder washes through the sky. 

I know I will continue to try and continue to fail at giving myself grace throughout the year. I am constantly reminded of my shortcomings and yet I’m learning how to use setbacks as opportunities. I am only doing the best I can at the moment. 

This is my hope for anyone who is reading this: that you will give yourself grace to be human. You will suffer, stumble, and learn from mistakes while the world moves on. The sun and moon will take their course, and the wild geese will fly home. And you, and I – we – however lonely or overwhelmed, are invited to take part in this harsh and exciting life. We are meant to take our place in the family of things! 

Wild Geese by Mary Oliver 

You do not have to be good. 

You do not have to walk on your knees

for a hundred miles through the desert repenting. 

You only have to let the soft animal of your body 

love what it loves. 

Tell me about despair, yours, and I will tell you mine. 

Meanwhile the world goes on. 

Meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles of the rain 

are moving across the landscapes, 

over the prairies and the deep trees, 

the mountains and the rivers. 

Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air, 

are heading home again. 

Whoever you are, no matter how lonely, 

the world offers itself to your imagination, 

calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting — 

over and over announcing your place 

in the family of things.  

PICTURE AND POEM CREDITS: gwenglish.org/poem-of-the-day-mary-olivers-wild-geese

Ana Yoder, 1st Year Environmental Education Fellow

Listening with Your Heart

I’m walking through a quiet pine forest, smelling the strong scent in the air. Something about the true silence of a pine forest really brings me a sense of inner peace. I arrive at the sound of a rushing stream, where I immediately immerse my feet to soak. The coolness instantly relieves my tired feet. I taste the pureness and feel a sense of oneness as I drink the water without any chemicals. I look through a clearing of the trees to see the smoky clouds weaving in and out of The Smoky Mountains.

On April 3, 2024, I embarked on the journey of a lifetime. I voluntarily left the comforts of a comfy bed, tasty meals, and showering regularly. I chose to walk 15-20 miles a day, carrying my whole life on my back. I left the comforts of my wants and prioritized what I needed. Every ounce counts when you carry it on your back. I backpacked up and down mountains through the rain, snow, and heat from the state of Georgia to Maine. On October 1, 2024, exactly 2,197.4 miles later, and in just under six months, I completed the entire Appalachian Trail (AT).

THE NORTHERN TERMINUS OF THE AT ON MT. KATAHDIN.

I craved a challenge that felt unobtainable. I understand that this journey came with privilege and support, but I worked hard to make this dream of seven years come to fruition. I had never been backpacking for longer than a few days, but I wanted to prove to myself that I could accomplish this goal. Every day I simply walked, only worrying about when I would eat next, where I would find my next water source, and where I would camp that night. The wilderness gave me so much freedom to only deal with the simple problems. Problems that we have been equipped to handle for around 300,000 years. How refreshing and simple in the complex world that we live in. 

The simplicity of these problems allowed me to learn more about myself and surroundings. I learned to stop labeling species by identifying them, and to start truly seeing them as they are. I learned to open my senses to be completely immersed in the mundane and the beauty. I learned that material items mean nothing. I learned the importance of being truly authentic, even if you are not liked, and accepting others exactly as they are. I learned how people are the most important part of the world we live in, and that we are a part of nature.  

So many people dream to experience a fraction of what I was able to have. How can I continue to share my story so that others can immerse themselves in their own journey? Not everyone should hike the Appalachian Trail, but everyone should challenge themselves to a journey that feels authentic to them.

VIEW OF THE SUNSET FROM A FIRE TOWER OVER THE BLUE RIDGE MOUNTAINS.

Now teaching in the outdoors, I want to help others understand what it took me six months completely immersed in the wilderness to understand, in a more realistic way. Being able to weave in themes of mindfulness, awareness, and sensory immersion with the curriculum we teach to students has helped me reinforce these ideas within myself and share glimpses with others. If we can make the outdoors less about domination, less about naming and labeling species, we could be more engaged with nature. We need to allow ourselves to listen to mother nature, even when the silencing of our own thoughts can be our greatest challenge. Nature is here for us. She is listening with nonjudgement. Our greatest healer. Right in front of our eyes. We just have to open them.

We need to have our hearts open to listen to what she says. Nature is so patient with all of the noise pollution we as a population are throwing at her. She pushes through. We need to learn to be humble, be grateful for the abundance she gives to us, and learn what she needs from us. Reciprocity. We are a part of nature, let's take action.

