Indiana Dunes State park offers glamorous camping weekend

CHESTERTON | If “roughing it” isn’t for you, Indiana Dunes State Park is offering a themed weekend for camping glamorously, May 31 through June 2

Become a resident tourist, tour guide

What young child's trip to Indiana Dunes State Park doesn't include making a sand castle?

Porter uniting regional trail system

The town of Porter, often referred to as "the missing link" of the regional trail system, is positioned to open three connector paths that will link Porter County towns and cities to neighboring counties and neighboring states. These newly minted trails will make Porter more accessible to su…

Lansing Scouts hike Indiana Dunes State Park

Troop 276 Scouts and leaders prepare to depart on the annual 10-mile Potawatomi Trail Hike through the Indiana Dunes State Park.

Lansing Scouts hike Indiana Dunes State Park

Off to a hike at Indiana Dunes State Park are Scouts and leaders of Lansing Troop 276. Pictured from left are Connor Pond, Andrew Johnson, Harry Ogrentz, Josh Drosos, Kevan Polanski (back), Max Renner (front), Sam Renner (back) Eamon Polanski (front), Jeremy Munoz (back), Garron Pichford, Ch…

Signs of spring?

Indiana Dunes State Park naturalist Jessica Rosier holds up a piece of skunk cabbage and invites guests to smell its distinctive scent during Saturday morning's hike to spot the first wildflowers of spring.

Signs of spring?

Indiana Dunes State Park naturalist Jessica Rosier identifies skunk cabbage during Saturday morning's hike in the park to spot the first wildflowers of spring.

Hikers scan Indiana Dunes State Park for signs of season's first wildflowers

PORTER | “You’re all together to find out if they’re here yet!” Indiana Dunes State Park naturalist Jessica Rosier said to her group of hikers Saturday morning, trying to catch a glimpse of the year’s first wildflower.

Troop 276 to embark on 10-mile hike

LANSING | Boy Scout Troop 276, of Lansing, is gearing up to go on their annual 10-mile Potawatomi Trail Hike through the Indiana Dunes State Park.

Handmade benches honor ecological pioneer

PORTER | Nature lovers gathered Saturday to prepare for warmer weather and to honor the legacy of a famous ecologist.

Handmade benches honor ecological pioneer

Steve Powalski, of Michigan City, assembles a Leopold bench at the Leopold Bench Workshop on Saturday at Indiana Dunes State Park.

Handmade benches honor ecological pioneer

Brad Bumgardner, Indiana Dunes State Park interpretive naturalist, shows Mary Ann Crayton and her grandson Aiden Blanco how to assemble a Leopold Bench at the Leopold Bench Workshop on Saturday at the park.

Development of Dunes-Kankakee Trail clips along

Another small piece of the planned Dunes-Kankakee Trail can be built this summer now that Porter County has agreed to maintain it after it's built.

Groundhog Day celebrated at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore

Put on the soup for geocaching

PORTER | Some 50 geocachers descended on the Indiana Dunes State Park on Saturday afternoon and then spread out like treasure hunters in search of the coveted bounty — a bowl of soup.

Put on the soup for geocaching

Nic Teall, of Valparaiso, and Heather Hunter, of Westville, discuss which location they are going to try to find first as they leave the nature center at Indiana Dunes State Park during the park's geocache adventure Saturday afternoon.

Bird banding program at Indiana Dunes helps scientists track avians

PORTER | “He’s been blinged!” Brad Bumgardner said during Saturday’s demonstration of banding birds.

MITCH BARLOGA: Happy New Year and new you, too

Another year has crossed the finish line, and no doubt a metric ton of New Year’s resolutions to live healthier awaits. Lucky for us, our growing trail network offers everyone an opportunity to actually stick with these commitments.

Christmas bird count volunteers try to identify species, numbers of birds

GARY | Elizabeth Kleine hiked over the frozen sand behind the Paul H. Douglas Center for Environmental Education in Gary, tiptoeing among the savannah of oaks whose skeletal branches reached like fingers into the moist grey sky.

National Park Service eyes Porter Beach access

Visitors to Porter Beach could be in for a treat in summers to come. The small but popular Lake Michigan waterfront is being eyed for possible future work to improve access to the beach and make visits a better experience.