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.

A call to rest!

/

A call to rest! 

As the winter continues, the Indiana Dunes have reached a quiet serenity. Many of the birds who call our park home have made their yearly pilgrimage south. Our animal friends who have chosen to stay will have to find ways to survive the cold. Deer and rabbits will grow warmer winter coats. Squirrels and woodpeckers will stash food to keep themselves well fed when food is scarce. But some animals will choose to sleep throughout the winter months. This is called hibernation!

One of my favorite hibernators in the Indiana Dunes is the groundhog! Groundhogs spend the months of late fall to early spring snoozing in their burrows. They are an example of true hibernators, which means that they aren’t just taking an extra long nap, they are dropping their body temperature, slowing their breathing, and lowering their heart rate. These elements all help a groundhog use less energy. They will go up to 5 months without eating and only lose about a quarter of their initial body weight! 

Punxsutawney Phil (Groundhog Celebrity)--AP Photo/Barry Reeger

Most reptiles will utilize a special sort of hibernation during the winter called brumation. Reptiles are cold blooded–they cannot regulate their own temperature. Because of this, cold temperatures will involuntarily send them into a deep sleep. To prepare they dig burrows, which hide them from predators and keep them at a more consistent temperature than above ground. Sometimes they’ll even snuggle together in their burrow with other reptiles. It’s like a reptile slumber party! The six lined racerunner that calls our dunes home is perhaps the champion of brumation! This tiny lizard only grows to be about nine inches long–with half of that length going towards their tail. They also have a low tolerance for the cold. Here in Indiana, adult lizards will often begin their brumation towards mid-August and sleep until mid-May. That’s a lot of sleep!

Six Lined Racerunner–Photo by Kate Valentine

Even though our schedules generally won’t change much in the winter, I still think it’s worth recognizing nature’s winter lullaby. We feel it too! We aren’t built to hibernate, but shorter periods of sunlight lead our brains to produce more melatonin. It makes us sleepier in the winter. Bright, artificial lights (like our lamps and cell phones) might reduce the amount we experience those shifts in sleep patterns, but can’t completely offset seasonal changes in sleep. If you can, it may be a good idea to bed a little earlier during the winter. You have things to do and people to see! Going to bed earlier may help you wake up with the energy you’ll need. If nothing else, I hope our need for more winter sleep can serve as a reminder that we are connected to the creatures we share the Earth with and as a reminder to be gentle with ourselves through the coldest time of year.

Wishing you sweet dreams!


Sources:

http://www.minnesotaseasons.com/Reptiles/six-lined_racerunner.html 

https://peedeewildlifecontrolinc.com/hibernation-brumation-and-torpor-when-animals-sleep/ 

https://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/blog/groundhogs-facts/#:~:text=Few%20animals%20hibernate%20as%20long,start%20looking%20for%20potential%20mates. 

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20230315-how-the-seasons-change-our-sleep 

Alissa Miller

Environmental Education Fellow

“Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes!"

/

Change can be a terrifying concept when you think about it, especially when viewed through a natural lens. Take the caterpillar, which is a cute and harmless (enough…) looking creature at the start of its life cycle. Through metamorphosis, though, these insects will change their appearance so completely that one can scarcely tell that butterfly and caterpillar are the same creature. Compared to the changes that a human child experiences as they grow, the transformation of these bugs is incredibly bizarre! However, this kind of change is just a natural part of their lives, no different to them than a human growing up.

Life’s twists and turns seem strange but are pleasant compared to other categories of change, such as the death of a species. Extinctions, or rather, the MULTITUDE of mass extinctions that have occurred over the long history of planet Earth have long perplexed me. Think about it, where we stand today there were once creatures that’d look more at home in books of myth and legend than the pages of school textbooks.

The world of modern humans has never known what life was like alongside towering dinosaurs, lumbering mammoths, gigantic insects, or the other untold masses of prehistoric creatures. A plethora of different organisms once lived and breathed here, just as you and I do now, but have been lost to time. Still, even after many losses (RIP T. rex) life has remained! And over the millennia, it has had the chance to grow, evolve, and change.

Change is just an unavoidable part of nature, whether it be as simple as a shift in the weather, or as far reaching as the rise of humanity as Earth’s dominant life-form. There’s no denying that change can be scary, but it has its silver lining; an opportunity for something new. There are many changes on our horizon that we’ll have to overcome as we continue into the next quarter century. Habitat destruction and the threat of extinction within the natural world as well as a plethora of social and economic pressures (some new, some old)… the list of changes on our plates is extensive and exhausting to contemplate.