Maria Signorino

Environmental Educator

Marigolds

With the arrival of November, there is something special about what these two flowers have in common. Below are both marigolds, glowing with fiery shades of yellow and orange. Although they share the same name, they are not of the same species. 

The marsh marigold (Caltha palustris) is a perennial herb in the buttercup family, also known as kingcup or cowslip. A true harbinger of spring, it thrives in wetlands such as marshes, fens, ditches, and swamps. You can find this beauty around the Indiana Dunes National Park, especially along trails like Cowles Bog and Heron Rookery. 

Marsh Marigold (Caltha palustris)

Flor de Cempasuchil (Tagetes erecta)

The cempasuchil (Tagetes erecta) flower is native to Mexico, and its name comes from the Nahuatl word “cempohualxochitl,” meaning “flower of many petals.” This flower symbolizes both life and death, and it is a key decoration for Día de Muertos, the Day of the Dead. During this Mexican holiday, families welcome back the souls of their loved ones for a brief reunion that includes food, drink and celebration. For this celebration, loved ones put ofrendas together and display these orange flowers along with photos of the dead, their favorite food, and sugar skulls. Although this holiday includes themes of death, it is not somber but rather festive to celebrate their lives. You may recognize this celebration from the Disney original Coco (2017), which has popularized this holiday in the United States. 

As a Mexican-American, I often reflect on how the month of November is commonly associated with gratitude because of Thanksgiving. However, I also wish to honor another celebration that concludes just as the month begins, one that connects deeply to my culture and identity. Ever since I was a kid, my family has been celebrating the Day of the Dead. Since joining the Dunes Learning Center, I’ve discovered many natural beauties here that feel familiar to me. Isn’t it wonderful that two places – Mexico and Indiana – that are so distinct from one another can share marigolds as a common beauty to behold? 

Both flowers remind me that nature and culture are intertwined. I encourage you to appreciate the beauty of marigolds. Even though not all varieties are native plants, marsh marigolds are native to this area and are so much more beneficial for our ecosystems. Specifically, pollinators like hummingbirds, bees, butterflies, and bats feed on the nectar, brush against pollen, and bring it with them to the next flower they visit. Non-native plants, like the cempasuchil, would be inedible to pollinators and may not meet pollination needs. Worldwide pollinator populations are declining due to habitat loss and pesticides. Therefore, we need to protect our ecosystems by planting native plants and sharing knowledge with others. 

As November unfolds, I hope you feel thankful for our national park, our rangers, your family, and your friends - and that you also take a moment to remember those who have passed on. There is so much beauty in pausing to appreciate both the environment and our loved ones. You may find that the flowers we pass by every day hold deeper meanings than we ever imagined. 

Resources: 

Yellow Marsh Marigold

Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos) - Origins, Celebrations, Parade | HISTORY

I Didn't Know That!: Planting for Pollinators (U.S. National Park Service)

Ixchel Barraza Zapata,
Second Year Environmental Education Fellow

A Collection of Fall-Inspired Poems

Written by Gabrielle Unzicker

A Morning Walk

The grackle argues with the gray catbird from his lofty perch in the dead tree.

The faint wisp of morning dew on the fields of summer’s last wildflowers, 

as they bow out, their show done.

The earth breathes a sigh of release after a much-needed drink.

The woods come to life, the spirits lifting off towards the unknown.

I use all my senses here.

For the sickly sweet fragrance of the honeysuckle that climbs the telephone pole.

The rap of the woodpecker on a tree somewhere beyond my sight.

The call and response of the songbirds, already busy about their day.

The Autumn Inside Me

Oh, how lovely!

Bright and beautiful,

Colorful wonders of the changing seasons.

The autumn leaves decorate the sky, 

Glowing brightly even as they lose their luster.

How wonderful it is for them,

To be so beloved and celebrated

In their final moments.

To feel warmth in their chilly branches.

How wonderful it would be

If we could share that love together.

To, in our solemnest moments,

Hear someone exclaim

How bright and beautiful we are!

Our strength, our hope,

Our colors are still with us,

And shine brightest when they are all we have left.

Beholding

I admire the evening leaves;

the golden-yellow,

the robust red,

the muted umber,

the stark contrast of Virginia creeper's red against the white pine's evergreen.

The rainbow of fall elegance,

bathed in the golden light of the setting sun.

A light that cannot be so easily compared

to the glow of the harvest moon, 

as it rises majestically above the treetops and the campfire that keeps us warm.

Pumpkin patches and apple orchards,

corn mazes and harvest festivals

All remind us of the good things we can celebrate from this year.

