Blog

Nature Notes: Leaning In - Dark-Scaled Sedge at Kankakee Sands

By Alyssa Nyberg, Kankakee Sands Efroymson Restoration on July 08, 2020

Photos by Trevor Edmonson This July we will be busy with harvesting hundreds of pounds of sedge seeds to include in this year’s prairie planting at Kankakee Sands. We will be harvesting twelve different sedges, each one so unique, and really quite lovely, if you just take the time to lean in and look more closely…

Visiting the Trails at Coffee Creek Watershed Preserve

By Katharine Stob, Guest Blogger on June 29, 2020

Since moving to the Valparaiso area, I have been on the lookout for a new favorite place for my dog and I to walk. I may have just found the place! Driving down IN 49 a while back I had taken notice of Coffee Creek Watershed Preserve and became curious to explore it…

Hiking the Succession Trail at Indiana Dunes National Park

By Haley Collins, Communication Intern on June 22, 2020

I recently had the pleasure of spending the afternoon with my family at West Beach, part of the Indiana Dunes National Park. We were wanting something peaceful, yet active, to enjoy the nice weather. I had heard about the Succession Trail from a coworker and thought that I would check it out. The four of us: my mom, my dad, and my small dog, Harbor, made the trip with a small backpack filled with water and snacks. The weather could not have been more perfect and the park was busy, but not overcrowded…

Nature Notes: Meadow Muffins - Dung Beetles at Kankakee Sands

By Alyssa Nyberg, Kankakee Sands Efroymson Restoration on June 22, 2020

We often talk about the types of plants that our Kankakee Sands bison are eating, and how that will affect the prairies. What we rarely talk about is what is happening at the other end of the bison. Bison poop, bison patties, dung, feces, meadow muffins…there are a whole host of flowery alternatives (my kids and I came up with 23 different terms!) to describe the very important resource that our bison are contributing to the prairie. …

Lighthouse Restaurant - Outdoor Dining in Cedar Lake

Restaurants with a View - Outdoor Dining in Northwest Indiana

By Erika Dahl, Director of Communications on June 20, 2020

When the sun shines and your belly is rumbling you’ll want to enjoy these locations with great fare…

South Shore Trails: Oak Savannah Trail

By South Shore CVA on June 18, 2020

By Tom Dabertin The Oak Savannah Trail is one of my personal favorites. The paved path starts at Oak Ridge Prairie County Park (301 South Colfax in Griffith). There is always plenty of parking available; it’s scenic, and has both under and overpasses to avoid major street crossings at I-65, Broadway and Cleveland. The path is multiple use, but bicyclists far outnumber joggers, etc. and people are always polite in yielding…

A to Z list of things to do this summer in Northwest Indiana

By Erika Dahl, Director of Communications on June 08, 2020

It’s never too early to plan your South Shore summer activities. We’ve compiled an A to Z list of things to do in Northwest Indiana with family and friends this summer…