But just because change is unavoidable doesn’t mean that we can’t influence it! After all, the lives we have today wouldn’t be possible without the help of change. Humans have more knowledge and power today than ever before. If we want to make the world a better place for ALL to live in, then we should seriously consider how we think about the changes we want to make for ourselves. One thing that shouldn’t change, though, is our relationship to the world and to each other. Humans need nature and nature needs humans to exist, and as the social creatures we are, humans need each other as well. So let's be kind, be smart, and be good about the changes we make this year!

Alex “Burdy” Burdsall

Environmental Education Fellow III

Egrets, Owls, and Cranes! Oh my!

/

Indiana Dunes National Park is a haven for bird enthusiasts, teeming with spectacular species. Some of my most awe-inspiring bird encounters have been alongside students during Dunes Learning Center programs.

Great blue heron at Cuyahoga Valley National Park (Photo: Kate Valentine)

Most of my memorable bird experiences with students happened on hikes through Cowles Bog. Once when hiking with students from Chicago, a great blue heron took flight just ten feet ahead of us! Many students were enamored with encountering such a large bird. Another time, as dusk fell on Cowles Bog in November, a group of energetic fourth graders were so captivated by the sound of an eastern screech owl that they sat quietly on the boardwalk to listen. Other favorites of trail groups are the elegant great egrets in the wetlands and ring-billed gulls on the beach. One bird I haven’t encountered with students so far is the sandhill crane. These majestic birds, known for their loud, trumpeting calls, remain a sight I eagerly anticipate experiencing with our young visitors and chaperones.

Great egret perched on a tree at Cowles Bog in the Indiana Dunes National Park (Photo: Kate Valentine)

Sandhill cranes at the Indiana Dunes National Park (Photo: Kate Valentine)

While Cowles Bog hikes take a pause for the winter, our on-campus third-grade program delves into how animals adapt to the cold. One way that animals adapt to freezing temperatures is through migration. We lead a sandhill crane migration game to illustrate the challenges that sandhill cranes and other animals might experience when migrating. The third graders in the game pretend to be sandhill cranes as they try to complete a migration cycle. They run from their nesting grounds in Canada to their stopover grounds in Indiana, and to their winter grounds in Florida, all while encountering obstacles like habitat loss and predation. 

The Dunes Learning Center staffhad a chance to watch sandhill cranes at their stopover place in Indiana. During our winter program training in November, the DLC environmental educators visited Jasper-Pulaski Fish and Wildlife Area. On a viewing platform, we marveled at nearly 5,000 cranes feeding on corn husks, flying in from the surrounding wetlands for the evening. Among them, we spotted what many birders would be envious to see—a juvenile whooping crane! With only around 600 whooping cranes in existence, seeing this endangered bird was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Standing five feet tall as adults, the whooping crane is North America's tallest bird, a true spectacle of nature!

A whooping crane (brown and white bird) among sandhill cranes at Jasper-Pulaski Fish and Wildlife Area (Photo: Alex Burdsall)

As spring approaches, I look forward to the return of the sandhill cranes to the Indiana Dunes. Perhaps this time, I’ll share the joy of spotting these magnificent birds—and maybe even a whooping crane—with a trail group of students.

Sources: https://www.in.gov/dnr/fish-and-wildlife/properties/jasper-pulaski-fwa/sandhill-cranes/

Lisa Nalliah

Environmental Education Fellow

Is it Jack Frost or Jack Pine?

/

The holiday season is here, bringing with it the joy of decorating Christmas trees, baking cookies, singing carols, and more. A prominent symbol of this season is the pine tree which can be seen everywhere. From famous holiday displays at Chicago’s Millennium Park or New York City’s Rockefeller Center to homes across the country. Pine trees, part of the Pinus genus with about 115 species, are found worldwide though they’re primarily native to northern temperate regions. These trees are valuable for both the environment and for people, offering food and shelter to wildlife, erosion control, and improved air quality. 

The Indiana Dunes National Park is home to a unique species called the jack pine (Pinus banksiana). The jackpine can be identified by its fascicles (groups) of two short dark green needles and its gray, flaky bark. It grows between 35 and 65 feet tall and prefers acidic, well-drained sandy soil. Currently the evergreen tree is native to the southernmost regions of Wisconsin, Michigan, and Minnesota, extending northward into Canada. Given that its optimal growing conditions are much further north, how did jack pine trees find habitat in the Indiana Dunes? 

