My Story with Science

By Kayla Groen, Naturalist

Growing up, science was my worst subject in grade school. I misunderstood science so much that on the day I learned about tornadoes, volcanoes, earthquakes and hurricanes, I feared all of them were going to hit me the moment I got home from school. I was terrified until my parents reassured me what could and couldn’t happen in northwest Indiana.

Feeling so disconnected to science, I couldn’t bring myself to care the way I knew I should about science. What I learned was mostly delivered through a textbook and I figured if I couldn’t understand it from there, then science just wasn’t for me. 

But field trips were a different story. Take me out of the traditional classroom and put me in a museum, aquarium, zoo or park, and science became more than big words on a page.

My second-grade brain at the Field Museum thought I could pull one of those massive, replica pyramid blocks all by myself. It never budged, even with the help of five or more classmates. As I let go of the rope, I was frustrated. How did the Egyptians do it? 

My first-grade brain at the Shedd Aquarium wanted to know how it was possible that humans and dolphins could talk to each other, while my third-grade brain at the Brookfield Zoo wanted to know how lions could sleep all the time. 

If you asked me back then, I thought science was gross. I didn’t realize that the questions in my head from those informal learning moments pointed to a science-curious mind. Back in the classroom, it was back to the formal textbook, and I lost interest.

In high school, however, I took a natural resources class and became captivated with how to identify different trees based on leaves and seeds. Being able to see and touch the different leaves and trees transformed my learning. It was the first time I realized science didn’t have to be something unattainable for me. 

After that class and extra-curricular experiences beyond it, I fell in love with informal education and free-choice learning. These concepts describe opportunities that foster learning beyond formal education in the classroom (i.e. museums, aquariums, zoos and parks). How things come full circle! By the end of college, I knew I wanted to work in these places and help make learning fun and science accessible for students who feel the way I did.

Becoming a naturalist with Dunes Learning Center has helped solidify that passion. I love working with students outside of their traditional classrooms and watching them grow in adventure and curiosity within the Indiana Dunes National Park. I love hearing them ask questions they personally want the answers to and I love seeing lightbulb moments when they connect to nature hands-on.

Yet, my time as a naturalist and the industry of informal education institutions has changed so much within the past several months. I’ve now spent more time in virtual education than in in-person programs.

My heart aches for those places I love. Will informal education institutions be able to return and provide teaching experiences to students again? Will hands-on experiences and opportunities disappear as the fear of contact grows? There’s no way to know for sure. But I remain hopeful no matter the classroom. 

While outside experiences may remain limited, I hope this is a time for exploring curiosity in science and nature, wherever your learning environment is. Many things remain uncertain, but learning and growing can still go on. 

And joyfully, those things don’t require a textbook.

Kayla Groen

Naturalist

A Poem

By Naturalist Bella Santana

I am unable to spend my time doing many of the things I was doing last week.
Many of the things that I would like to be.

But going into nature, that is something that is still available to me.

So I went out in the woods,
And I found an old tree.

I looked up at his branches which were waving at me.

With every wave that they made,
There were words soft and kind,
The tree spoke to me, and tried to ease my cluttered mind.

I began to speak back, telling the tree how I was worried.
Life has become a bit different, and it puts my mind in a flurry.

I don’t want to keep my distance...
I don’t want to hole up in my house…
I just want to feel comfortable and have others around.

The old tree understood, for he has been through it all,
But he felt it important that I do not let my happiness and hope crumble and fall.

The wise tree reminded me that I am not alone
As he swayed and he smiled and he spoke from his heart.

The other trees, they stand by you, hugging you close.
The birds, they sing to you, and urge you to make the most.

The lone frog, she tells you she understands that the unknown is scary.
For year after year, she hibernates, unsure when is best to un-bury.

He urges all of the forest creatures to hold me in their company,
They remind me of their presence, gathering around and embracing me as their own.

They remind that soon I will be outside in this forest,
With my friends, and my family.

The trees, birds, and frogs will be waiting for our return, just like we wait for their return every spring.

And so I leave the woods.

I drop my fears in the river on my way out.

The river takes the burden of carrying my worries with it as it continues to flow.
It claims my fears as its own
and cleanses my mind with every inch that it goes.

______________

 A note from me to the reader:

Until we can all meet again outside, I hope you all continue to get outdoors. Whether that be the forest, your local park, or even a walk around the block. Take the wise old oaks’ advice: learn from nature, listen to nature, and find solace in the life around you.

Bella Santana

Naturalist

From Small Town Mountain Kid to Interpretive Naturalist

By Shay Rule

Growing up in small mountain towns in Colorado and Wyoming, I spent the majority of my childhood outside. I was going on 8 mile day hikes before I could walk, being toted around the trails in a carrier by my parents. Once I got older, my outdoor adventures advanced from hiking to horseback riding, fishing, and camping. As a kid, I thought this was what everyone does growing up; it wasn’t until much later in my life when I realized this wasn’t the case. 

After high school, I moved from the mountain west to Iowa to study at Cornell College. Going into college, I had no idea what I wanted my career to be. The only thing I was certain about was wanting to work outside, and throughout my studies at Cornell, I was able to discover my love for learning and doing field work. 

