Each month we will be highlighting various opportunities, events, and notable volunteers. Check out our website, and call or email us for any questions you may have. We look forward to seeing you at Indiana Dunes National Park!
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Christine Lawless
Christine has been involved with the Integrated Monarch Monitoring Program (IMMP) for a couple of seasons now. Recently, Christine stepped up as a volunteer lead for the program. Christine coordinates the volunteer field work days, helps train new volunteers, and keeps up communications with the entire team. We are so grateful for Christine and her dedication and leadership!
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Costume Change
Volunteer photographer Mark Chantell captured this shot of a molting cicada just a few feet away from a campsite in the Dunewood Campground. Good eye!
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Volunteer Appreciation Night
August 20, 6 PM - 8 PM
Chellberg Farm
We are so grateful for all the time and effort volunteers contribute to the park, and we want to celebrate! Please join us for music and dinner at our annual volunteer appreciation night on Saturday, August 20. Bring along a bottle of wine or your choice of beverage to share with your table if you'd like. Please RSVP to parkconnection@gmail.com or 219-221-7098. We hope to see you all there!
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Smartphone
Photography Class
August 13, 10 AM - 12 PM
The Park Connection Office
Volunteers are invited to join park volunteer Ron Seman and members of the Duneland Photography Club for a smartphone photography class on Saturday, August 13. The class will begin with a half-hour introductory lesson on learning to frame and focus shots and proper usage of light and motion. The lesson will be followed by an hour and a half long photography hike on the trail.
Participants are encouraged to register for a Gmail account before the class so they can share their photos and receive feedback from other class members and instructors. More information on using Gmail and Google Photos will be given during the class. Participation is limited to 15 attendees, so claim a spot while you can! Please RSVP to parkconnection@gmail.com or 219-221-7098. Don't forget to bring your charged up smartphone (Android/iPhone) and dress for the weather.
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Drop-In Volunteering
August 20, 9 AM - 12 PM
The Park Connection Office
Drop-in volunteering provides hassle-free opportunities at Indiana Dunes. With no previous experience or sign-up required, drop-ins are perfect for those with just a few hours of free time or those visiting the dunes for the weekend.
Join us every third Saturday at the Park Connection office (618 N Mineral Springs Rd) at 9 am to complete a two to three hour project. Projects vary by date and season, but can include working with invasive species, land and building restoration, or preparing for special events.
We also have a daily drop-in opportunity called Trash Trekkers, a litter clean up program. Simply check in at the Visitor Center to receive trash bags, then choose from one of our many beaches or hiking trails to collect trash. Visitors are awarded with a free, reusable water bottle for filling up their bags.
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9/11 Obstacle Course Race
September 11, 9:30 AM
West Beach
Volunteers are needed to help with trail and obstacle monitoring for the Leon's Heroes Obstacle Course Race at West Beach on Sunday, September 11. This event is held in recognition of the September 11, 2001 attacks and commemorates our military and first responders. If you are interested in volunteering for this event, please contact Volunteer Program Manager Jim Whitenack at james_whitenack@nps.gov or (219) 395-8832. For more information about the event or to register to run in the race, visit this link.
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National Public Lands Day
September 24, 9 AM - 11 AM
West Beach
Join us at West Beach at Indiana Dunes National Park for a National Public Lands Day Beach Cleanup. NEEF's National Public Lands Day (NPLD) is the nation's largest single-day volunteer event for public lands. This celebration brings out thousands of volunteers to help restore and improve public lands around the country. NPLD is also a “Fee-Free Day”—one of only five days a year when entrance fees are waived at national parks and other public lands.
This event is organized by park partner, Mermaid Straw, and will also be featuring free iced coffee and other treats from local businesses. Individuals, groups, and organizations of all ages are welcome! Meet at the Mermaid Straw van / tent at West Beach at 9am CST to sign in. Please wear appropriate footwear and dress for the weather. Don't forget sun protection and a reusable water bottle!
BONUS! All volunteers will receive a free Mermaid Straw!
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Thank you!
