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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Jonathan Sebastian
The park was lucky enough to snag new volunteer Jon Sebastian, a professional historian, museum curator, and professor. For the past several months, Jon has been a regular face at both the visitor center and Douglas Center front desks. He has also been helping park historian Judy Collins research and compile the history of the newly restored Nelson house across from Chellberg Farm. Jon's expertise and enthusiasm has been a major asset to the park in the few short months he's been here and we hope he'll stick around for years to come. Thank you, Jonathan!
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Long winters are for the birds... Happy spring from West Beach's silly geese!
Photo by Paul Kemiel.
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Earth Day Parkwide Clean-Up
Thursday, April 22nd, 9am-12pm
Pick up supplies at Dorothy Buell Memorial Visitor Center
Happy Earth Day! Join park staff, volunteers, and the public at large in honoring Mother Earth with our parkwide trash clean-up event. Sign up in advance by emailing parkconnection@gmail.com and stop by the Visitor Center in the morning to pick up supplies and get your assignment. Together, we can get the Dunes as close to their natural state as possible!
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Calling all future Park Ranger Assistants!
The Park Ranger Assistant (PRA) program is looking for interested volunteers! Summer is the busiest season for the park and we rely on volunteer help to connect with all of our visitors. The PRA program includes three separate duties:
- Programming: Our rangers need your help leading our public hikes and programs. With several events going on every week, volunteers are needed to help guide and assist visitors. This is your opportunity to experience life as a ranger and to educate the public about our natural and cultural resources.
- Dorothy Buell Memorial Visitor Center Information Desk Assistant: Do you have a friendly smile, enjoy talking to people, or just love helping visitors from all over the world? If so, we have a place for you at the information desk at the Dorothy Buell Memorial Visitor Center. This position requires a minimum commitment of four hours per week.
- Parking Lot Pop-Ups: Parking Lot Pop-Ups are to assist rangers in the parking lots during the busy summer season. The PRA's job is to answer visitor questions at a mobile visitor center and assist the ranger with checking the parking lot for available parking spots. This position requires a minimum commitment of four hours per week.
More information on the program can be found here. Contact Ranger Kelly Caddell at kelly_caddell@nps.gov if you are interested.
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Chellberg Farm Sawmill
In February a handful of volunteers gathered for a training day on the Parks new sawmill. There will be another work day coming up in late spring. If you are interested in coming out please contact the volunteer office for more information at parkconnection@gmail.com.
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Drop-In Volunteering
Saturday, April 17th, 9am-12pm
Meet at Park Connection Office
Drop-in volunteering provides hassle-free opportunities at Indiana Dunes! With no previous sign-up or experience required, drop-ins are perfect for those with just a few hours of free time. Events are held on the third Saturday of the month at the Park Connection Office (618 N. Mineral Springs Rd.). Projects vary by date and season, but can include working with invasive species, and land and building restoration.
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Trash Trekkers
Every day 9am-4pm
Dorothy Buell Memorial Visitor Center
Trash Trekkers is an easy way to get involved at the park at your convenience! Simply check in at the Visitor Center on Route 49 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. Together, we can keep our beaches beautiful!
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Art in the Park
Saturday, April 10th, 2-3:30pm: Birds at the Shoreline
Saturday, June 12th, 2-3:30pm: Waves, Water, and Sun
Saturday, July 10th, 2-3:30pm: Butterflies on a Floral Grassland
Local artists have teamed up with the Art Barn School of Art and the Friends of Indiana Dunes to offer free virtual painting classes! This series will be offered via Zoom and requires no previous experience. An instructor will guide you through the process of painting a scene inspired by Indiana Dunes. All supplies will be provided ahead of time and space is limited. Registration for the June and July events will open a month before the session. More information can be found here; look for the event titled "Art in the Park."
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Indiana Master Naturalist Program
Saturday, April 10th - Saturday June 12th
Indiana Dunes State Park is hosting an Indiana Master Naturalist (IMN) course beginning on April 10th and running through June 12th. The IMN program teaches its participants about Hoosier natural resources and how to share that knowledge via volunteerism. More information can be found on the DNR website and the full schedule of classes can be found here. Email Marie Laudeman at mlaudeman@dnr.in.gov with questions.
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Bird Migration
It's bird migration season and Indiana Dunes is a popular rest stop on the avian highway! Indiana Audubon Society has endless information on local and migratory bird species and BirdCast provides a real time look at the migration forecast. Check out their interactive map to plan your next birding outing!
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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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Earth Week (April 18-24) is a busy time for the Friends of the Indiana Dunes as they support their favorite national park in a variety of programs.
Throughout the week, Douglas Center staff will be hosting a weeklong "Green Gary" hybrid virtual and live series of Earth Day friendly activities. The Friends will be supplying the prizes for the Scavenger Hunt. For more information call Ranger Kip Walton at 219-395-1858.
On Thursday, April 22 (Earth Day), the Friends will be assisting Park Connection staff at the Visitor Center by handing out garbage bags and drinking water. Stop by to meet the crew!
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The 25th Annual Friends of Indiana Dunes Native Plant Sale is order-only this year due to continuing COVID restrictions. Orders must be placed by April 10th. Order forms are available at the visitor center or online.
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On Friday, April 23 and Saturday, April 24, the Friends are in need of volunteers to help with the Plant Sale at their office just north of Chellberg Farm. On Friday, help will be needed unloading the delivery truck and filling the orders (no experience required). On Saturday, help is needed delivering curbside orders into arriving cars. Federal COVID restrictions will apply and wearing masks will be mandatory.
Office hours are every Wed, 1-4pm and the first Sat each month, 9am-12pm.
https://www.friendsofindianadunes.com/join-us-today.
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Are you bored at home, missing the excitement of serving the park? Never fear, you can volunteer without ever leaving your computer! Below is a list of free trainings that may help you prepare to get going when we reopen -- or just stimulate your mind! Time spent on training DOES count for volunteer hours, so make sure to include it on your monthly hours report.
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Trail Riding 101
Equine professionals created this course to prepare riders to make informed decisions when riding horses on trails. This 3-5 hour course will prepare you to take on Indiana Dunes' riding trails like a pro!
Find course here.
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Foundations of Interpretation
This introductory course provides the philosophical groundwork for why we do interpretation, what interpretation is, and how interpretation works form personal connections between the meanings of the resources and the interests of the audience.
Earn certificate issued by the Eppley Institute for Parks and Public Lands, Indiana University
Find 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.
Earn Trail Safe! certificate, SPE/GAR card, and pin
Find course here.
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Introduction to the National Park Service
Learn about the ideas that formed and later transformed the National Park Service (NPS), the people who generated those ideas, and the laws that continue to shape the NPS today.
Earn certificate issued by the Eppley Institute for Parks and Public Lands, Indiana University
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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Indiana Dunes National Park is remaining open in accordance with state and federal guidelines. Due to continuing COVID-19 concerns, Indiana Dunes encourages social distancing, frequent hand-washing, and masks. For details on park operating hours and COVID response please visit the park's website.
Most volunteer programs have resumed, some on a modified basis. The Park Connection office is open every Wednesday 9am-3pm. To stay updated on event cancellations and park closings, please visit our Facebook page.
Thank you and stay healthy!!
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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 2021 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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