Since then, I’ve graduated from Cornell and now work in the 61st national park as an Interpretive Naturalist with the Dunes Learning Center. When I applied, I wasn’t sure what naturalists do, but I knew that I would be outside everyday and that was enough for me. I can now say that I embrace the ways of a naturalist by sharing every fun nature fact I have with everyone I can, and continually learn more about the world around me. Working with kids was intimidating at first, but then I realized when kids attend our programs they are just happy to be outside! They don’t care if I mess up, which made me less nervous. 

In one of my first programs, when a student in my trail group told me this was their first hike, I was astonished and thought to myself “This kid has never gone hiking before?! That’s wild!”  

I now realize that every day, I am going to be introducing many kids to nature, and that I better make it a good introduction. I recognize that sharing my passion for the outdoors has been meaningful and empowering not only for me, but the kids too. 

After working at Dunes Learning Center for a few months, I had a deep conversation with my fellow naturalists about our own first exposures to nature, and how those experiences shaped us as adults.  But when I thought about my first exposure to nature, I couldn’t pinpoint a particular time when I was introduced. I was just always outside, playing with my friends and sisters. I could distinguish different formative memories, like when I caught my first fish, or the many different trail rides I went on. But that first exposure -  that initial introduction to nature - is something that eludes me. I may not remember my first exposure to nature, but I hope that my introduction to the students who come to DLC is memorable and has a lasting positive impact, one that encourages them to learn more about the world around them.

Shay Rule

Naturalist

Night Hiking

By Naturalist Haylee Hinton

As the sun sets over the horizon during free time, kids and adults alike start moving closer to the cabins and the lodge, drawn by instinct towards shelter and the light that it provides. Humans have always been drawn to the places they know to be safe, and it can be hard to feel safe in a world where you can’t see what waits in the dark. During dinner, the announcement is made that there are no lights of any kind allowed on the night hike, and that’s when the nervous energy starts. 

As naturalists, we embrace the dark and love taking visitors to experience the wonders of the Indiana Dunes at night. But no matter what, when we get ready to go out on night hike, questions, from both children and chaperones, begin.

“But how will we see?” 

“What if something is out there?”

These are the questions I receive the most often before night hike, so I always take the time to reassure our visitors before we begin. The most important part of night hiking, I tell them, is to embrace a different way of walking through the world, to trust ourselves and our other four senses, despite the path not being visibly clear. Throughout the night, I lead them through activities designed to highlight and allow them to test their other senses.

My night hike activities vary, but there is one activity that every naturalist always includes: a short solo hike. For this, I leave the chaperones with the group and walk ahead of them until I’m a good distance down the path, then I have the kids follow one at a time until they meet up with me. For the adults, this activity is carefully controlled and structured, but for the kids, it’s a moment where they rely on no one but themselves. 

I know this can be scary to the kids, so  I always give them time to warm up to the idea before we start the activity. I make sure they know that they have a choice not to, but I strongly encourage them to challenge themselves by taking those moments to walk by themselves. For those that choose to go (and most have), when they reach me, I always take a moment to tell them I’m proud of them and ask them what they thought. The overwhelming answer is this: “I was scared at times, but I’m so glad I did it.” It’s in those moments, seeing the pride in themselves at what they just accomplished, that I really feel the impact of what I do.

When I started as a naturalist, there were many aspects of the job that I expected I would love: spending my time outdoors, learning about an entirely new natural environment, and the energy and atmosphere that only working around children could provide. However, I could never have imagined how much personal growth our programs could  provide to these children, and acting as a facilitator for those moments - watching them overcome their fears and challenges - fills me with immeasurable pride.

Haylee Hinton

Naturalist

My Winter Wonderland

By Chief Naturalist Anthony Escobedo

“What a beautiful day it is outside!”

When you hear this what comes to mind? A fresh spring day as the violets begin to appear? A vibrant fall morning when the leaves crunch under your feet and the trees are an array of colors? Or perhaps it is a warm sunny day in the summer, with your feet in the sand, listening to the waves of Lake Michigan. But to me, nothing is more beautiful than winter at the Indiana Dunes.

During winter, beauty is all around us. From the frost tips on the trees to the shelf ice on the lake, Indiana Dunes has become my winter wonderland. There is so much beauty around us that sometimes we have to just witness it and bask in our wonder. 

Recently, naturalist Zach reinstalled the Dunes Learning Center bird feeder. To me, this brings a lot of excitement! The mystery of which birds will arrive. The interactions between the birds. How gracefully and nimbly they can land on the feeder despite the strongest of winds. A bird feeder is much like a good bonfire; I could watch it endlessly without giving it a second thought. However this time, I did give it a second thought. One of my favorite birds (a sure sign of winter and the beauty that comes with it) is the black capped chickadee. Small in stature but big in personality. How does a creature so small survive outside when it is so cold?

This has led me to investigate yet another beautiful moment during winter at the Dunes. The main themes of our “Winter In The Dunes” program are adaptation and survival. For example, we learn that birds fluff to retain heat, much like we put on a puffy winter coat. However, the black-capped chickadee does that and much more. 

During my research, I learned that black-capped chickadees can regulate hypothermia. Now just by the sound of that many people would think “Hypothermia!? That sounds dreadful!” But to the black-capped chickadee, this is how they not only survive, but thrive in the coldest of conditions. Their strategy? Drop their body temperature at night by as much as 10 degrees Fahrenheit! By doing so, they regulate their metabolism to conserve energy. Then they literally shiver the entire night to generate heat to stay warm. Remarkable!

