Upcoming
events
~Check back soon for more upcoming events~
June Green Drinks – Mt. Baldy’s Holes Ten Years Later: What New Science Tells Us Now
June 1, 2023 – 6:30pm CST
Zoom or Facebook Live
Save the Dunes is a proud sponsor of Northwest Indiana Green Drinks – bring you camaraderie and conversations on all things sustainable and green.
Discover with Dr. Erin Argyilan, Geology Professor at Indiana University Northwest, how she views the miraculous recovery of Nathan Woessner – who became trapped in a hole on Mt. Baldy – ten years later. The event initiated the exploration of a new type of natural hazard in moving dunes named a “dune decomposition chimney”. Erin will update us on the science that has been conducted on Mt. Baldy since 2013 and the connection between human disturbance and dune movement along the coast of the Great Lakes. You won’t want to miss this one, so spread the word and invite some friends! Learn more in the Facebook Event.

Hike the Chanute Trail – 2 pt. Series
July 29th, 2023 – 11:00a-12:30pm
Marquette Park’s Chanute Trail, Miller Beach, Gary, IN
Join us in exploring the diverse ecosystem along the wooded Chanute Trail at Marquette Park — featuring a fully accessible trail surrounded by dune and marsh habitat.This event is sponsored by Hyrdoflask & Co-Hosted by Save the Dunes & Brown Faces Green Spaces.
Every particpant in the event will go home with a Hydroflask Canteen!
Calumet Outdoor Series- Pollinator Photography Hike
July 15th, 2023 – 12:00PM CST
Paul Douglas Center at Miller Woods, Gary, Indiana
Calling all nature photographers- whether your passion for photography is your full time gig, or you’re interested in using your smart phone to take better photos of the ourdoors, join Save the Dunes, The National Parks Service, and the Field Museum on this photography focused event at the Indiana Dunes National Park!
August Green Drinks – East Arm of the Little Cal: History of Natural Beauty, Loss, and Recovery
August 3rd, 2023 – 6:30PM CST
Zoom or Facebook Live
Join the discussion with Dan Plath, Director of Resource Management at the Indiana Dunes National Park and one of the founders of the Northwest Indiana Paddling Association (NWIPA), and Rob Albrect-Mallinger, the NWIPA Blueways Steward, for a presentation of history, tragedy, restoration, and future planning on the East Arm of the Little Calumet River which runs through Chesterton, Porter, Burns Harbor and Portage in Northwest Indiana. For more information visit the Green Drinks Facebook page.

Hike & Bird Miller Woods
August 12th, 2023 -10:00AM CST
Indiana Dunes National Park – Douglas Center
Join Brown Faces Green Spaces and Save the Dunes for a ranger-lead hike & bird on the Paul H. Douglas Trail in Miller Woods on Saturday, August 12th at 10am.
This event is sponsored by the 2023 Hydro Flask #ParksforAll project — Gary, Indiana. Wear comfortable clothing and shoes and join us in the great outdoors!

National S’mores Day Event
August 4th, 2023 – 7:00PM CST
Indiana Dunes State Park – Nature Center
Celebrate National S’more’s Day AND Smokey Bear’s Birthday with the Indiana Dunes State Park! There will be a whole s’moregasboard of fun that will include a trivia game, marshmallow toss, and a chance to sample from the many s’more variations!
Barker Seasonal Forum – Advocacy for Wetlands
August 23rd, 2023 – 5:30PM-6:30PM CST
Barker House – 444 Barker Rd. Michigan City, IN or via Zoom
Join the Save the Dunes team & other community members for the first session of a new seasonal informational forum at Barker House! On Wednesday August 23rd the topic will the advocacy work Save the Dunes is spearheading in Indiana, as a response to the Supreme Court rollback on wetland protection.
Arrive early to mingle with other guests, check out the historic Barker House (The Save the Dunes offices & headquarters), stay for the forum, and learn more about how your support can further the efforts of Save the Dunes!
Free & Open to the public — this forum will be a hybrid event with the option to join us on zoom!
Northwest Indiana Green Drinks
September 7th 4pm-6pm & 6pm-9pm
Climate Leadership Summit 8, Gary Indiana
Join us this month for a special in-person Green Drinks event! First, meet and mingle before the screening at Brown Skin Coffee (1921 W 25th Avenue Gary, IN) from 4pm-6pm
Then head to IUN School Arts and Sciences Main Stage Theatre (3415 Broadway Gary, IN) for a double featuring screening of two critical environmental documentaries about sustainability in Indiana.

Outdoor Adventure Fest : Sunset Hike
September 9th 6PM-7:30PM CST
Dune Ridge Trail @ Kemil Beach (Indiana Dunes National Park)
The Dune Ridge Trail offers great views of the extensive wetlands and forested dune. The different habitats you’ll see along the trail help make Indiana Dunes National Park one of the top five most biologically diverse of all the national parks. Meet The Save the Dunes Team at Kemil Beach Comfort Station.
The National Park is FREE for the first weekend of Outdoor Adventure Fest! Enjoy a beach day at the park, and then join us for this beautiful hike! Hope to see you there!
Monarch Music Fest
September 10, 2023 – 1:00pm – 5:00pm CST
The Brewery Lodge & Supper Club, Michigan City, Indiana

Festival de la Monarca
September 16th- 11AM CST
Kosciuzko Park 151st and Indianapolis Blvd. East Chicago IN 46312
Bring your family and friends on Saturday, September 16th to the 6th annual Festival de la Monarca.
The festival is free and open to all! Come celebrate with other members of the community with exhibits, fun activities, music, art, dance and food. It’s also a great way to celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month.
Save the Dunes will have be tabling this event, and offering free resources on pollinators and landscape level conservation, along with a fun craft!

