Celebrate National Public Lands Day at National Lakeshore

Date: September 25, 2012
Contact: Julie Larsen, 219-395-1821
Contact: Ted Winterfeld , 219-395-1661

INDIANA DUNES NATIONAL LAKESHORE: Become part of the nation's largest, single-day volunteer event for public lands on Saturday, September 29 at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. Volunteer work projects will take place in the morning at both Cowles Bog and Mount Baldy and a ranger-led hike will be offered in the afternoon at Miller Woods.

Join a ranger and make a difference in removing invasive plant species at the Cowles Bog wetland from 9 am to noon. Meet at the Cowles Bog south parking lot on Mineral Springs Road, adjacent to the railroad tracks, in the central part of the national lakeshore. If you prefer a project in the eastern portion of the national lakeshore, gather at the Mt. Baldy parking lot at 9 am to help remove invasive species at that location. Tools and safety equipment provided at both locations. Visitors under 18 years need adult supervision. We recommend that you bring water and insect repellent.

Take a leisurely one-hour hike through the rare oak savanna habitat of Miller Woods with a ranger at either 11 am or 2 pm. Enjoy the changing colors of the trees and learn the mysteries behind this colorful fall phenomenon. You may even glimpse a colorful red-headed woodpecker through the thinning fall canopy of leaves. Meet at the Paul H. Douglas Center for Environmental Education. After the hike, warm up in the center with hot chocolate or coffee while your family explores the interactive exhibits, feeds the resident fish and turtles, or makes a free craft to help you remember your day in the park.

www.nps.gov/indu

Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore is part of the National Park Service. More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America's 397 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Learn more at www.nps.gov.