This winter, I challenge you to put on your boots, gloves, hat, and fluffy winter jacket. Then step outside for a hike and explore the beauty of winter. Perhaps you can find some beautiful inspiration to enjoy winter...or at least make it until spring.

Anthony Escobedo

Chief Naturalist

Here's to Summer Camp!

By Naturalist Anne Gundrum

For as long as I can remember, I have always been fascinated by animals. I grew up in the Milwaukee suburbs, close to a pond where my sisters and I would catch frogs. Every summer for about 15 years my family and I would visit my aunt in Northwest Indiana, where we would go to West Beach to find toads.

When I was younger, I did not know there was a summer camp called Dunes Learning Center only two hours away from my hometown where I could explore natural spaces and learn about the animals I already loved. Becoming an Interpretive Naturalist here at DLC was actually my first time attending any sort of summer camp. Working here has made me realize how much fun I missed out on as a child by not going to camp!

During the summer camp season, we went on hikes where we not only found frogs but salamanders, snakes and lizards too! I learned -- and taught the campers -- about different types of plants (some you can even eat!), had campfires, sang songs and put on funny skits, and made many new friends.

I encourage everyone to attend at least one nature summer camp in your life; you learn so much about the world around you, along with team building skills, how to socialize with new people, and overall have a lot of fun. It is truly an amazing experience you won’t ever forget! Registration for Dunes Camp 2020 is now open, https://duneslearningcenter.org/summer, so tell everyone you know that we’re here! We can’t wait to meet the amazing young people you send to us!

Anne Gundrum

Naturalist

The Importance of a Camp Experience

By Naturalist Reid Mosson

It was 2007 and I was in fourth grade. I was sitting at a round table and pouring a glass of lemonade for a girl in my class, when it suddenly overflowed. This is my first memory of Dunes Learning Center, when I came for a Frog in the Bog school study trip. My first ever camp experience consisted of staying two nights in the Cottonwood cabin, as well as trying my favorite wild edible to this day, peppergrass, during our Cowles Bog Hike. 

That shy fourth grade boy who had his first camp experience at DLC went on to attend two 4-H camps in consecutive summers to increase his knowledge of and connection to the world around him. During high school, he was a camp counselor at that 4-H camp, where he discovered a love for leading groups and educating children. 

Many years later, that same boy is once again at the Dunes Learning Center. This time he is no longer staying in the cabins, but still spills things constantly. He has the pleasure of teaching students about the same things he learned here, including his beloved peppergrass. Sometimes he teaches about invasive species and ecosystems, other times he teaches life skills like public speaking. 

As that little boy who came to Frog in the Bog, I understand the importance of a camp experience. Although the name of my naturalist escapes me, the memories I made and life skills I learned at DLC still stick with me today. As a naturalist, I now have the opportunity to instill these life skills into the students that come to Dunes Learning Center. I know that I owe a lot of my life successes to my 4-H camp experience, both as a camper and counselor. But none of that would have been possible if that shy fourth grade boy hadn’t come to Dunes Learning Center to try peppergrass and spend a few days in the woods!

Reid Mosson

Naturalist

A Unspoken Mission

By Naturalist Zachary Mork

On a crisp autumn afternoon, I unlock a small wooden cabin and walk silently inside. Realizing that visitors may arrive very soon, I take one final glance around the room, making sure I haven’t forgotten anything before the event begins. Decor? Check. Apparel? Check. As I finish my mental checklist, a new sound breaks through the quiet atmosphere – the sound of children heading towards me. It is the cue that I have been waiting for. As the eager students get closer and closer to the old cabin, I get to my place, take a deep breath, and whisper to myself…

“It’s showtime.”

For the next two hours, I am no longer Zach the Naturalist. Instead, I am the character “Jacques,” a fur trader from the early nineteenth century. These students have come to see how Jacques used the land now known as the Indiana Dunes National Park. During their visit, Jacques will teach them about his trade, the importance of beaver, and how trappers used their efficient traps to catch them.

Although Jacques the fur trader looks and sounds like a completely different person, it is still me, underneath it all. During the presentations, I often look around at all the students sitting inside the cabin. In my head, I am trying to note if my character has been keeping them engaged and interested in learning more. Most students appear attentive and wide-eyed throughout the entire act.

Here at Dunes Learning Center, our primary mission is to “inspire a lasting curiosity and stewardship with nature.”  While it seems like a straightforward goal, the ways to carry it out are more open-ended. Over my past few months as a naturalist, I found that an effective way to inspire that curiosity is to help students open their eyes to a natural world filled with wonder and amazement.  It is an unspoken mission that, when accomplished, leads to the primary one.

There are many different ways to present the rich history and unique biodiversity of the Indiana Dunes to kids. For example, a hognose snake found on the trail plays dead when it feels threatened, an exciting opportunity to discuss defense mechanisms and food webs with students. Or, a visit to a historical site, where students can physically see how actions from long ago impact our lives today. In some cases, it can even come from our own backyards!

Playing the role of “Jacques” is one of my favorite ways to teach kids about the amazing natural and cultural history of the Indiana Dunes region. On any given day, if my demonstration gave students a sense of wonder, or if I made them feel like they really were back in the 1800’s (even if only for a second), then I accomplished my unspoken mission for the day.

