Dunes Learning Center to host gala

Chesterton-based Dunes Learning Center will celebrate its 26th Anniversary with a gala Sept. 20.

The event, A Dunes Affair, will take place at Journeyman Distillery in Valparaiso. The evening will include an award program and silent and live auctions. It will also feature a paddle raise to support scholarships for environmental education and summer camps.

Union Township School Corp. will be honored with Dunes Learning Center’s Green Apple Award. The award recognizes excellence in environmental education. Fifth graders from Union Township’s elementary schools have attended overnight programs at Dunes Learning Center since 1998.

“Students of all ages enjoy new outdoor experiences as they connect with nature and explore Indiana Dunes National Park to learn about ecology, history and conservation,” said Heather Hahn Sullivan, executive director, in a press release . “Outdoor school programs with Dunes Learning Center encourage critical thinking and creativity through hands-on learning.”

The Dunes Learning Center has a menu of environmental education programs. The center started offering overnight school trips 26 years ago. Since then, over 200,000 students of all ages have experienced nature-based learning through the center.

Learn more about the gala celebration here .

Dunes Learning Center is the nonprofit education partner of Indiana Dunes National Park. The center aims to inspire lasting curiosity and stewardship with nature. It hosts onsite programming and outreach programming, bringing environmental education to sites throughout Lake, Porter and La Porte counties.

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