Duneland Fall Festival
September 16th & 17th- 10AM-4PM CST
Chellberg Farm, 709-747 N Mineral Springs Rd, Porter, IN 46304
History, Music, Food, and Fun! There will be food venders, musical groups, live entertainment, and demonstration booths showcasing skills that farmers would have used in the early 1900s. Hayrides will be available. Admission and parking is free.
Save the Dunes will be tabling this event, sharing information on landscape level conservation – Leave the Leaves! Hope to see you there!

National Public Lands Day Hike & Craft
September 23rd- 11AM-2PM CST
Paul Douglas Center – 100 North Lake Street Gary, IN
Join Brown Faces Green Spaces in partnership with Save the Dunes for a hike with the rangers of the Paul H. Douglas Center for Environmental Education to celebrate National Public Lands Day on the new, fully accessible pollinator trail in Miller Woods. Learn about the importance of protecting butterflies, bees and the other pollinators that are critical for a healthy world! All participants will receive a Save the Dunes branded Hydro Flask Canteen a part of their #Parksforall project!
Northwest Indiana Green Drinks
Thursday October 5th 5pm-7pmCST
Zoom or Facebook Live
Discover with informative and pioneering Daniel Poynter, Executive Director and Founder of nonprofit Carbon Neutral Indiana, in a presentation of his published book “Carbon Neutral Indiana: A Practical Guide to Carbon Optimism”

Fireside Tales & S’mores at Barker Woods
Saturday October 7th 5pm-7pmCST
Save the Dunes HQ 444 Barker Rd Michigan City, IN
Join the Save the Dunes team for an evening of curious and haunting tales of the Indiana Dunes around a bonfire! Come for the tales, stay for the S’mores ! The Barker House and Shirley Heinze managed Barker Woods will be open to explore!

Save the Dunes Volunteer Day
Tuesday October 24th 1:00PM-3:30PM
Save the Dunes HQ 444 Barker Rd Michigan City, IN
Fall is here, come lend a hand! Save the Dunes is hosting a Fall Volunteer Day at the Barker House. Join us for an afternoon of sprucing up the Barker House grounds on Tuesday, October 24th from 1:00-3:30pm CST. We will be primarily working in our pollinator garden, pulling weeds and preparing the beds for winter, but we also have some tasks around the property like trimming bushes and tiding the grounds. All supplies will be provided, and all skill levels are welcome! Please RSVP to em@savedunes.org !
Barker Seasonal Forum: Walk & Webinar
Wednesday October 25th 5:30PM-7:00PM
Save the Dunes HQ 444 Barker Rd Michigan City, IN
Join us for part 2 of our new series: Barker Seasonal Forum. This series aims to share the mission of Save the Dunes across advocacy, conservation, and community engagement. This event will be held at the Save the Dunes HQ. We will embark on a fall walk about Barker Woods, and end inside the Barker house for a 30min Webinar on Landscape Level Conservation : Fall Gardening & Leave the Leaves!
This event is hybrid and will also stream on zoom & Facebook live!
Northwest Indiana Green Drinks
Our Once and Future Wetlands: Art, Ecology and Engineering
Thursday November 2nd 6:30pm-7:30pm CST
On Zoom or Facebook Live
All around the world, wetlands support a tremendous diversity of plants and wildlife. The Wetlands Initiative’s first ever artist-in-residence Lindsay Olson spent time in the field with wetland ecologists and engineers before creating a series of wetland-inspired textile works that seek to share the science, process, benefits, and joys of restored wetlands through the lens of art. Lindsay will be joined by Harry Kuttner, Calumet Coordinator, to showcase both the art and science behind TWI restoration projects in the Calumet region.
Opt-Outside Black Friday Hike
Friday November 24th 1:00PM-4:00PM CST
West Beach, Indiana Dunes National Park
Advocacy 101 Training on Giving Tuesday
Tuesday November 28th 6:00PM-7:00PM CST
Facebook Live
Annual Meeting for Save the Dunes Members
Wednesday December 6th 6:30PM CST
Save the Dunes HQ – 444 Barker Rd. Michigan City, IN
Each year, Save the Dunes invites our members and closet partners to our Annual Membership Meeting, a time to vote in new Board members, announce the winners of our environmental awards, and celebrate our accomplishments. We cordially invite our members to join us at Barker House for this informative and festive gathering on December 6th, 2023! Registration and updated membership is required.
Sustainable Gift Wrapping Workshop
Saturday December 16th 1:00PM-4:00PM CST
Save the Dunes HQ – 444 Barker Rd. Michigan City, IN
Gift wrap accounts for millions of tons of waste in the United States each year, and alternatives such as brown shipping paper, newspaper or fabric can help save your gift and the planet! Join Em Racine, Save the Dunes’ Community Engagement Coordinator For a hands-on workshop focusing on creating a cohesive wrapping theme with sustainable wrapping papers, ribbons, and found and foraged materials. All attendees are encouraged to bring gifts (2-3 per person) to be wrapped, as we will have materials on hand for you to use! We also encourage you to bring materials to use and or share with the class that fit our sustainability goals- Wrapping that doesn’t cost the earth!
