The Monthly News header
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!

Volunteer Spotlight 

Cliff Goins posing in front of Indiana Dunes tent
Cliff Goins

Cliff Goins has been part of the NPS family since 1987. He began as a seasonal ranger at Hot Springs National Park and worked at four national parks over his 32 years of service. He retired from his Fee Manager position at Indiana Dunes in 2019 and has served as a regular volunteer since then. He is a board member with the Friends of Indiana Dunes, a non-profit organization that provides financial support and manpower to the national and state parks and the Dunes Learning Center. Cliff is a reliable presence at our volunteer events and has been an integral part of the Sugar Shack operations at the annual Maple Sugar Time festival. His love for the dunes and commitment to their preservation comes through in every position he holds. Thank you for your endless contribution to Indiana Dunes National Park, Cliff!

photo of the month

an eastern carpenter fly on a marsh marigold

Volunteer photographer Paul Kemiel made the wise decision to bring his macro lens on a hike in the Heron Rookery last month and captured this incredible interaction up close. Although this little guy on the marsh marigold looks like a bee, its actually an eastern carpenter fly! In addition to their bee-like stripes, they make a droning noise to complete their charade as a more intimidating insect. Also called "flower flies," these pollinators play a key but nearly invisible role in the beautiful wildflower bloom at the Heron Rookery. Take this as your reminder to look close so you don't miss the miniature wonders of our park!

Earth DAY RECAP

the check-in tent for Earth Day manned by Ranger Jim Whitenack
Gloria and Dave Horn posing with their dog and trash haul at the Douglas Center
volunteer Harry Shaufele
Daisy Troop #35653 pose at the beach after doing a clean-up
Our first annual parkwide Earth Day clean-up was a huge success! Between the public-at-large, Trail Crew volunteers, and park staff, over 100 people worked to clear trash from every trail, road, and beach in the National Park. For the first time ever, the Trail Crew coordinated to survey all 50+ miles of trail in a single day. Other community groups including Daisy Scout Troop #35653 (pictured above) and a Holladay Properties corporate team also joined in the fun. Although we weren't able to calculate the exact total weight of trash removed from the park, it's safe to say that several hundred pounds of debris were removed. A massive THANK YOU to everyone who donated their time and energy to care for our incredible park!

upcoming opportunities

fisherman in kayak on Lake Michigan

Fish Sampling for Total Mercury

The Great Lakes Inventory and Monitoring Network monitors the mercury level in dragonflies and fish in order to understand the level of mercury contamination in water bodies across a network of nine national parks. Their sampling protocol involves sampling fish from each of the parks on a 5-year rotation. Guess what! Indiana Dunes is up for sampling in 2021, and we could use a few helpers!

We'll be sampling one time at each of three locations in the park: the Great Marsh, Middle Lagoon, and the East Arm of the Calumet River. If you are interested in helping to catch, identify, measure the length, filet, fill out labels and data sheets, and package the fish for shipment to a USGS laboratory, please contact wendy_w_smith@nps.gov to let her know. She will then notify you with dates and times. Though expertise in fishing is not necessary, it is welcome. While sampling dates have not yet been set, they will most likely be on weekdays commencing in June. We hope to hear from you!

monarch butterfly on blooming milkweed

Integrated Monarch Monitoring Program Training

Saturday, May 22nd
Monarch Egg and Larvae Survey: 9am-12pm
Adult Monarch Survey: 1-3pm


Indiana Dunes National Park is currently seeking volunteers to participate in the Integrated Monarch Monitoring Program (IMMP) at our monitoring site in Miller Woods. There are opportunities to participate in three different activities which are all part of the program. Registration for the training on the milkweed and blooming plant survey has already taken place.

On Saturday, May 22, training sessions for the two remaining activities will take place. Volunteers may attend one or both sessions. The first training will focus on surveying monarch eggs and larvae and will run from 9am-12pm. The second session will focus on surveying adult monarchs and will run from 1-3pm.

Both training sessions will be held at the Paul H. Douglas Center for Environmental Education and our monarch study plot in Miller Woods. Participants will be asked to view several short videos prior to each training. In order to facilitate social distancing, registration for these projects will be limited, and the bulk of the training will take place outdoors. Participants must attend the training to participate. To register, please email wendy_w_smith@nps.gov before Thursday, May 13.

