The following programs are being offered at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore for the rest of this summer. Please see the individual program descriptions listed below. For more information on any of the programs at the national lakeshore, contact Ryan Koepke at 219-395-1882 or check the park’s website at www.nps.gov/indu. All programs are free.
Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore is one of 394 units of the National Park System ranging from Yellowstone to the Statue of Liberty. Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore includes 15 miles of the southern shoreline of Lake Michigan and 15,000 acres of beach, woods, marshes, and prairie in the northwest corner of Indiana. More than 2 million visitors come to this national park each year.
Kids Fun at National Lakeshore Visitor Center
Escape the summer heat and enjoy an afternoon of fun kid’s activities every Sunday afternoon in July and August at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore’s Visitor Center. Join a park ranger anytime from 1 p.m.-3 p.m. in the visitor center’s activity room to help your children learn a little more about your neighborhood national park. All children must be accompanied by an adult.
The Dorothy Buell Memorial Visitor Center is located at 1215 N. State Road 49, just south of the intersection of 49 and U.S. 20 in Porter, Indiana. For more information about this program or other activities at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, contact the information desk at 219-395-1882 or check the park’s website at www.nps.gov/indu.
Music Heritage Series at National Lakeshore Visitor Center
Join the Save the Tunes Council and share in the celebration of old time music. Tune up your vocal cords for a sing-along August 19, from 7:30 p.m. – 9 p.m. at the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore Visitor Center.
The Save the Tunes Council is a group of local musicians devoted to preserving and passing on folk songs in the traditional way, using a variety of musical instruments including guitar, autoharp, dulcimer, banjo, harmonica, bagpipe, penny whistle, hurdy gurdy, and other obscure instruments.
Meet at the Indiana Dunes Visitor Center located at 1215 N. State Road 49 just south of the intersection of 49 and U.S. 20 in Porter, Indiana. For more information about this program or other activities at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, contact the information desk at 219-395-1882 or check the park’s website at www.nps.gov/indu.
Volunteer Days at National Lakeshore
Join a ranger August 20 from 9 a.m. - noon at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore’s to help with stewardship projects at your local National Park. August 20, join in to wash the stone walls and spruce up the grounds of the historic Bailly Cemetery. For both programs, meet the ranger at the Flag Pole in front of the park headquarters building on Mineral Springs Road. Work gloves will be provided, but dress for the weather and bring bug repellent.
The park’s headquarters parking lot is located on Mineral Springs Road between Highway 12 and U.S. 20 in Porter, Indiana. For more information about this program or other activities at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, contact the information desk at 219-395-1882 or check the park’s website at www.nps.gov/indu.
Chellberg Farm Open House at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore
Join a ranger and tour the historic Chellberg Farmhouse at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore and learn what life was like on an area farm about 100 years ago. This open house program is presented from 12:30 – 2:00 pm every Saturday and Sunday during the months of July and August. Meet the ranger at the farmhouse.
The Bailly/Chellberg parking lot is located between highways U.S. 12 and U.S. 20 on Mineral Springs Road. The farmhouse is just a short walk down the trail. For more information on this or other programs at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, call 219-395-1882 or check the park’s website at www.nps.gov/indu.
Bailly Homestead and Chellberg Farm Walk at the National Lakeshore
Join a ranger for a leisurely 1.5 mile walk that includes tours of two of Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore’s historic sites: the Chellberg Farm and Bailly Homestead. Children can complete an activity page during the walk and earn a Junior Ranger Heritage Patch. This program is offered every Saturday and Sunday during the months of July and August from 2:30 – 4:00 pm. Meet the ranger at the Chellberg Farm and Bailly Homestead parking lot.
The Bailly/Chellberg parking lot is located between highways U.S. 12 and U.S. 20 on Mineral Springs Road. For more information on this or other programs at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, call 219-395-1882.
Fun at the Farm at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore
Kids, accompanied by an adult, can join a ranger at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore’s Chellberg Farm to experience both the work and fun had by kids about 100 years ago on an Indiana dunes farm. This 45 minute program is offered every Saturday and Sunday during the months of July and August at 4:30 pm. Meet the ranger in front of the Chellberg Farmhouse.
