GENERAL INFORMATION

Unless otherwise indicated, all hikes have a maximum of 20 participants (in addition to hike leaders); this allows all to see special features close up. Hikes are conducted rain or shine, except during thunderstorms. Times noted are hiking times and do not include meeting and driving time. We advise hikers to bring drinking water, binoculars and/or hand lenses, to be prepared for sun (or rain) and insects, and to wear comfortable clothes and shoes that can handle muddy going and very wet ground. Participants will be enrolled on a first-come, first-served basis. If your check is not returned, you have been enrolled. Directions and meeting locations will be mailed to participants one week before each hike. SEND YOUR CHECK AT LEAST 10 DAYS BEFORE THE  FIRST HIKE YOU PLAN TO ATTEND!

The hikes are $30.00 per person, and sign up is required.  Unless otherwise noted, group size is limited to 20.  If you have questions, or are interested in signing up, feel free to contact the SHLT office at (219) 879-4725 or by e-mail at land@heinzetrust.org.

#1—Birds and Blooms

at Indiana Dunes State Park, Trail 2

Saturday, May 1, 2010 - 9:00 a.m.  to 12:00 p.m.  

Spring wild flowers and migratory birds (Birds and Blooms) at Indiana Dunes State Park, Trail 2.  Join Brad Bumgardner, interpretative naturalist with the State Park, on a walk along one of Northwest Indiana’s most beautiful displays of spring wild flowers and a favorite stopover for many migrating birds.

#2—Medicinal Plants — Beverly Shores, Indiana

Saturday, June 5, 2010 - 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Mary Wagner, herbalist and plant enthusiast (author of "A Beginners Guide to the Plants of the Indiana Dunes") will lead us on a walk around Beverly Shores to learn about the traditional medical uses of native and non-native plants common in the Indiana Dunes area.

#3—Calumet Prairie

Saturday, July 17, 2010 - 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. 

Derek Nimetz, Regional Ecologist with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Division of Nature Preserves, will lead us through this natural area. Calumet Prairie is comprised of a mixture of wet sand prairie and sedge meadow plant communities. of the site began in 2007 and more efforts are planned for 2010. highlights will focus on wetland plant species including the State endangered Smaller Forget-me-not. terrain is uneven and walking may be difficult.

4—Pine Station

Lake County, Indiana

Saturday, August 7, 2010 - 9:00 a.m. to 12:00

Botanist Scott Namestnik of JFNew leads us on a hike through this 250 acre nature preserve featuring dune and swale topograpy and sand-mined dune ridges.  The site has undergone extensive restoration by the IDNR and contains many interesting plants of calcareous wet sand and low sandy ridges including Paper Birch (Betula papyrifera), Bog Lobelia(Lobelia kalmii), Prairie Goldenrod (Solidago ptarmicoides), and hopefully "one of our very rarest plants" according to Plants of the Chicago Region, Blue Hearts (Buchnera americana).

#5—Hoosier Prairie, Griffith, Indiana

Saturday, August 21, 2010 - 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Hoosier Prairie is a large remnant of the prairie landscape that was once common in northwest Indiana. This tract preserves the topographic and biotic diversity of the sand plains north of the Valparaiso Moraine. Tom Post, Regional Ecologist with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Division of Nature Preserves, will take us to one of the most recent acquisitions at Hoosier Prairie to look at ongoing management activities and update species lists for this new addition. Be prepared for walking off trail.

FREE HIKES

Details for these hikes will be published at a later date.

Saturday, September 11

Community Hike at Ambler Flatwoods in Michigan City.

Saturday, October 16

Donor Appreciation Day and Lunch at Bur Oak Woods in Hobart.

Please sign me up for the following hikes:

Amount Enclosed on Check:  $ __________

Name_________________________________

Address_______________________________

Phone_________________e-mail__________

Please fill out, print and mail to: Shirley Heinze Land Trust 444 Barker Rd. Michigan City, IN 46360 OR e-mail Janet Kaminski at janet@heinzetrust.org with your reservation.