Walnuts and acorns crash to the ground,

a fine feast for the squirrels and chipmunks that scamper in earnest around their forest home.

Tiny white flowers dot the fringes of fields and prairies,

mimicking the tiny white ghosts and ghouls that decorate our porches.

The seasons are changing, true.

Cooler temperatures descend as the sun sets earlier and earlier each day.

But there is still ample time to explore something new.

Allow yourself a pause, open up your senses to the world around you.

Notice something new, something real.

You might learn where your favorite wildflowers bloom,

or how many different birds you can hear on a morning walk. 

(my record is 18).

I have decided walnut leaves make the best crunch under my feet,

and a blanket of acorns on the ground sounds almost like a gravel road, only better.

I know now where I'll hear the gray squirrels chattering to one another,

and where I saw a young muskrat before it dove into the river.

Fall is beautiful.

It's chilly, perfect for a warm drink.

It's quiet, perfect for meditation or a good laugh.

It's whimsical, perfect for an adventure, a new discovery.

It's exciting, offering something new to experience and learn each hour and day.

Fall is perfect in all its different ways.

Gabrielle Unzicker, First Year Environmental Educator

My Favorite Fall Flowers

While spring is known for its explosion of wildflowers, there are plenty of blooms throughout the summer and into fall that we can observe and appreciate! Two of my favorites are rough blazing star (Liatris aspera) and goldenrod (Genus Solidago). After the greens of summer and just before the browns of winter, these flowers appear in bright purples and vibrant yellows. They can be found blooming throughout September and into October; within Indiana Dunes National Park, you can find this beautiful duo blooming in oak savannas and prairies along the West Beach trails, Cowles Bog, and Mnoké Prairie, to name a few.

ROUGH BLAZING STAR ALONG COWLES BOG TRAIL

GOLDENROD BLOOMING AMONGST GRASSES IN MNOKÉ PRARIE

These flowers are not only beautiful to look at, but they’re also important sources of nectar for migrating monarch butterflies! September is the start of the mass monarch migration, during which these intrepid insects will fly 3,000 miles to their overwintering sites in the southern U.S. and Mexico. The monarchs stop at the rough blazing stars and goldenrods to refuel, adding pops of orange, black, and white to the pretty prairie painting.

A MONARCH FLYING AMONG GOLDENROD AND BLAZING STAR AT WEST BEACH

The Dunes Learning Center got to see this beautiful display when we were out at West Beach for our school programs on September 8th and 9th, and I immediately recognized the rough blazing star and goldenrod from my prairie home. I moved here from Kansas, and while I’ve been doing my best to learn the flowers of the dunes, it’s always comforting when I see a flower I’m familiar with! I like to think these butterflies feel the same as they flit from blazing star to blazing star, a reliable source of nectar for their long journey. The rough blazing star can be found all throughout the central U.S. along with various species of goldenrod, so although they’re traveling much farther than me, I hope they find the same comfort in these familiar flowers as I did.

YELLOW GOLDENROD IS THE COMPLEMENTARY COLOR OF THE PURPLE ROUGH BLAZING STAR

Aside from comfort, I also feel a certain inspiration when I see these flowers together. Purple and yellow are complementary colors, sitting across from each other on the color wheel. These two colors provide a visually interesting contrast, and they immediately inspire me to create! If I wasn’t leading kids on a hike around the West Beach Loop trail, I would’ve taken out my watercolors right there and sat down to paint! I’m already making plans to go see this spectacle of flowers and butterflies again, and I recommend the same for anyone looking for a fill of color before the leaves turn brown and the flowers hide away until spring!

Emily Burnett, First Year Environmental Education Fellow

As the Seasons Change…

Nature moves through patterns and routines all year long - seasons change, the sun rises and sets, and animals prepare for what’s ahead. Just like nature, we can create our own routines to make the transition from summer to the school year feel smoother and more balanced.

We bloom in the summer time showing our true colors, exploring, and enjoying the freedom to grow. As fall arrives and school starts again, it invites a new rhythm, shifting our lifestyles and just like the world around us, we adjust and grow with what the season demands of us. 

Beautiful fall view on Cowles Bog, Indiana Dunes National Park.

The start of fall is a great time to reflect on the fun, rest, and adventures the  summer brought us. We can carry that same energy into the school year by finding ways to keep learning, exploring, and spending time outside as a part of our everyday routines. 

Trees prepare for changing weather by dropping their leaves to conserve energy for winter, squirrels gather and store food to prepare for colder months, and birds migrate to warmer places. We can create new routines to help us grow in a new season, such as setting aside enough time to complete schoolwork or getting enough sleep at night. 