Note: Both survey activities involve walking off the trail through tall grasses and other vegetation in hilly terrain. The IMMP is a national program to collect milkweed, nectar plant, and monarch use data from a variety of land-use types and regions. This information is vital to shaping our understanding of how monarchs interact with their environment, documenting conservation efforts, and tracking the population and its habitat as they change over time.
 

campground hosts pose by their campsite

Weekday Campground Hosts Needed

Due to last minute changes, the campground staff is in need of volunteers to act as campground host during the week. Volunteer Supervisor Ryan Koepke is seeking local volunteers who could reliably commit to several hours in the evening on weekdays to fill in as camp host. Responsibilities would include:

- Checking in visitors using a webpage on a smart phone. Host would be trained on this process but would need to have their own smartphone and be technically savvy enough to navigate the web interface.
- Surveying the campground for any pressing maintenance issues (e.g. tree down, electricity out, etc.) and reporting these issues to the appropriate division.
- Answering visitor questions.

If you would be interested in picking up a weekly shift as a volunteer campground host, please email Ranger Ryan Koepke at ryan_koepke@nps.gov.

volunteers plant vegetables in the garden

Farm and Garden Updates

Sunday, May 9th (TENTATIVE): planting garden

You know what they say about April showers...and as the May flowers bloom, our Farm and Garden Crew does too! Ranger Bill Smith hopes to get out to plant the garden on Mother's Day; if you'd like to stay updated on his garden plans and work days, email him at williamsmith3704@gmail.com.

Thursday, May 13th at 4pm: Animal Care Meeting at Park Connection Office

The farm animal care team will be meeting at 4pm on Thursday, May 13th at the volunteer office (618 N. Mineral Springs Rd.) to discuss the care plan for the remainder of the year. If you'd like to get involved with caring for the cows, chickens, pigs, and turkeys housed at Chellberg Farm, this is your chance to get your foot in the door! All volunteers are welcome.

Park Ranger Assistants posing with the "We Need Your Help" ad

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.

volunteer weeds in dry dune grass

Drop-In Volunteering

Saturday, May 15th, 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

volunteers dump buckets of trash collected from beach

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! 

Park Happenings

Ranger Rafi Wilkinson leads a guided hike on Mt. Baldy

Talking About Dunes

Thursday, May 6th at 12pm on Zoom

Join Indiana Dunes National Park Rangers to learn all about the incredible geological features that gave the park its name! Rangers Rafi Wilkinson and Kelly Caddell will join geologist Dr. Erin Argyilan and Dr. Brian Florist to in this special presentative sponsored by iSWOOP, the Great Lakes Research and Education Center, and Indiana University Northwest. This session is a rare opportunity to hear details of the collaborative effort between scientists and rangers to highlight the dynamics of dune formation. Register for the Zoom presentation here.

Indiana Dunes Birding Festival - egret

Indiana Dunes Birding Festival

Thursday-Sunday, May 13-16th
Registration closes Wednesday, May 5th


This is your LAST CALL to sign up for the annual Indiana Dunes Birding Festival, hosted by Indiana Audubon in concert with Indiana Dunes National Park, Friends of Indiana Dunes, and Indiana Dunes Tourism. Enjoy four days of presentations, tours, and other celebrations of the region's incredible seasonal migration. Registration closes Wednesday, May 5th. Snag your spot at the festival and see the full schedule here.

artist painting marsh scene

Art in the Park

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 will open a month before the session. More information can be found here; look for the event titled "Art in the Park."

what's new
with the Friends 

Friends of Indiana Dunes logo

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”.

On Saturday, April 24, the Friends of Indiana Dunes hosted our 25th Annual Native Plant Sale. It required hours of preparation including emails and logistics as well as unloading plants and then preparing orders for curbside delivery.

Friends volunteers manning the plant sale tables
Thanks for all our wonderful Indiana Dunes National Park staff and volunteers for all their help on another successful Native Plant Sale. Proceeds are used to support both the National and State Parks and the Dunes Learning Center.
 

Interested in helping? Contact Friends Chair Angel Goins at 219-707-3617. Hours donated on Friends projects that benefit the National Park count as VIP hours.

www.friendsofindianadunes.com

SOCIAL EVENTS 

NPS wooden "Thank You" sign below arrowhead logo

Bonfire Social

Saturday, May 22nd at 6pm at Dunbar Beach

Over the past year, we've all been starving for a little social interaction, but now we're finally ready to sate that hunger (as well as your actual hunger) with a Bonfire and Smores Social at Dunbar Beach! We here in the volunteer office would like to recognize all of our volunteers for their hard work during the pandemic, and there's no better way to do that than with chocolate and marshmallows on the beach. We'll bring the fire and food, you bring your seating of choice (towel or beach chair). Please remember to continue social distancing and we do encourage masks.

Virtual Enrichment 

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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.

Coronavirus update 

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!!

Administration  

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!
Please don't forget to turn in your times monthly to parkconnection@gmail.com.
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