Dr. Henry Chandler Cowles, a renowned botanist from the University of Chicago, explored this question in his work The Book of Plants. Around 11,000 years ago, hardwood forests of oak and maple trees were abundant in the southernmost regions (Wisconsin, Michigan, and Minnesota) creating an environment too crowded for jack pines. As the climate shifted, winters grew longer and summers shortened. One might imagine that jack frost gifted a vast accumulation of snow that over time turned into ice, known as the Ice Age. Under the pressure of its own weight, a glacier will begin to move outwards and downwards. Glaciers periodically retreat or advance depending on the amount of snow accumulation or melt. The jack pines could not survive the rivers of ice and their seeds spread further south to Indiana and Illinois.

The pine seeds remained in the barren sandy soil of the young dunes as the glacier slowly melted and retreated north. Hardwood forests could no longer thrive in the conditions of the sandy terrain as the temperatures rose, allowing the jack pines to thrive. These trees, now considered relics of the Ice Age, have proven resilient enough to withstand poor soil and harsh conditions. At the Indiana Dunes, you can find jack pines along the lakeshore on the Dunes Succession Trail at West Beach and on the Paul H. Douglas Trail in Miller Woods. 

Ixchel Barraza Zapata

Environmental Education Fellow

Eye Spy

/

One of the first activities we complete with our middle school DuneVersity programs are “eye spy” activities. These activities help students learn and practice the first step in the scientific process, observation. This first step is often overlooked when people think of science. People  will usually think about filling up beakers or mixing different substances together. Others think of memorizing different organelles in a cell. These activities can help us learn more about the world around us, but may not show the big picture like making observations does. 

When I lead groups on hikes, one of things that I will tell students is “If you see anything cool along the trail, let me know and we can talk about it.” This usually leads to the question “What type of plant is this?” or “What type of bug is this?”

I usually respond with “What do you notice about the plant/animal?” Without realizing it, the student starts making observations. They notice that the bug is green and camouflages with the leaf, or that the plant has thorns to protect itself from predators. These observations are often more important than what the species is because it helps inspire curiosity instead of just memorizing a species name.

This curiosity helps students learn that the world around them can teach them a lot. They do not need to know the scientific name of every plant in order to know a lot about the plant. Also, allowing students to use their natural curiosity helps them build empathy. By practicing asking questions about the plants and animals, students can learn to ask questions of others in their community to have a better understanding of the world. By allowing them to be curious and ask questions we are not only promoting empathy, but we are letting students know that it is fine to not know the answer to every single question. This leads to kids growing up to be more curious, empathetic people.

Alex Butina

Environmental Education Fellow II

Invasive Plants Don't Have To Be Scary!

/

When you take a trip out to Cowles Bog, the first ecosystem that greets you is the wetlands. The signature water-loving plants and birds offer welcoming waves and sing the tunes of the dunes. But looming in the distance is an invasive tall grass more frightening than any halloween ghoul: phragmites! 

Phragmite grass

Invasive species are non-native species that cause harm to the health of the environment, animals, or plants in the area. Phragmites are very aggressive thanks to its seed production and rhizome network. Phragmites spread from ecosystem to ecosystem quickly because they produce up to 2,000 seeds a year! Their rhizomes, an extensive network of underground stems, are also used to create new plants. Rhizomes can grow 1 to 3 feet below soil surface and can creep horizontally up to 10 feet in a season! To make things worse, phragmites can grow up to 15 feet tall and out-compete plants below them for valuable sunlight. All of these factors make it extremely difficult for plants to cohabitate with phragmites. 

For a National Park that is well-known for its plant and animal biodiversity (ranking fourth most biodiverse out of all National Parks), plants like phragmites threaten this biodiversity with their quick reproduction and ability to survive difficult conditions. 

But don't be scared, we don’t have to let phragmites haunt our wetlands! There are different techniques to help bring native ecosystems back from the grave, reviving them to their natural state. Several sites in the National Park were once overgrown with phragmites, but thanks to consistent hard-work of phragmite phighters the native plants are thriving in recovered wetland ecosystems. 

Before and after phragmites removal at west beach

There’s something you can do to help protect your park, too. Using a stiff brush or a boot cleaning station before and after the next time you hit the trails you keep seeds from accidentally planting themselves in the ecosystems you’re visiting. Also, just by visiting your outdoor spaces you’re proving why we should invest into protecting our ecosystems from being overtaken with invasive plants. With your help we can keep our natural gems free from invasives for generations to come! 

NOTE: There are both native and invasive phragmite in the Dunes. Native phragmites have a purple-red hue to the stem and have leaves with a yellow tint, while invasive phragmites have a dull green stem with bluer leaves. 