Zachary Mork

Naturalist

Chloe’s Poem

By Naturalist Lily Eligator

“...and then, I have nature and art and poetry, and if that is not enough, what is enough?”
-Vincent van Gogh  

One warm and sunny Thursday afternoon in September, I was getting ready to take my group of sixth graders up the “big dune” on our Cowles Bog hike. Met with a few groans and complaints about the height of the dune (as I frequently am), I told them that I was positive that they would make it up with no problem and promised them a super long break at the top. 

Once everyone made it to the top safe, sound, and out of breath, I had each child sit down and start working on the page in their journals titled “A Few Minutes Alone.”  This page is meant to help kids internalize what they are experiencing, and I encourage them to write or draw whatever they feel has impacted them the most on the hike. After giving my students a few minutes in the shade to write, I asked for volunteers to share with the group. One hand instantly shot up; it was Chloe, a bubbly, outgoing kid, whose hand I saw frequently. 

“I wrote a poem,” she said emphatically, and I encouraged her to read it out loud. I don’t exactly know what I was expecting from this poem, but I know that I wasn’t expecting to be moved by her words as much as I was. This moment really forced me to pay attention to the present. Fortunately, Chloe and her parents gave me permission to share her beautiful poem with you: 

I see the leaves glisten,

I see the trees shine, 

I hear the people around me listen to the birds’ sweet cry, 

I sit in silence all light is above, as I write this poem to express my love; 

The light peeks through, the blocked light that leaks

In the world of nature, 

Where the sun shines and lay, 

The sand is crunchy and I am happy to see all today

-Chloe D., 6th Grader at Francis W. Parker School, written September 2019

Listening to this poem (and reading it multiple times since hearing it) made me so happy. It reminded me of why I pursued environmental education in the first place: I love watching kids create connections with the world around them. Not all of the kids who walk through the doors at Dunes Learning Center will become scientists, climate activists, or naturalists. Some of the kids we meet will become lawyers, doctors, engineers, and yes - poets. I am so happy to help a child to connect with their world, whether they are future scientists, poets, or anything in between.

Lily Eligator

Naturalist

A Beautiful, Biodiverse, Natural Area

By Naturalist Bella Santana

Born and raised in Beverly Shores and Chesterton, I am no stranger to the Indiana Dunes or to Lake Michigan. Despite growing up just a 5 minute drive to the Indiana Dunes National Park (will saying the phrase “National Park” ever stop feeling strange to this Region native who grew up saying “National Lakeshore”?), the amazing natural beauty that encompasses this area is something that I never really thought twice about until getting older. 

When I say older in this context, I mean middle or end of high school. From how I remember looking at and valuing this area as a child and especially as a hormonal teenager, I often thought, “Man, why on Earth did my parents have to choose Indiana? Why not somewhere mountainous, somewhere more exciting, somewhere this or that, yada yada…” 

I think this might be because the Indiana Dunes ecosystems had become so normal to me. The Lake Michigan shore was the place I ran around and swam as a toddler and into my teenage years. The surrounding forests were simply places with trees where I would go on walks with my friends and family. And the wetlands? Those were just a flash of green I would drive past without a second glance. It wasn’t until getting older and experiencing life outside of NWI that I found what I valued in nature, the world, and myself. Something had finally clicked inside of me and I allowed myself to become aware of how fortunate I was to grow up, and continue to grow older in such a beautiful, biodiverse, and natural area.

As they say, better late than never, and I am so grateful to now appreciate this area and the natural life that composes these ecosystems. I can’t help but wonder if I had been introduced to DLC programs at a younger age, would I have come to appreciate this area and my upbringing here earlier? Let’s be honest, I’m a wee bit bitter that my mom never sent me to camp here as a kiddo…But don’t worry Mom, I do still love you. ;)

I kept this mindset all summer long while taking young campers on hikes, especially when interacting with kids who had never been to camp or had never really gone on a hike. When one of these kids found something of interest while out on our hikes, even if it was just one tiny thing, I felt so much happiness and hope these encounters will lead them to appreciate not just the Dunes and Lake Michigan, but the area where they are growing up. 

Furthermore, I hope those experiences on trail, no matter how uncomfortable (a 5 mile hike in the blistering summer heat) or short (an encounter with a frog or snake), will lead these individuals to have an appreciation for the natural world as they grow older. As the DLC motto goes, kids need nature. And nature sure as heck needs present and future kids to care about it!

Bella Santana

Naturalist

A New Way to See the Darkness

By Cabin Leader Allison Nash

“To go in the dark with a light is to know the light. To know the dark, go dark. Go without sight, and find that the dark, too, blooms and sings, and is traveled by dark feet and dark wings.” — Wendell Berry 

For the past 7 weeks I have worked as a Cabin Leader at Dunes Learning Center. Although this is my first summer here, I am by no means new to camp. I grew up attending Camp Bedford in Southern Indiana. I started as a camper in 2007 and as a counselor in 2016. This is my first summer away from Bedford. When I first got here, I thought that without the camp traditions I had grown up loving, camp wouldn’t be the same. In some ways, I felt confident because I know how camp works. But, in a lot of other ways, I was nervous because I didn’t know how this camp worked. I was nervous to be going into a new place without a light to guide me. 

