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!
We all know that the dunes are special, but what other unique areas exist across the state? Join Wyatt Williams, plant community ecologist with the IDNR Natural Heritage program, to visit all corners of Indiana to see what important natural areas have been preserved.
Cost: $35
For 6-12th grade educators
Participants will gain a foundational understanding of air quality science, including what air quality is, how it's measured using the Air Quality Index (AQI), and why monitoring air quality matters for public health and environmental stewardship. By the end of this session, participants will be ready to bring air quality monitoring into their curriculum, empowering students to become environmental scientists who investigate and understand the air they breathe every day.
Led by Chris Iceman, Ph.D., Valparaiso University
Indiana Youth Institute Cafe: Trauma-Informed Approach to Supporting Neurodiverse Youth
Thursday, February 12
9:00 — 10:30 a.m.
Cost: FREE
Open to all educators, caregivers, and professional youth workers
This Youth Worker Cafe explores how trauma-informed principles can be intentionally applied to support neurodiverse youth across educational, clinical, and community settings. Practical strategies will be shared to help us as caregivers and professionals to respond with empathy while building skills and resilience.
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!
Thursday, February 12, we will be learning about Community! Please join us and if you’re not signed up for the Duneland HUB yet, you can learn more and sign up here.
Tuesday, February 17, we’ll have a Nat’s Nature Club young explorer’s winter event in the dunes on our campus at 700 Howe Road in Chesterton! Register for the event here.
Arts activities made possible by the Indiana Arts Commission, and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.
Dunes Learning Center events are supported by our 2025 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.