Most importantly, we make space for activities and hobbies that help us recharge when we face new challenges that demand different needs and routines. It’s okay to take things slow, make sure to be patient with yourself, and ease into this new season one step at a time. Just like the natural world, seasons don’t change overnight - environments shift gradually. Similarly, growth doesn’t happen all at once, it comes in stages and rest is the most important part of change throughout any part of the year. 

Beach view from the top of the dunes in the summertime!

To avoid burnout, try making time for things you enjoy outside of school and work. Balance learning with playing and downtime. Nature stays flexible in order to survive different seasons. We can stay flexible too as our seasons of life change, adjusting as needed to take care of ourselves while balancing responsibilities. 

And don’t forget to keep nature in your routine! Walk or bike to school if you can, get some fresh air after class, or even open a window while doing homework. Time outside helps keep us energized, focused, and feeling good - all things that make learning and doing work easier and more enjoyable. 

By following nature’s lead, the shift into the school year can feel more natural, intentional, and fulfilling, helping us bloom in new ways all year long!

Cleo Johnson
Environmental Educator

The Dog Days of Summer

The sweltering days of summer are upon us, which means more time spent at the beaches of the Indiana Dunes. For centuries humans have adapted to extreme heat, and we’ve developed many ways to keep cool. Whether it’s jumping into the water, sitting in front of a fan, air conditioning, staying hydrated, or wearing light clothing, we’ve learned to manage high temperatures. We also have physiological mechanisms to thermoregulate which is when our core temperature rises and the brain sends signals to cool us down. We sweat to release heat from the surface of our skin, and the cooler blood then circulates throughout the body. While we know how humans cool down, have you wondered how the animals in Indiana Dunes National Park beat the heat? Since humans are mammals a lot of these mechanisms can be similar! We are not so different after all. 

White-Tailed Deer

The white-tailed deer cools down in two ways through their mouth and ears. During summer, their ears are mostly hairless, allowing heat to escape more efficiently. They also pant - just like dogs - to lower their body temperature. On especially hot days, deer seek shelter near water where it’s naturally cooler. 

Coyote

Similarly to the white-tailed deer, coyotes cool down by panting. They rapidly inhale and exhale,  circulating air over their moist tongues, which helps evaporate heat from their bodies. To avoid the scorching sun, coyotes often rest in shaded areas or near water and become more active during the cool night. 

Amphibians

Amphibians are ectothermic, meaning they are “cold-blooded” or that they rely on external sources to regulate their body temperature. Therefore, when there are severe heat waves, amphibians need to cool down to thrive. They do this through a process called aestivation which is a state of dormancy in which an animal reduces its activity and metabolic rate. This is similar to a process known as hibernation, but it takes place in the summer rather than the winter. 

Birds

Birds have a few unique ways of cooling down. One method is gular fluttering - a combination of open-mouth breathing and rapid vibration of the moist throat membranes that allow for evaporation. Birds may also take quick dips in water or bathe to lower their body temperature. Afterward, they often fluff their features and spread their wings to catch any breeze. 

Beaver

Beavers play a special role in the Indiana Dunes ecosystem, especially during summer. Their dams are engineering marvels that reshape the flow of water - creating ponds, widening rivers, and forming wetlands. These dams create deepened waters that tend to stay cooler. This provides relief for many species that rely on these habitats to escape the heat. When standing near a beaver meadow, the temperature drops compared to other parts of the ecosystem.  

As you enjoy those slow, sunny days at the Indiana Dunes, take a moment to appreciate how the environment - and the animals within it - adapt to the heat, just like we do. It’s another reminder of how interconnected we are with the world around us. The more we learn about these remarkable species, the more we can understand and protect the ecosystems we share. 

Sources:

Too Hot to Handle: The Human Health Consequences of Extreme Heat

Alsheimer: Staying Cool – Close-Up of a Whitetail's Radiator

How do birds keep cool in the summer? | U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

Ask the Naturalist | Water Creatures in Summer - Bay Nature

Beavers are heat wave heroes

Ixchel Barraza Zapata is a 2nd Year Environmental Education Fellow at Dunes Learning Center

Biophilia: We're all connected

Biophilia is the connection between people and life in the natural world. I have been recently reflecting on how my biophilia has grown throughout my life and why I joined the environmental education field. I am lucky enough to have spent much of my childhood outdoors. My siblings and I would spend much of our time in the summer playing in the creek that ran through our backyard, and we spent our weekends camping in our little pop-up camper. After high school, I went to college for an environmental science degree even though I did not really know what I wanted to do with my life. I knew I liked the outdoors and Environmental Science seemed like a good fit. My first semester we had an assignment called the 5 whys. During this activity you write down your major and 5 reasons why you chose your major. I do not remember my exact words, but one of my reasons was to give people the opportunity to enjoy nature the way I did as a child. 