And I was right. Camp at Dunes Learning Center is different. But I have grown to love our traditions here! One of my favorite new traditions is the Night Hike. Every week, I get to lead 14 young campers through the wilderness, in the dark. We do different activities, talk about nocturnal animals and, for a short time, we allow the campers to walk by themselves during what we call a “Solo Hike.” Sometimes, they’re terrified. Sometimes, they’re amazed. But every week, they show me a new way to see in the darkness. A few weeks ago, a young girl was horrified. Before heading out by herself, she whispered, “Is this allowed?” but, she did it. When we rejoined as a group, I asked her how she was feeling. She told me, “At first I was scared. But then I noticed the fireflies. And it’s like there was light after all.” 

Sometimes, at camp, we are pushed out of our comfort zones. Sometimes things are different and scary. But, by being okay with the challenges, we can see the world in a whole new light.

Allison Nash

Cabin Leader

Bringing Back Memories

By Cabin Leader Isabelle Staph

Growing up in “The Region”, Indiana Dunes National Park was always the destination when it came to field trips from elementary school through high school. Bailey Homestead, West Beach, and even a three-day trip at the Dunes Learning Center itself were all trips I remember fondly, and have started to resurface a lot more in my head since starting training in the beginning of June. 

Every year, Dunes Learning Center hosts schools for a three day experience during which they get a taste of what summer camp is like, called Frog in the Bog. In fact, when I was in fifth grade, I attended said trip (and trust me, it was the event of the year at the time). If someone had asked me what I did on that trip two months ago, I probably wouldn’t have been able to remember anything besides rolling down the dunes and eating some really good mac ‘n cheese for dinner one night. However, as soon as I began training in early June this year, I was suddenly flooded with memories from my three days at Dunes Learning Center nine years ago. My memory was quickly jolted by things like the Cowles Bog Hike, campfire songs, and of course, the food waste challenge. 

If someone had told me in fifth grade that I would eventually end up working as an intern here at DLC, there is no way I would have believed them! Back then, I had little to no interest in working outdoors, or really anything concerning the environment. Now, I could not picture a job more suited for me. Every day at DLC brings new adventures and challenges, whether it is trying to memorize trails for the night hike, or having to reassure my cabin kids that the spider in the shower will not hurt them. 

What inspired me to write about my experience at DLC from nine years ago to now, was to illustrate that the memories formed in a place like this are ones that last a long time; and to show that Dunes Learning Center can be fun not just at age 11, but even more so at age 20!

Isabelle Staph

Cabin Leader

Mistaken Identity... Sort Of!

By Naturalist Nate Bibat

The first two months as a naturalist at the Dunes Learning Center (DLC) have been an absolute adventure. I can say that at the age of 23, I have reached my dream job of working, teaching and playing at the place that sparked my love of the outdoors. It is amazing! During my time here, I have come across two recurring questions that are constantly asked.  One question I often hear is, “Is this the visitor center?”

This question comes from visitors from all over the country that find themselves walking through our campus hoping to explore our newest National Park. The second question comes from parents, chaperones and students attending our programs who ask “Do you work for the National Park Service?”

To answer these questions…

Indiana Dunes Visitor Center

Dunes Learning Center is NOT the visitor center. Although we love to see many visitors taking time to explore the natural wonders of the dunes, our campus is reserved for the students and teachers who participate in our programs. If you are interested in touring our campus, we have many opportunities throughout the year to attend open houses and special events we host. Make sure to follow DLC on social media (Facebook, Twitter etc.)  to get updates on when those events will be!

Please don’t get upset if we politely guide you to the visitor center if you find yourself on campus. The visitor center of the Indiana Dunes National Park is located at: 1215 IN-49, Porter, IN. So make sure to plug in that address when planning your trip!

Second, we are NOT a branch of or employed by National Park Service. In fact, the Dunes Learning Center is a 501(c)3  nonprofit, meaning we are a separate entity from the National Park Service (NPS). However, we are very well integrated with NPS as their education partner. We have a very strategic and meaningful partnership with them that allows us to serve and advance their mission, specifically educating  future generations about the Indiana Dunes and inspiring a lasting curiosity in nature. The best way to think of this partnership is DLC as an “extension” of the NPS. It would be difficult for DLC to exist without NPS and all our other amazing partners that support our mission. Now more than ever, kids of all ages and backgrounds need to be exposed to nature as our culture transitions in an ever changing technological progression.

What inspired me to address this question was from my experience in the nonprofit sector. During my senior year of college, I had the amazing opportunity of partnering with DLC in a final project that was a part of the nonprofit professional accreditation program at my university (Indiana State University, to be precise!). This is how I discovered and learned about DLC which lead me to join this amazing organization. With that said, I hope these answers provide more clarity in who we are and what we do!

Nate Bibat

Naturalist

The National Park In My Backyard

By Naturalist Carlos Tellez

Growing up in the region, Indiana Dunes National Park has always been my summer vacation! I grew up running down the dunes, skipping rocks, collecting colorful rocks, and playing in Lake Michigan. As a kid, I was always told to never grow up, but I knew at a certain point, I would have to.

In college, I had a lot of daydreams about the perfect job. It wasn’t until I found geology my sophomore year that I was able to narrow down the perfect job to a few choices. Classes became more interesting as I got closer to my idea of the perfect job. I graduated college and summer vacations were no more... I had to find a real job and grow up.

