Join Erin Argyilan from the Great Lakes Research and Education Center (GLREC) as she shares insights from her recent journey around Lake Michigan. Discover GLREC’s role in promoting science and stewardship across the Great Lakes region, from facilitating research to creating educational resources. This interactive lecture will provide a unique perspective on connecting scientific research with environmental education. Perfect for teachers and everyone who loves the Great Lakes.

Cost: $5, ages 14+

About the Speaker: Erin Argyilan, formerly of Indiana University, is known for her dynamic teaching style and commitment to making geology and environmental science accessible. Now with the National Park Service at the Great Lakes Research and Education Center, Erin applies her expertise to advance research, support science-informed decision-making, and develop educational resources that enhance understanding and stewardship of the Great Lakes region.

Learn the art of wire wrapping to turn your natural finds into unique pieces of jewelry! Join sisters Julie and Jaime, of Creative Designs by J n J, for a creative workshop to make a beautiful necklace using stones from Lake Michigan. We’ll provide all the materials in this hands-on class, including colorful cords and tools, so you can design a one-of-a-kind necklace to take home. Whether you’re a beginner or have some experience, this workshop is perfect for anyone who loves nature and crafting.

Ages 14+, $45 per person

Julie is a registered dietitian nutritionist and is passionate about helping others achieve their wellness goals. She is currently a Menu and Nutrition Specialist creating menus and assisting with recipe development for long-term care facilities. When she is not working, she can be found in her garden, where she grows a large variety of vegetables and adds at least one new vegetable each year. Julie loves coming up with creative ways to use her harvest and introducing others to new vegetables! She resides in the Chicago suburbs with her husband, Rick (garden builder extraordinaire), and their dog, Dexter.

Join us for an evening of stars. We will learn about astronomy and the stories people have put into the stars over the millenia. We will come up with our own stories for the stars as well as act out some of the Greek myths tied to the constellations while sitting by a campfire. This is a family friendly program designed for ages 5+.

Cost: $5 per person

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Dunes Learning Center events are supported by our 2024 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.

Did you miss a session?

Purchase recordings of these recent webinars:

The Awakening of Anishinaabe Star Knowledge

Purchase access to the webinar for $10.

Indigenous Perspectives for a Sustainable Environment

Indigenous people have a unique view of the environment we all share. Diversify your science skillset with this webinar series. We will explore the strengths and limitations of using Western Science and how Indigenous Science can help to manage our resources for a sustainable future. Through five sessions, we will compare Indigenous and Western Science, examine language and cultural bias, and discuss food systems, land management techniques, gardening, and more! 

Perfect for educators, land managers, environmentalists, or anyone interested in diversifying their science skills and learning practical, sustainable ways of working with our environment.

Session 1: The Basics of Indigenous and Western Science. Compare Indigenous and Western Science with Kaya DeerInWater of the Citizen Band of Potawatomi. His practical experience working for the Potawatomi nation along with his ongoing research give him a unique perspective to share how traditional knowledge contributes to resilience in a changing world. 

Session 2: The Language of Science. Explore nuances of language and culture that can create bias when examining empirical evidence. Latin names are the “universal” terms, while English uses nouns and Indigenous Languages use descriptive words. Join Franklin Barker, from the Gun Lake Band of Potawatomi, for this thought-provoking discussion.

Session 3: Rethinking Our Relationship with Land Management. Consider successes and failures of land management through an indigenous perspective. Why do we call a plant a “weed?” Speaker Bradford Kasberg is committed to revitalizing the practice of traditional ecological knowledge and its role in ecological restoration for his community and other indigenous communities in the Midwest.

Session 4: Food Sustainability and Sovereignty. Discover the scientific food systems of traditional “wild” food, and how these sustainable indigenous food systems can benefit the environment. Elena Terry is Executive Chef/Founder of Wild Bearies, a non-profit catering organization, and coordinates the Culinary Program for the Native American Food Sovereignty Alliance.

Session 5: The Art of Indigenous Gardening. Learn the history of sustainable Indigenous Gardening, including planting, harvesting, and seed saving. Lots of ideas for teachers, land managers, and gardeners of all types! Gina Roxas is a citizen of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation and serves as the Medicinal Gardener Project Manager for Trickster Cultural Center.