This “why”  led me to Dunes Learning Center. I am now lucky enough to spend my time at work helping kids explore the natural world like I did as a kid. This has been one of the most rewarding things I have done in my life. Just as the kids are improving their biophilia, they are helping improve my biophilia. Something I see everyday like a squirrel or a robin might light up a kid’s eyes, and it helps me appreciate the things I might call common. When watching these animals with kids, I learned so many things about the natural world including the behaviors of these animals I never thought about before. Over my past two years at the Dunes Learning Center, kids have taught me over and over again that just by taking a step back  you can realize that every organism is cool in their own way. So the next time that you go outside, try to appreciate the common things like the kids do. It can teach a lot about nature and yourself!

Alex Butina, Third Year Environmental Education Fellow

A Farewell From the Educator Class of 2024-2025

As the school year comes to an end and we welcome the summer season, educators from the fellowship class of 2024-2025 took a moment to reflect on their favorite memories from the past year! 

Cleo - My favorite memory from this past year has to be when we went to watch the Sandhill Cranes at Jasper Pulaski. Seeing that many beautiful, enormous birds land was a really special and unique experience and I am grateful to have shared that moment with all of my wonderful coworkers! It was such an unforgettable experience. 

Lauren - One of my favorite memories from this past year was exploring the Eastern Deciduous Forest with students, especially when we dove into the world of observation! We had a blast investigating logs and fallen trees—there’s so much to discover if you look closely. From the vibrant colors to the unique textures of decomposing fungi, mosses, and lichen, every log felt like a hidden treasure. Plus, using our senses to examine these tiny ecosystems made the experience even more exciting!

Alissa - I’ve always been a big fan of our night hikes! A lot of our students are hesitant to go for hikes in the woods in the daytime, so a night hike is a big ask. But, as the night goes on and we play games and learn more about the forest at night, kids become more confident! It’s an opportunity for them to support their classmates by pointing out stray roots and offer encouragement. Sometime after the kids have seen a lifesaver mint glow in the dark or have played a version of marco polo about bat echolocation, their nervousness morphs into curiosity. Kids are able to explore a different night time through their senses. They see constellations that they may not be able to see in the city. They are able to experience the noises, but also the quiet of night time. One of my favorite night hike stories was of a student who started by saying that it was “like a haunted house” and he didn’t think he would be able to do it. The next day, he kept asking when we’d be able to go on a night hike again! 

Alex “Burdy” - Three years of outdoor education, recreation, and conservation is a lot to unpack for someone as sentimental as I am… but I’ll try! I think the thing(s) I’ve liked most about my time at the Dunes Learning Center has been the connections: with friends, students, nature, and the greater INDU area and its communities! I’m truly honored to have been trusted with leading so many for their voyage to our park, and getting to meet so many amazing cool-young people has been a great experience. Everyday is a new adventure for me, my coworkers, and our students, and getting to share in that journey with such wonderful people in a place as grand as INDU is the best part of my job! I hope that the connections I’ve made and been a part of will linger for many years to come, even if the only thing people remember of me is that I’m “the bird guy”. And who knows? Maybe that small connection will be enough to “inspire lasting curiosity and stewardship with nature”? Not just for myself, but for all the people I’ve met on the trail. Much is uncertain in life, but I feel hopeful looking at the work I’ve done here! So thank you everybody, and thank you DLC! Let’s continue to connect : )

Kate - I have always had a soft spot for camp when it comes to DLC. As always, I love meeting new campers and seeing old campers come back (and for some of them, having known them now for four summers was pretty special). One of my favorite memories from this past summer was during teen camp. They could not go in the water because of the lake conditions, so some of them really poured themselves into digging elaborate holes in the beach. It was cool to see how they organized themselves and made the most of the situation, but also it was really cool to see how a kid that I met my first year in Dunes Discovery camp had grown and found his place in Dunes Adventure camp. 

Lisa - When hiking with students from Chicago on Cowles Bog, we encountered a deer with antlers calmly grazing on his mid-morning snack. The awestruck students stood quietly for five minutes as the deer stared back. For many of them, it was their first time seeing a deer up close, and the moment left them in awe for the rest of the day. This experience was one of many that allowed kids to see the wonders of the outdoors. I will never forget the countless opportunities I had, alongside other educators, to inspire kids to explore their own backyards, parks, and our national parks. 