Coming back to the region, the only thing I could think about was walking through the National Park. So, I took my dog, Earl, on a hike that day.  As I drove from spot to spot in the National Park I stopped at all the visitor centers to ask about volunteering. As I started to drive home on Highway 12, I saw a sign for the Dunes Learning Center. I said to Earl, “That sounds like a place to volunteer.”

As I walked up to the program office with Earl, I was greeted by Erin, the Education Director. As Erin told me more about Dunes Learning Center and I told her about graduating and what my perfect job was, she told me about something way better than a volunteer job: a paid naturalist position was still open.

I was ecstatic, but then I thought, “Is she offering me or Earl the chance for this position?” We later found out that dogs aren’t allowed at DLC. So I took the chance and interviewed.  In a week, I found out that I got the year-long job and that I would work at the same National Park where I spent my summer as a kid. The perfect dream job has now become a reality, an interpreter at a National Park.

I spent that summer doing exactly what I did as a kid, running down dunes, skipping rocks, collecting and identifying rocks with campers. I thought that I had succeeded at what all the adults had told me, “never grow up.” In the fall, I started to learn about different natural sciences and picked up several outdoor hobbies. In the winter, I learned about lesson planning for Science Olympiad competitions. In the Spring, I learned the most important lesson - that I did grow up.

I grew up so that I could teach kids that are just like me. To make sure they have a fun, safe environment in which to learn, be curious, and have their questions answered about the National Park in their backyard.

Carlos Tellez

Naturalist

Earth Day: An Environmental Turning Point

By Naturalist Allie Moskal

Spring is in the air and so is our celebration of Earth Day (April 22). Earth Day began in 1970, thanks to the efforts of U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson to spread awareness about environmental issues. At this time there were no Clean Air or Clean Water Acts, nor any regulating organizations to hold polluters accountable. Over the past 49 years, Earth Day has grown into a globally recognized holiday. This day of observance is a reminder of our appreciation for the environment and validation of the incredible improvements humans have made throughout history.

Before the creation of Earth Day, common pollutants were increasingly effecting many natural resources. In 1968, the Grand Rapids Press released an article titled “Is Lake Michigan Dying? If it is, What Should We Do About It?” The article explored what humans have inflicted upon the lake, including raw sewage seepage, dumping by commercial ships, and even nuclear power plant contamination along the lakeshore. During the early 1900s, Lake Michigan was an acceptable site for dumping toxic waste, which was leading to the poisoning of the United States’ largest source of freshwater. In February of 1970, in a meeting with the Council on Environmental Quality in Chicago, President Nixon addressed the state of Lake Michigan by saying “... unless something is done now with the potential pollution of Lake Michigan, it could become like Lake Erie, which at this time could be classified as a dead sea, an inland sea. We do not want that to happen. And the time to act is now." Remarkably, the fate of Lake Michigan was dramatically improved as actions were taken by citizens.

During America’s rising concern of environmental quality in the 1960s and 70s, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was created on December 2, 1970. During the EPA’s nearly 50 years of work, the agency has enforced many acts including the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, Pollution Prevention Act, Safe Drinking Water Act, Endangered Species Act, and many more.

Though awareness of environmental issues now seems to be common knowledge, the problems we face are far more complex than they appear. Currently, anthropogenic climate change is the hot topic, especially within politics. It is incredibly important to remain involved in environmental and sustainability matters through voting and activism. Just as humans have contributed to environmental problems such as climate change, deforestation, resource exploitation, and species extinction, we have the ability to reverse these issues. And the time to act is now.

During my journey through the environmental and sustainability field, I have had the opportunity to work with extraordinary activists for the environment, many of whom have inspired me to lead a sustainable life. I am honored to be part of Dunes Learning Center where I can help instill a love for nature in younger generations. I have experienced first-hand the importance of environmental education as it teaches children creativity and compassion. Through my work as an Interpretive Naturalist, I feel Earth Day is everyday.

Being a friendly Earth advocate can become an lifestyle by making environmentally conscious decisions daily. You can celebrate Earth Day 365 days a year by using reusable bags, voting, educating yourself, supporting your local farmers market, and thousands of other small steps. Since the founding of Earth day nearly 50 years ago, we are headed in the right direction to improving the health of our Earth.

Allie Moskal

Naturalist

Spilling the Beans: A Secret Garden Exposé

By Naturalist Ben Sehl

We have just caught wind of a new development at the Dunes Learning Center! The previously secret garden at the DLC has recently been EXPOSED. Hold onto your trowels and rakes, folks: we have uncovered all the dirt on the garden happenings in Goodfellow field.

The old basketball courts from historic Camp Goodfellow have been used as a garden space for a while now, but some new improvements and adjustments have propelled it onto the scene in spectacular fashion. What a slam dunk! Boy Scouts from Troop 929 made some major additions in spring 2018, including new raised beds, benches, tables and 250 gallon jugs that catch rainwater from the newly constructed shade roof. Changes are taking place outside the garden as well. The National Park Service has cleared the surrounding area of vegetation as part of a habitat restoration effort, with the end goal of converting it into a prairie ecosystem. The restoration has made the fenced-in garden more visible than ever, and boy is it ready for its public debut!

Despite a late start to planting in summer 2018, the secret garden was a wild success. Dedicated secret garden volunteer and Indiana Dunes National Park advocate Sue Labovitz is reported to have called it the “garden of the year.” Carlos Tellez, DLC naturalist, was overheard saying, “I’ve never seen so many tasty veggies!”

