2018 Educational Hike Series 

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Explore the beauty of the Calumet Region and beyond and support Shirley Heinze Land Trust in working to preserve natural lands in Northwest Indiana by attending our educational hikes. Attendees are treated to a wealth of knowledge from a variety of expert hike leaders, in groups of 15 or less. Hikes are held at a variety of outstanding nature preserves located across Northwest Indiana, Northeast Illinois and Southwest Michigan. 

Saturday, February 3 
Winter Birding at Seidner Dune & Swale in Hammond, Indiana 
8 am - 11am

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​Join Matt Kalwasinski to explore the Seidner Dune and Swale Nature Preserve for winter avian residents, including ducks and other waterfowl and possibly even bald eagles.   

This 43-acre property is a dedicated state nature preserve and protects globally rare dune-and-swale topography and floodplain marsh along the Grand Calumet River.  Natural communities here include black oak savanna, sand prairie, sedge meadows, cattail marsh, and buttonbush swamp. During the trip, we will view the nearby Grand Calumet Tern Site (DNR), and, if time allows, we will explore some of the Beemsterboer Tract that also borders the Grand Calumet River. 

​Matt birds extensively in Northwest Indiana and has led birding trips for the Indiana Audubon Society; including tours during the Indiana Dunes Birding Festival.​

Saturday, April 28
Spring Ephemerals at the new Myrna Newgent Nature Preserve near Rolling Prairie, Indiana
​9 am - Noon (Central Time) 

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​This brand new Shirley Heinze Land Trust acquisition in Wills Township, southeast of Rolling Prairie in LaPorte County, is not yet open to the public.  Be among the first to see the outstanding display of spring wildflowers in this high quality woodland.  Though this property is only 16 acres, it features a very high plant diversity and is part of a rich and much larger forest community.
Botanist Scott Namestnik with Orbis Environmental Consulting will lead us in this preserve.  

Saturday, June 2
Upland Grassland and Marsh Birds at Kankakee Sands near Morocco, Indiana
7:30 am - 10:30 am​

​Upland grassland and marsh birds at Kankakee Sands near Morocco, Indiana.  We are lucky to have Matt Kalwasinski for a second time this season.  We will search out some of the interesting breeding grassland and marsh birds that thrive in the extensive prairies and wetlands of the Kankakee Sands of Indiana. During the trip, the group will drive to multiple parking lots in the area searching for birds; sometimes birding near the roadways. There may be instances when the group will walk a short trail from the parking lots. At the end of the tour, the group will be encouraged to visit the recently created Bison Viewing area.

Saturday, June 16
Suman Fen in Porter County, Indiana near Jackson Township
​9 am - Noon

​Suman Fen in Porter County, Indiana near Jackson Township. Part of the Moraine Addition Nature Preserve Complex.  Not open to the public, Suman Fen is one of the highest quality fens in Northwest Indiana, with many rare plants and insects.  Take this opportunity to join the Indiana Division of Nature Preserves’ Regional Ecologist Derek Nimitz to explore this rare wetland ecosystem.  Suman Fen does not have trails and some may find the terrain difficult to walk on.  

Saturday, June 30
Milkweeds and Other Native Plants at Cressmoor Prairie Nature Preserve, Hobart, Indiana
​​9 am - Noon

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​This 41 acre property is a dedicated state nature preserve located in Hobart.  One of the rarest ecosystems in the state, the black-soil prairie at Cressmoor is an extremely high quality landscape.  It harbors at least ten state-listed species of rare plants.  Nathanael Pilla, botanist with Save the Dunes will show us some of the beautiful native plants in bloom mid-summer at Cressmoor. 

Registration Information

There is a limit of 15 participants for each hike.

The fee is $25 fee per person for each hike.  

Registration and payment must be made in advance by calling us at 219-242-8558 or by sending an email to Sarah Barnes at sbarnes@heinzetrust.org. 
 
Payment may be made by phone with a credit card, or you may make arrangements to send a check.

Participants will receive a reminder via email prior to each hike with directions to the site along with any other instructions. 
 
Hikes are conducted rain or shine, except during thunderstorms.

Recommendations for hikers

  • Bring drinking water, binoculars and/or hand lenses, and field guides.
  • Be prepared for sun (or rain) and insects.
  • Wear comfortable clothing and shoes that can handle muddy going.
  • Please be on time.  Hikes will begin promptly at the time indicated.​