Alex - My favorite memories from my second year at DLC are seeing when students realize that they have a national park in their backyard. I was hiking with a group at Miller Woods on the west end of the park, and I had one student that I asked if they had ever been to the Indiana Dunes National Park. The student said “no”, but they are definitely coming back. Moments like this help remind me how everyday that as educators coming to work and working with kids, we can make an impact. 

Sierra - My favorite memories at DLC will always be when we find a critter on the Cowles Bog trail! Frogs and salamanders are always fun to see, and the students love trying to find them. Blue Spotted Salamanders are a favorite of mine since a lot of students have never seen a salamander before. It’s always great to see the excitement and curiosity that comes with finding something new. It also gives me as an educator opportunities to bring up topics like ecology, human impacts on the environment, threatened and endangered species, invasive species, and more. I’ve even found a Blanding’s Turtle on the trail two summers ago and it was the highlight of the day for the students in my group. Each time we discover another critter it helps to further connect kids with nature, but it also helps me connect to my younger self and inspires me to keep teaching people about the nature around them.

Ixchel - Reflecting on the past year, it’s hard to pick just one memory since there have been many beautiful memories. If I had to pick one it would be witnessing the student’s creativity and curiosity during DuneVersity. Specifically, my trail group had the opportunity to do an investigation on the water pH of different ecosystems. It was amazing to see how the students were engaged and passionate about this investigation. I was so committed to helping their research that I walked into the wetland to obtain a sample of water to test the pH. I likely won’t walk into a wetland again so that I don’t disturb the ecosystem but everyone was so passionate that I knew I had to do it for my students. I am looking forward to my second year as an environmental educator because I get to witness students be explorers and scientists!

Lily - Growing up in the South I was used to seeing the migratory birds fly over on their way to Florida. But by the time they reached my neck of the woods the large flocks had dispersed; the most wild birds I had seen near me was the group of 50 geese that call the local park home during the winter months. After moving to the Dunes and experiencing my first northern fall, I was amazed at how many birds I was seeing! More Canada Geese than I’d ever seen at home and so many Sandhill Cranes! There were several times I almost cried because of how moved I was seeing the sheer force of the migrations. I loved watching these birds fly down for the winter, and now seeing them come back up for the warmer months. I’m gonna miss seeing and hearing them when I’m hiking!

DUNES LEARNING CENTER Environmental educator class OF 2024-2025

A Walk Home

As I walk home from work these last few weeks at Dunes Learning Center, I can’t help but see three years worth of walks at the same time. 

Walking down the cottage trail from the Dunes Learning Center, I first run into the seemingly ever-present puddles. There I see me and another educator, Hope, on icy mornings crunching ice and seeing how much weight we can put on them before they crack. Even on the coldest mornings this silly winter tradition made me smile. 

Past the puddles is the garden, which I’ve cared for the majority of my time here at DLC. I see all the late summer afternoons where I walk out with arms full of tomatoes and peppers. I see the time I got a bunch of fifth graders to plant strawberries for their stewardship project. Then I see the springtime, and the stubborn trillium that keeps popping up in the middle of the path are just starting to grow. I remember all the days I had to avoid the trillium with the wagon full of plants fresh from my closet for planting. 

Somewhere in my walk, I run into the young cabin leader Kate walking in the dark. She’s with several of the other cabin leaders, on their way back from a Friday night hang out at the educator house down the road. Just that Wednesday they learned all about how they’re going to be leading night hikes that summer without flashlights, and that night was as good as any to start practicing walking in the dark. She hadn’t yet realized she even wanted to stay in environmental education post-college. She didn’t know all the good things that would happen in the next four years. She didn’t know she would end up living in the house the next year, that she would come to know the ins and outs of that road like the back of her hand. She definitely would not have guessed she’d still be walking that road almost four years later. 

Then my walk brings me to the gate house, and I can’t help but smile. I go straight back to all the late evenings spent chatting with friends after work before going our separate ways on our walks home. It really started last summer. The four of us would walk down cottage trail (which is the long way home for the other house), then linger down at the end of the driveway for half an hour to an hour after work. In the winter, the sun would often be setting as we stood at the end of the driveway. 

As I walk down the road, I see the spice bush leafing out, the garlic mustard popping up, and all the flowers blooming. I can’t help but think back to discovering it all my first year. I see the spot where we spotted the beaver three times in one week my first year. I watch for the muskrats along their usual stretch of the river, and I still look for a watersnake in the sunny spot I once saw during my first summer as an educator. 