We also have reports that DLC summer campers were central to the garden operation and helped plant, weed, water, and decorate all summer long. The garden grew quicker than ice melts on a hot day and the DLC staff ALMOST had more vegetables than they could eat!

This year, the DLC garden has a lot to live up to, which is why staff have gotten an early start on planting. A source close to Dunes Learning Center has told us that there are already vegetables sprouting in the NPS greenhouse, and plants will be in the raised beds by early May. Staff is also trying out a “Fungarium” concept in the southwest corner of the garden. Various logs and decomposing material are being compiled in attempts to represent as many different species of fungus as possible.

The reports keep rolling in about the DLC’s Secret Garden and golly, folks, we just cannot wait to hear what else is in store!

BEFORE: Basketball court buried by trees and invasive species. AFTER: The not-so-secret garden!

Ben Sehl

Naturalist

Who's Teaching Who?

By Naturalist Megan Harrison

During my two years at Dunes Learning Center, countless people have told me how lucky I am to explore outside for my job. While they are absolutely right, the best part of my job has been connecting with campers. Coming into this position, I was certainly ready to teach kids and hopefully impact their lives, but I had no idea that they would do the same for me. One camper in particular who has impacted me is Amari.

I was fortunate enough to get to know Amari during his first Dunes Discovery Camp and learned that he wants to be a zoologist! As a wildlife major, I was really excited to share this common interest and started talking his ear off about colleges, programs, etc. It should be noted that Amari is still in middle school, and probably not applying to colleges yet... However, I hope that when he looks back on that day, he sees how much I believed in him.

Too often, we tell kids “you’re too young to know what you want to do” or “that’s too much school, you won’t stick with it” instead of “WOW! You’ll make an awesome astronaut/veterinarian/doctor!” As Lady Bird Johnson once said, “Children are likely to live up to what you believe of them.” With tears in our eyes, Amari and I said goodbye at the end of camp. I spent the next few months wishing I had asked him more about his dreams.

Luckily, Amari and I crossed paths again during a Frog in the Bog program! Returning campers are another reason I love being an educator. It is like catching up with an old friend when they walk through the door. This was definitely the case when Amari greeted me with his trademark smile and hug. His return to Dunes Learning Center gave me the opportunity to talk with him more about his dreams.

Amari has always been an animal lover and this drew him to zoos. He wants to be a zoologist so that he can give animals a happy, healthy life inside of zoos. Learning about more animals, Amari says, is what drew him to summer camp and encouraged him to come back to DLC for a school program. He also mentioned that the friendships he formed here have had a huge impact on his life. We said goodbye again, and I started to reflect on why Amari has made such a lasting impact on me.

Here is what I realized: Amari reminded me that dreams are valid, regardless of your age. You can never be too young or too old to start pursuing your passion. He also taught me that a little kindness can go a long way. Amari is the type of kid who will always have a smile and a hug for you. I have seen campers, classmates, naturalists, and teachers light up when Amari enters a room, because he truly does spread kindness to everyone.

I am so thankful for Dunes Learning Center for making these connections happen. Without places like DLC, kids would have fewer places to explore their passion for nature. May we never stop teaching and learning from kids.  

Megan Harrison

Naturalist

Lakeshore to Park -- What ‘Park’ Means to Me

By Naturalist Baleigh Haynes

Can a name alter the feelings, thoughts, and opinions of others? As of this February, the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore changed its name to Indiana Dunes National Park. But does the word ‘Park’ have any more significance than Lakeshore? Well, that would depend on who you are asking. The National Park System is well known, comprised of many different units; National Monuments, Preserves, Historical Parks, Historic Sites, Battlefield Parks, Military Parks, Battlefields, Battlefield Sites, Memorials, Recreation Areas, Seashores, Rivers, Reserves, Parkways, Trails, a few others, and of course National Lakeshores and National Parks. All of these influential sites make up the 418 official units within the National Park System.

 The general public has a tendency to only recognize parks when they hear the words “National Park Service.” They think of parks such as Great Smoky Mountains, Grand Canyon, Rocky Mountains, Yosemite, Yellowstone, Zion, and Olympic. These are just a few of the phenomenal parks that can take your breath away. It’s no wonder people by the thousands flock to such places.

Lakeshore to Park, so what does that really mean? It means that costal Indiana was just put on many people’s radars for the first time. United State citizens and international visitors alike can plan vacations and “bucket lists” around visiting all 61 National Parks. But what about the other 357 sites that make of the National Park System? The words ‘National Park’ have an advantage in the minds of some, with this unit ranking better than another. The label ‘National Park’ draws in more visitors than any other type of unit in the System. Yes, typically parks are larger units of land and can accommodate more visitors, but that doesn’t mean they have a higher value.

 Being affiliated with the Indiana Dunes National (now) Park, I feel quite honored that our lakeshore has become the 61st National Park. It is encouraging to think that more people will experience the sights and sounds of our little piece of Lake Michigan bordered with sand dunes.

