COMMUNITY EVENTS

Dunes Learning Center holds year-round overnight field trips and summer camp, and we are usually not open to the public— with the exception of our community events!

Please join us for workshops, hikes, guest speakers, and casual gatherings in Indiana Dunes National Park throughout the year. Events will be posted on this page as they are confirmed, and we ask that our guests register prior to attending.

Hope to see you here soon!

Looking for events for babies ages 0-3? Click here!

Join Erin Argyilan, PhD, Education Coordinator for the Great Lakes Research and Education Center, for Science of Seeds, a hands-on professional development day dedicated entirely to the wonderful world of plants. Together, we’ll explore the science behind why the dunes host such an amazing variety of flora. You'll walk away with a toolkit of fun, engaging, and standards-aligned lessons that bring plant structures—like roots, seeds, and flowers—to life for your students. We will also dive into local ecology, highlighting how the National Park and community organizations collect and clean seed for vital habitat restoration and pollinator support. 

$35 - Scholarships and assistance with substitute teacher arrangement available, contact ecrofton@duneslearningcenter.org.

Build Your Own Screech Owl Box

September 26th, 10am-12pm at Dunes Learning Center

Cost: $50 - includes pieces to create box.

Join us for a hands-on workshop in the world of wood by building a Screech Owl box, led by craftsman Paul Labovitz and learn more about cavity nesting wildlife such as squirrels, saw-whet owls, and American Kestrels. At the end of the workshop, each attendee will go home with their very own hand-crafted bird box for the Screech Owls in their neighborhood, and the skills to make another box in the future! 

No previous woodworking skills required (but it helps)! Participants may bring their own power driver and power drill if preferred, but we will have some available for use.

Scholarships are available to ensure cost is not a barrier to participation.

Naturalists, teachers, pre-service teachers, scout leaders, homeschool parents, and other adults interested in environmental education are invited to attend this Wildlife (Project WILD) Educator Workshop. Activities will be geared to understanding some of the “spooky” wildlife we think about this time of year: bats, spiders, owls and more.

Scholarships are available to ensure cost is not a barrier to participation. Contact: Erin Crofton at ecrofton@duneslearningcenter.org with your inquiry. 

New! For ages 0-5

Join our team of environmental educators at the Trojan Early Learning Center in Chesterton each month, and on our campus at DLC, in partnership with the Duneland Early Learning Hub!

More events coming soon, check this page for updates!

Dunes Learning Center events are supported by our 2026 Corporate Event Sponsors, including BP America, Cleveland Cliffs, Franklin Pest Solutions, Friends of Indiana Dunes, Keramida Inc., Mark J. Mihalo Family Dentistry, NIPSCO, Shinka Sustainability Consultants, and Wickcraft Boardwalks.