Three years is a long time to spend on one stretch of road/trail, which is why that walk feels so deeply tied to my time at DLC. It has truly been a joy, and I look forward to coming back to visit one day.

Kate Valentine, Environmental Educator Fellow III

The Nature of Grief: Helping to Work Through Grief by Connecting to Nature

Most of us have probably heard that nature is good for our mental health or that nature can help us heal, and science backs us up on this. Being in nature can generate a multitude of positive emotions, such as calmness, joy, and creativity. These emotions can be linked to our biophilia and emotional connectedness to the natural world. It’s important to note that the genuine feeling of connection to nature—not simply spending more time in nature or being surrounded by nature—may be the link to inspiring positive emotions. It’s also been found that nature connectedness is also associated with lower levels of anxiety, improvement in mood, and can help people cope with stress (Schony & Mischkowski, 2024). 

 Now, I’m not a licensed therapist or psychologist, but from first-hand experience I can say that nature has positive effects on my mental health. Over the past 6 months I’ve been healing from the loss of my childhood cat, Patchpaw. Just after I moved to California his health started to deteriorate and for months all I could do was watch. After numerous vet visits, medications, and injections, he took a turn for the worse. I flew home to see him in October, knowing it was the last day I’d see him. After 12 years of growing up with him, he was gone. Nothing could have prepared me for that loss. I felt as though half of me had been torn away and I would never be whole again. 

All through this time, I thought back to the Dunes and all the good memories I have of this place. I always tell people that the Indiana Dunes is one of my favorite national parks because it’s so unique. But it’s also my favorite because of the people I met there and the home I had found. Even after a year and a half away and thousands of miles traveled, I still felt a strong connection to it. So, I decided to move back to the Indiana Dunes and to the Dunes Learning Center. 

 My first few weeks back were a roller coaster of emotions. I was happy to be seeing some old friends and revisiting my favorite places but I still felt very drained. I tried spending more time exploring outside and I did feel calmer and had a bit more mental clarity, but I didn’t feel normal. It took over a month to start noticing changes, but soon I started to notice that the students in my trail group were helping me to reconnect with my younger self. I slowly allowed myself to feel some joy and wonder again after months of feeling guilt and anger. It was refreshing to see how enthusiastic and curious students were on the trail and their silliness during campfire and weather skits gave me the chance to laugh and have fun. 

The moment I found myself opening back up to new discoveries were when I went on hikes and “wanderings” through the woods with my friends. Sitting on the frozen beach along the shelf ice at sunset calmed me and gave me the opportunity to be creative and get back into photography. Watching the world come alive in early spring after months of cold greyness reawakened my sense of inspiration and excitement. Without realizing it, I was slowly connecting to nature in a way that gave me a sense of belonging. 

Nature’s way of helping us find ourselves and our place within the world offers purpose in a way which not only connects us to the natural world but our community and encourages resilience and strength as well. The feeling of being connected to nature is also associated with beneficial mental health outcomes, such as psychological wellbeing and psychological resilience (Schony & Mischkowski, 2024). Engaging with the natural world around myself is helping me navigate through hard times with a greater understanding and acceptance, which hopefully can lead towards further healing.

The past 6 months have been a rocky road, but I’m surprised and proud of how much I’ve changed for the better. I don’t think I’ll ever stop missing Patchy, and I think I’ll still be healing for a long time. Things have gotten easier though, and I’m so thankful for such a welcoming and supportive environment that I’ve found here. The Dunes Learning Center is home to some of the most wonderful and dedicated people that I’ll ever have the pleasure of knowing. They’re amazing coworkers, roommates, and even better friends and they’ll always have a special place in my heart. 

In memory of Patchpaw  

3/17/12-10/4/24

Schony, M., & Mischkowski, D. (2024). Feeling Connected to Nature Attenuates the Association between Complicated Grief and Mental Health. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 21(9), 1138. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21091138

Sierra Conley, Environmental Education Fellow III

Capturing Nature

Spending time outside is one of my favorite things to do, especially when it involves drawing and watercoloring in my nature journal. Nature journaling has become one of my main hobbies and passions because it gives me a chance to slow down and appreciate the small intricacies of nature while capturing its essence through personalized creative expression. Over time, my journal has become more than a clustered collection of sketches and notes, it has become a personal record of my relationship with the natural world, evolving with each adventure in nature. 

