Happy Holidays from the Volunteer Office!
Wishing everyone a safe and happy holiday season. We are continously grateful for all the work you do for the park. Check out this month's volunteer happenings, including our annual holiday potluck, and we'll see you in 2020.
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Volunteer Spotlight: Sarah Black
Sarah enjoys learning new things and seeing new areas around the park. Her first volunteer experience was with the maple sap research project and has since expanded to the Dragonfly Mercury Project. She also has volunteered in several interpretive programs, including Century of Progress Homes, Logs to Lustrons, Apple Fest, and Maple Sugar Fest. This summer she enjoyed volunteering on the Ranger led boat tour and hopes to return next year. Sarah enjoys sharing what she learns with her students and anyone who seems interested. Thanks, Sarah, for helping the park in so many different ways!
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12.07.19 - Glenwood Dunes Trail Restoration
Help out our Trail Crew as they prepare Glenwood Dunes Trail for the cross-country ski season. Duties will include clearing debris and cutting away at overgrowth. Meet at the Glenwood Dunes trail head off of Hwy 20, by the schoolhouse shop, at 9am.
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We're Counting on You for our Christmas Bird Count!
Volunteers throughout America take part in an adventure that has become a family tradition. Participants survey birds in a 24-hour period—midnight to midnight—throughout a given location, or "birding circle."
There are two bird counts taking place in NWI this year.The first will be hosted by Indiana Audubon, the second by Indiana Dunes National Park (see map).
Saturday, Dec 14: Teams meet on their own at pre-assigned areas. Contact Brad at bbumgardner@indianaaudubon.org. Deadline to register is Dec 12.
Friday, December 27: The circle is located in the northeast parts of Lake County and the northwest parts of Porter County. Contact Ranger Christine Gerlach at christine_gerlach@nps.gov or (219) 395-1885. Deadline is Dec 26.
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Winter Positions at the Douglas Center
Cross-Country/Snow-Shoe Assistant: Volunteers will assist rangers with properly outfitting visitors with cross country skis, boots and poles and a brief lesson in how to ski. Alternatively, volunteers assist visitors with snowshoes and tips for hiking.
Park Ranger Assistant: You can also lead small groups on short hikes, answering the phone, answering general visitor inquiries, working with animals during public programs, conducting short, informal programs with visitors, and other projects as they come up.
Craft Activity Lead: Volunteers are needed each weekend to lead arts-and-craft activity to engage visitors in environmental education. If you are interested in any of these positions, contact us.
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Get Text Updates from the Park Connection!
The volunteer office is rolling out a new texting program. These updates will include reminders for volunteer events and socials, as well as spontaneous opportunities. This is a great way to stay connected, but only if you opt in! Sign up below and we will add you to our list.
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January 11, 2020, 10am-1pm
Location: Douglas Center, 100 N Lake St, Gary, IN 46403
Indiana Dunes is hosting a FREE workshop for educators in honor of Earth Day's 50th anniversary! The workshop will provide resources to plan your own Earth Day event with students. There will be an optional film viewing of "The Happening" at 1pm as well. To join, call the Douglas Center at (219) 395-1824.
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Now that it's after Thanksgiving, it's officially OK to play Christmas music! Join us at the Visitor Center for these upcoming holiday concerts:
Dec 8, 3-4pm: Celebrate the season with a French Christmas concert. Local folk trio, Trois Canards, made up of Marti Pizzni, Suzanne Keldsen, and Dot Pakin, will sing traditional French Christmas songs.
Dec 20, 7:30-9pm: Enjoy traditional Christmas and holiday songs with the Save the Tunes, a group of local musicians devoted to preserving and passing on folk songs. They utilize a variety of traditional musical instruments including guitar, autoharp, dulcimer, banjo, harmonica, bagpipe, penny whistle, hurdy gurdy, and other obscure instruments.
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Volunteer Holiday Movie + Potluck
Join us for a casual night of festivities. Please bring a dish to share.
Ugly sweaters encouraged.
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Friday, December 13th, 6-8pm
Indiana Dunes Visitor Center
1215 N IN-49, Porter, IN
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Give Back this Holiday Season!
The holidays are just around the corner and we are so grateful for all of you and our wonderful partners such as Friends of Indiana Dunes. The Friends sponsor and support Indiana Dunes National Park programs such as Apples Festival, West Beach Symphony Concert, IN Dunes Birding Festival, Junior Ranger Programs, Volunteer Appreciation Night, and so much more.
Please join us in thanking the Friends of Indiana Dunes for their support by becoming a member today!
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Please don't forget to turn in your times monthly to parkconnection@gmail.com.
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