Thank you to all the incredible volunteers who came out to clean up debris at Central Beach. Special thanks to Ron Seman for leading the efforts! We truly appreciate all of you.
photo by Paul Kemiel
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August Interpretive Programs
Indiana Dunes' interpretive rangers are soaking up the last month of summer with public programming in August. Join a ranger on Saturday, August 6 and August 13 at 8 am for an hour-long morning stroll along the sandy shore of Lake Michigan. Learn about the origins of the Great Lakes and the Indiana Dunes. There is a sandy slope down and up from the beach. Meet at the Central Avenue Beach parking lot. National Park passes are required. This event is by the Friends of Indiana Dunes, Inc. and the Indiana Dunes National Park.
See the park's event calendar or Facebook events page for the full schedule of guided hikes, interactive events, and presentations.
photo by Paul Kemiel
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What's New With the Friends
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The Friends of Indiana Dunes, Inc. sponsor invaluable educational and recreational opportunities. Since 1982, our mission is: “to enhance and foster understanding, appreciation, and enjoyment of the Indiana Dunes through financial and volunteer support of the National and State Parks as well as the Dunes Learning Center."
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Be sure to stop by often to see the new varieties of veggies offered at our Chellberg Farm produce stand, located in our office parking lot. We hope to restock our maple syrup supply soon, but please enjoy the fresh produce gathered by Chellberg Garden volunteers in the meantime! All monies raised from the Chellberg Farm produce stand will continue to enhance the visitor experience at Chellberg Farm.
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REMINDER: All Friends of Indiana Dunes members – Any hours donated
on Friends projects that benefit the National Park count as VIP hours.
For more information on our philanthropic organization, visit:
dunefriends.org or facebook.com/friendsofindianadunes.
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Get involved with the park from the comfort of your own home! Time spent on training DOES count for volunteer hours, so make sure to include it on your monthly hours report. Please note that only the indicated courses issue a certificate upon completion.
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Micro-Learning: History of the National Park Service
Learn about the origins of the National Park Service and preserving cultural significance and history with these quick online courses! Micro-learning courses are an excellent way to learn content in quick and focused segments. Each micro-learning course takes about 10 minutes.
Find Part 1 of this course here.
Find Part 2 of this course here.
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Micro-Learning: Creation of the National Park Service
Learn about the birth of the National Park Service and its early leadership with these quick courses! Micro-learning courses are an excellent way to learn content in quick and focused segments. Each micro-learning course takes about 10 minutes.
Find Part 1 of this course here.
Find Part 2 of this course here.
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Micro-Learning: The National Park Service Adapting and Reacting to Change
Learn how the National Park Service adapted to a changing world from the late 1920s through World War II with these quick courses! Micro-learning courses are an excellent way to learn content in quick and focused segments. Each micro-learning course takes about 10 minutes.
Find Part 1 of this course here.
Find Part 2 of this course here.
Find Part 3 of this course here.
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Leave No Trace Online Awareness Course
This brief course will provide you with a better understanding of recreation-related impacts, the Seven Principles and how Leave No Trace skills and ethics can help protect the outdoor places we love.
Earn Leave No Trace certificate
Find course here.
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Trail Safe!
This program is a unique safety training program designed specifically for National Park Service (NPS) Trail Volunteers, but is useful to everyone! It's based upon NPS Operational Leadership Training, where the Human Factor of safety is explored. Trail Safe! captures the core learning objectives of the 16-hour Operational Leadership course while allowing volunteers to learn from their homes online.
Confirmation email sent upon completion
Find course here.
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Fire Extinguisher Training
National Park Service employees are required to complete annual fire extinguisher training. It's important to knowing how and when to operate an extinguisher, whether you are volunteering at the park or not!
Find course here.
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We are working hard to restructure and update our database, but we need your help. Please take a brief moment to review these tasks:
1. If your contact information, address, or emergency contact has changed since you were onboarded as a volunteer, please fill out and sign a new Volunteer Service Agreement and email it to parkconnection@gmail.com.
2. We rely on your feedback to be the best supervisors we can be. If you have suggestions or comments about your volunteering experience, please respond to this brief survey and send it to Volunteer Program Manager Jim Whitenack at james_whitenack@nps.gov.
3. The park's resource guide has been updated for 2022 and contains tons of valuable information about the park. Feel free to review it for background on the park's purpose, history, ecology, and more!
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Please don't forget to turn in your times monthly to parkconnection@gmail.com.
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