The Bailly/Chellberg parking lot is located between highways U.S. 12 and U.S. 20 on Mineral Springs Road. For more information on this or other programs at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, call 219-395-1882.
Pinhook Bog Open House at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore
Take a self-guided hike into Indiana’s only quaking bog at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. Rangers stationed along the trail will help you understand this unique place filled with carnivorous plants. This open house takes place from noon – 3:00 p.m. every Sunday through August 14 and on these select Saturdays; July 23, August 27 and September 24. Allow about one hour to walk the trail and tour the bog. Meet the ranger at the Pinhook Bog parking lot.
Pinhook Bog is located on Wozniak Road just north of the toll road on the east side of the road. There is no exit off the Toll Road so call 219-395-1882 for directions to the bog. For more information on this or other programs at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, call 219-395-1882.
Campfire Program Offered at National Lakeshore
Join a ranger around the campfire on Saturday nights at the Dunewood Campground Amphitheater in Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. Learn about the diversity of park resources and recreational activities that can be experienced in the national lakeshore. In July, the program is offered from 8:00 – 9:00 p.m. and in August from 7:30-8:30 p.m.
The Dunewood Campground Amphitheater is located at the intersection of Highway 12 and Broadway, in Beverly Shores. For more information on this or other programs at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, call the park’s information desk at 219-395-1882.
Junior Wildland Firefighter Program at National Lakeshore
Learn what you can do to protect Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore and earn a Junior Wildland Firefighter patch. The park’s fire crew will be on hand to give details about their jobs and equipment. After this hands-on program, children will receive their very own Junior Wildland Firefighter activity book and patch. This program will be held on Saturday, July 23 and August 27, from 10:00-11:00 a.m. at the Dunewood Campground.
The Dunewood Campground is located at the intersection of Highway12 and Broadway, in Beverly Shores. For more information on this or other programs at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, call the park’s information desk at 219-395-1882.
Firefly Program at National Lakeshore
Join a ranger at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore for a “Firefly Walk” on either Friday, July 22 or July 29 starting at 8:15 p.m. in the Bailly/Chellberg parking lot. During this 60-minute program, visitors will learn about the different behaviors that fireflies exhibit during the summer and should get a good look at lots of fireflies. Insect repellent is recommended.
The Bailly/Chellberg parking lot is located between highways U.S. 12 and U.S. 20 on Mineral Springs Road. For more information on this or other programs at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, call 219-395-1882.
Bailly Homestead & Chellberg Farm Open House at National Lakeshore
Tour the historic homestead of fur trader and land speculator Joseph Bailly, one of the area’s first settlers, and then take a short walk to Chellberg Farm to learn about life on an early Duneland farmstead. Kids can complete an activity sheet to earn a Junior Ranger Heritage patch. These open houses will be held from 1:00 – 4:00 pm every Wednesday during the months of July and August at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore’s Bailly Homestead and Chellberg Farm.
The Bailly/Chellberg parking lot is located between highways U.S. 12 and U.S. 20 on Mineral Springs Road. For more information on this or other programs at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, call 219-395-1882 or check the park’s website at www.nps.gov/indu.
Duneland's Disappearing Night Sky Program at National Lakeshore
Come to Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore on Friday, August 5 from 7:30 – 10:30 pm, to enjoy the dunes by starlight and observe the night sky through a telescope. Meet a ranger at the visitor center for a short indoor presentation on our endangered night sky and then make the short drive to the Kemil Road beach access parking lot. Insect repellent is recommended and you may want to bring something to sit on. Scouts can earn their Astronomy Merit Badge during this program.
The Dorothy Buell Memorial Visitor Center is located at 1215 N. State Road 49 just south of the intersection of 49 and U.S. 20 in Porter, Indiana. For more information about this program or other activities at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, contact the information desk at 219-395-1882 or check the park’s website at www.nps.gov/indu.
Mount Baldy Sunset Hike at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore
Enjoy a sunset stroll with a ranger at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore’s Mount Baldy on Friday, August 12 at 7:00 pm. During this 60-minute program, learn about the threats faced by this famous dune and what you can do to help protect it.
Mount Baldy is located just east of the Porter County – LaPorte County line on Highway 12 in Michigan City. For more information about this program or other activities at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, contact the information desk at 219-395-1882 or the park’s website at www.nps.gov/indu