Nature journaling focuses on observing the world around you through art and practicing your ability to notice finer details. Luckily, you do not need to be “good” at art to be able to try nature journaling! Whether you prefer drawing, writing, painting, or a different art form, or maybe even a combination of multiple, nature journaling can be whatever you want it to be, as it is all about capturing your unique perspective and interactions with nature. 

Here are a few of my favorite journal spreads from the past year, featuring moments I captured while exploring the Indiana Dunes National Park and other adventures along the way.

These two pages are on my trip to Washington state, I got to see a lot of wildlife and landscapes that I haven’t seen before!

A nature journal page I did while sitting outside the lodge here at DLC, drawing and painting the trees and cabin circle.

I love to incorporate nature journaling activities into my programs at DLC whenever I can. Nature journaling is an incredibly flexible tool that works for different ages, learning styles, and creative abilities. Using nature journaling as a technique for learning helps individuals connect with the outdoors in a way that feels personal and meaningful to them while encouraging kids to tap into their creative side, practice observational skills, and inspire a passion for exploring as well as a desire to protect their local and national parks - a passion that DLC strives to inspire through our programs. Whether I have kids draw what they see in the ecosystems that we explore or set aside time for quiet reflection during our Cowles Bog hikes, nature journaling can look different for each group. No matter how it is implemented and how it looks, the goal remains the same: to encourage kids to slow down, make observations, and build lasting, thoughtful connections with nature. 

Throughout each season, the education fellows learn about the different wild edibles that grow in the park. Drawing and painting the plants in my notebook helped me learn more about the information we were given.

 The addition and exploration of nature journaling into my personal hobbies and how I approach spending time outside has been a huge part of building my ongoing connection to nature. If you’re someone who wants to spend more time outdoors and be intentional while doing so, nature journaling is worth trying. It’s a flexible and rewarding activity - something you can pick up anytime, whether you’re out on an adventure or simply enjoying your local park! 

Cleo Johnson

Environmental Educator

Using Nature to Create Art

My earliest encounter with art was Claude Monet’s Bridge over a Pond of Water Lilies (1899). I was amazed by his ability to paint trees that were so defined, but also worked as a collective. The water lilies and trees reflected into the pond to the point that the pond seemed almost invisible. It was absolutely incredible to witness and I tried to some avail to paint my own attempt. Even if I am not a Monet, art has always been an escape of sorts for me. A place to be creative and use different mediums to make something beautiful! 

During my first year at Dunes Learning Center, I did a lot of research on Frank V. Dudley, a prominent artist of the Indiana Dunes. Often, he was known as the ‘Seer of the Dunes’ and had a part in advocating for the Indiana Dunes to become a federally protected area. My favorite work of his is Strangers from Far Away (Cactus) (1952). This piece depicts an Eastern Prickly Pear cactus in the Dunes, definitely something you wouldn’t think to find in Indiana!

Being inspired by nature is nothing new for art and artists, and I feel grateful to live in a community where there is a large emphasis in capturing the beauty of nature. Between nature photography and the Artist in Residence program sponsored by the National Park, there is a lot to capture! This led me to the question: how can I use nature in artwork of my own? The answer came to me with creating handmade paint brushes made out of materials found right outside my back door!

Now it is important to remember that you can not take things from the National Park, as it is federally protected land, but you can take things that have fallen to the ground in your backyard. I went and searched the forest floor and came upon five interesting materials to use in my paintbrush building project (from left to right): Goldenrod, prairie grass, White pine needles, Hyssop, and Oak leaves. Now, make sure you bring a field guide because there is the added challenge of trying to identify what you are seeing, especially in the winter!

The next step was to assemble the paintbrushes. For the handle, I found sticks that were about the width of my pinky and the size of an unsharpened pencil. I gathered my leafy materials around the stick, making sure that the tip of the stick was surrounded. Once I was happy with how my dried plants were placed, I rubber banded them to the stick. If I was having trouble getting the plants around the stick, I would rubber band them together and then rubber band them to the stick. I trimmed any extra-long bits. Since it would be difficult to wash the paint from the brushes, I decided that each brush would have a designated color. Finally, I added some wire around the plants to really secure the materials to the sticks. It was time to paint. 

Now a warning! These sticks were fragile, but created beautiful textures that I used to make a rainbow. I hope this inspires you to admire the beauty around you and when the time comes (hopefully sooner rather than later) the beauty of Spring! Now, I am off to my next challenge, which is going to be to try to use wildflowers to make my own watercolor paints! Wish me luck! Go explore!

Lauren Hardebeck is a third year Environmental Education Fellow at Dunes Learning Center.