Winter fun at Douglas Center open house
By Sue Ellen Ross Post-Tribune correspondent January 13, 2012 2:40PM
True Collins, 4, and dad Michael Collins of Chicago learn how to crank a lantern in a tent during the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore's Winterfest Celebration open house. | Stephanie Dowell~Sun-Times Media
If You Go
Traditionally, the Paul H. Douglas Center for Environmental Education hosts environmental education groups weekdays but it is always open for drop-in visitors from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., according to Julie Larsen, an Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore park ranger.
The Douglas Center also is open to the public on Saturdays from Labor Day to Memorial Day, and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily during the summer. The Douglas Center is at 100 N. Lake St. in Gary.
For more information, visit the website www.nps.gov/indu/planyourvisit or call the information desk at 395-1882.
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Updated: February 16, 2012 8:16AM
Birdie Brown-Blanchard saw the open house signs for a recent weekend Winterfest as she drove along downtown Lake Street in the Miller section of Gary.
And although there was no snow that weekend, she and her children Lashawn, 10, and Tasaha, 4, nevertheless decided to visit the Paul H. Douglas Center for Environmental Education to participate in the event.
“I’ve heard about this center through my church but have never experienced it,” the Gary mom said, as the family visited the inside stations. “This (Winterfest) is fantastic — it shows people exactly what they do here.”
That exactly was the purpose and the plan, according Julie Larsen, Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore park ranger and coordinator of the event.
“So often, people feel confined to home because of the cold weather outside, and we wanted to show that there are all kinds of fun activities to do outdoors” she said. “We also showcased some nature activities to do indoors and then taken outdoors, such as bird feeders for the yard.”
In conjunction with Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore and the Dunes Learning Center, the Douglas Center hosted this year’s Winterfest. Larsen also coordinated volunteers and partners to advertise the event and give some hands-on assistance with crafts and face painting.
Portage resident Teresa Williamson was in attendance with her sons Christopher, 12; Thomas, 6; and Justin, 3.
While Christopher watched a movie about the development of the Indiana Dunes, his brothers made papier-mache balloons, drew pictures depicting nature and participated in other crafts.
“If there had been snow, we could have tried the cross-country skiing,” Brown-Blanchard said, as the trio perused the long tables of different sized ski shoes. “But we’ll take the trail walk instead.”
Justin was excited to be going on the short hike through the woods.
“I might see a lot of birds. And I know we’ll see a lot of green plants,” he said. “It will be fun.”
Park ranger Kip Walton led the group of about 30 people on the trails, commenting on the flora and fauna of the 400-acre oak savannah ecosystem that is Miller Woods.
Kim Swift is employed by the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore as education programs manager.
“The Douglas Center is a great community resource for families to learn about nature, get out and explore their back yard, and enjoy fresh air and exercise,” she said. “We want to make sure folks know they can do this here all year long. The Douglas Center activities are free and we continuously do different activities to attract new and returning audiences.”
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