Lakeshore to Park, what does that really mean? National Lakeshore to National Park in reality is just a name change. ‘Park’ does not change the history of the past 53 years. In fact, it does not change the history of the past 100 years when the movement for the ‘Indiana Dunes National Park’ was first desired. ‘Park’ does not change this ecologically diverse region, nor the ways in which it has been preserved and conserved. ‘Park’ will not change the beauty that is evident in our marram grass-covered sand dunes, rare black oak savannas, rich wetlands, prairies filled with wildflowers, or the soft rolling waves that wash onto beaches. However, ‘Park’ has given a new name for those who were unaware of the all the beauty our lakeshore has to offer.  

Baleigh Haynes

Naturalist

Coming Back to the Dunes

By Naturalist “Azima” Aziwoh Sewuh Ndimbe

‘‘Whoever can name five plants with the scientific names will receive a gift at the end of the month.”  My dad set this challenge but it turned into a quest for who is best at memorizing difficult scientific names of plants from our local community garden, called Limbe Botanical Garden. This grew into a beautiful passion that has influenced every aspect of my life.

 I grew up in the country of Cameroon, found in Central Africa. This area is predominantly a tropical rainforest ecosystem. In the course of my studies, I became fascinated by the diversity of native plants and animals in my area. I was even more intrigued by the vast diversity of ecosystems around the world, and looked forward to experiencing them at some point in my life.

In 2015, I had the opportunity to participate in an exchange program through the National Park Service to work as an Interpretative Naturalist Intern at Dunes Learning Center. This opportunity became the most influential part of my career. This ecological hotspot is totally unique! I had the chance to not only learn about the biodiversity in this area, but was able to teach and help kids fall in love with the outdoors. For a year, I learned different techniques and taught approximately five thousand students, ranging from 1st to 12th grade, through different environmental education programs offered at Dunes Learning Center.

This experience teaching outdoors inspired me to start an environmental education initiative back in Cameroon when I returned in 2016. The program was called Kids For Nature (K4N). I had the chance to work with 20 schools in our local communities doing outdoor environmental programs. This program created completely new opportunities for these kids, and resulted in the planting of almost 100 native plants. We created 5 school gardens and very excited kids who love being outside.

My love and passion for the outdoors is the reason I returned to Dunes Learning Center. I want to learn more about the field of environmental education, and the dunes just feels like the best place to foster this passion. I have met so many people who share their experiences and teaching techniques. My ultimate dream is to create an Environmental Learning Center back in Cameroon, and Dunes Learning Center is the reason I have this dream.

Azima Ndimbe

Naturalist

Duck Hunt

By Chief Naturalist Anthony Escobedo

A very fundamental concept that we like to include here at Dunes Learning Center is to teach the importance of understanding where food comes from. Many students in my trail groups are shocked if they find out that I am an avid outdoorsman who hunts and fishes regularly. This includes many comments like “Aren’t you supposed to be a naturalist? How can you do that?” This usually leads to a conversation about conservation and sometimes ethics. Occasionally I have a student or two who themselves have been hunting either with a family member or friend. It usually just leads to good conversation sharing hunting stories, as if we were in the hunting blind or old buddies getting together to trade tales. On one very special occasion I met a young man named Keegan. Keegan began telling me all about his hunting adventures with his dad, Greg (the parent chaperone with the group), including how he has shot a goose and deer “so far.”

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Keegan and his father Greg were members of my “Chubby Squirrels” trail group. They attended a three-day overnight program with Keegan’s school at Dunes Learning Center. One thing that appeals to me about hunting, specifically waterfowl hunting, is the camaraderie. Hunters can instantly bond with one another as they begin talking about tales of a hunt. When I met Keegan, we instantly formed that bond. Recognizing the excitement in both of our voices and seeing the excitement in his eyes, I knew he was a special kid, a born leader. I was graciously invited by Keegan and his father Greg, on a duck hunt and jumped at the opportunity.

While walking up to the duck blind, I struck up a light conversation with Keegan to break the ice. Much like any other 10 year old kid, Keegan was still half asleep at 6:00 am, whereas I was excited to be hunting with some new friends. Keegan, Greg, and I tossed out a few decoys and quickly got in the blind. Within minutes, we had the first duck come in, a drake mallard. We kept our heads down, but our eyes on the bird. I couldn’t help but take my eyes off the bird for a brief second to take a look at Keegan, who was frozen with excitement and anticipation. When the bird came in close enough I yelled, “Take him, Keegan!”

Keegan popped up and unloaded his 20 gauge. The bird folded and his dad walked out into the pond to get it. Just a few seconds later, we had a tornado of birds circling over us. We did everything we could to scramble back into the blind, everyone calling out birds: “There’s some to the left.” “There’s some right on top of us!” “Keep your head down, there’s some coming in behind us!”

Again I looked over at Keegan, and saw him grinning from ear to ear. A wood duck came from the left and I heard Keegan yell, “Take him, Anthony!” I thought to myself, “How the tables have turned,” and I unloaded my 12 gauge and finally watched the bird fall. “Nice shot!” he told me. “All you.” His excitement was contagious, and I couldn’t help but smile as well.

It was one of the best hunts that I have ever been on, and it wasn’t because of the number of birds we saw. Right before my very eyes I watched this young man, at 10 years old, grow into a fine outdoorsman. The laughing, story trading, and heckling is all a part of being in a duck blind, and Keegan fit right in. It’s really the memories that hunters pursue… and this is a memory I will cherish forever. Thanks, Keegan and Greg.

Anthony Escobedo

Chief Naturalist