Lily Olander

Environmental Education Fellow

Orange Flutters of Spring

/

There are classic signs of Spring all around us: flowers blooming, warm rain, and the emergence of flora and fauna that have been dormant all winter. For me, seasons changing bring with them a sense of excitement and a bit of anxiety. There is a feeling of newness that comes with the springtime. A feeling of evolution from our winter selves that have been bundled up to the emergence of shorter sleeves and sunshine. The perfect visualization of the journey between winter and the new life of spring is the Monarch butterfly.

I hold a hint of jealousy for the Monarch because it gets to migrate to warm places and avoid the snow that we see here in Northwest Indiana (and it doesn’t even send a postcard!). In the spring months, the delicate butterfly begins its migration back from Mexico to the Southern region of the United States, in search of a milkweed plant to lay its egg on. When it finds this special plant, the lifecycle and the miracle of the Monarch begins. After the laying of the eggs, the caterpillar will hatch and eat its egg and the milkweed plant it is laid on. It will feed and feed on this plant until it has the energy and resources to form a chrysalis, a cocoon-like structure where the caterpillar will undergo its final transformation. After about two weeks in the chrysalis stage, the soft orange wings of the butterfly will emerge and it will continue its journey north towards places like the Indiana Dunes!

Just like most things in nature, butterflies rely on signals from the environment in order to start their migration process. When it starts becoming too hot in their winter home, they journey further north to lay eggs and escape the heat. Climate change and habitat destruction are causing major issues for these travelers. Changing weather patterns may give false cues to begin migrating and as a result, they start their journey too early. When they finally arrive at their destination, the milkweed is not mature enough to support their eggs. Deforestation and habitat degradation also contribute to the loss of the ecosystems that allow milkweed to thrive. This can be as severe as illegal logging of Oyamel fir trees in Mexico or the use of dangerous herbicides and pesticides within local communities. It is important that humans recognize and learn about the impacts of these practices in order to better inform their practices in the future!

The Indiana Dunes National Park is in a unique position because it is a stopover point for the Monarch butterfly in both the spring and fall. It is a place where they will stop to rest and gather the energy needed to continue their journey. I would encourage you to do two things this spring. 1) Hike the beautiful trails of YOUR national park and look for signs of spring and vibrant Monarch butterflies and 2) find a spot in your community- it can even be your backyard- to plant a pollinator garden that uses native plants. The planting of milkweed, and other butterfly-friendly plants, can provide a place for Monarchs to pollinate, feed, and lay eggs. In return, like a true symbiotic relationship, humans can enjoy the beautiful orange flutters of Spring!

Lauren Hardebeck

1st Year Environmental Educator Fellow








Photoperiodism

/

Young leaves blooming on a ginkgo tree in early spring (Photo credit: Margo Taylor)

The seasons come and go every year. The continual shift from spring to summer to fall to winter and then back to the beginning. But as most of us have experienced, we often get a “false spring”. Every year, we get a few days that are warm like springtime when it should feel cold like winter, and then days later we get hit with more winter weather. But during this stretch of warmth, how do plants and animals know that this is only a “false spring” and there is more winter weather to come? Many plants and animals use a mechanism called photoperiodism, which is a response triggered by changes in the length of daylight in a day. This response often comes with the changing of seasons and cues seasonal actions. 

Many plants use photoperiodism to regulate one or several of their functions. These functions include reproduction, flowering, leaf production, and dormancy. Photoperiodism is especially evident with deciduous trees. Deciduous trees lose their leaves in the fall and become dormant before growing leaves again in the spring. But how do they know the right time to start growing? Trees do not want to start growing too early and experience damage due to the cold, but they also do not want to start growing too late and miss out on vital sunlight. To address this issue, trees use photoperiodism. There are special receptors called photochromes in the bark of trees that measure the amount of light it receives during the day. These photochromes help the tree recognize the signs of “false spring” and wait until the arrival of “true spring” to begin growing.

buck with antlers (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

antler shed from a white tailed deer (Photo credit: northamericanwhitetail.com)

Animals can also use photoperiodism! Indiana’s largest resident mammal, the white-tailed deer, is one example. Every spring, male bucks will shed their antlers. Antlers are used to signify breeding status, attract potential mates, and also help the buck defend its territory. Antlers stop growing after a certain amount of time, but shedding antlers allows a buck to grow bigger antlers than before. This process is dependent on photoperiodism because light directly influences the hormones that cause the shedding and regrowth of antlers. 

These are just a few of the many organisms that use photoperiodism to respond to the changing of the seasons. Other environmental factors may influence an organism's activities, but the use of photoperiodism is an important tool for plants and animals so they are not fooled by a “false spring”.

Margo Taylor

1st Year Environmental Educator Fellow