Hikes, Hikes, Hikes

Oak Ridge Prairie            Friday, August 20, 2010                               9 a.m.

Reservations required: 219-844-3188.  Very few remnants of Tall Grass Prairie remain in the Midwest.  Those that have survived provide some of the most biologically diverse habitats in our area.  Visit an example of the once vast Tall Grass Prairie and learn how preservation and restoration have worked together to make Oak Ridge Prairie a prime example of these efforts.  Explore the flora and fauna that inhabit these places.  Comfortable walking shoes and insect repellent are recommended.  Meet in the parking lot by the kiosk.

There are plenty of places to see beautiful fall color in Lake County Indiana. Start by taking a leisurely walk with a Lake County Parks naturalist at Gibson Woods to enjoy the range of colors in an untouched natural landscape. Mid October is the peak time for seasonal changes to occur.

Learn more about our natural areas and find out how leaves change color. Wear comfortable shoes and dress for the weather. Registration is required. Call 219-844-3188 to register.

Be sure to visit your other Lake County Parks to see more fall colors at their best. They're one of nature's best shows in town in the fall.

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• Brownies:  "Watching Wildlife" • "Earth and Sky" • "Water Everywhere" (spring only) 

• Juniors:  "Wildlife" • "Earth Connections"

• Cadettes and Seniors:  "Wildlife" • "All about Birds"

• Bear: "Sharing Your World with Wildlife"

• Webelos: "Naturalist" • "Forester"

Fee:  $10 (includes both sessions)

June 16 and 18            10 a.m. to 12 p.m.       Ages 9-12

June 23 and 25            10 a.m. to 12 p.m.       Ages 5-8

Did you ever want to become an Archaeologist? Spend the morning at the Discover Nature Camp and you will learn how sites are chosen and the tools used.  You will even participate in a mock archaeological dig.  On Wednesday we will dig for cultural artifacts. On Friday we will be digging for mastodon bones. Some activities will be outdoors, so be sure to dress for the weather and wear sturdy shoes. Don’t forget to bring insect repellent. Pre-registration required:.219-844-3188.

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“Mother Nature’s Touches, Textures and Shapes”

Fee: $5 per session

Wednesday, July 14         10 a.m. to 12 p.m.     Ages 9-12

Wednesday, July 21         10 a.m. to 12 p.m.      Ages 5-8

Join a Lake County Parks naturalist at Gibson Woods for a morning of exploring and learning about nature through touches, textures and shapes. Some textures and shapes found in nature have a more significant purpose than you might think. Be sure to dress for the weather. Insect repellent is recommended. Pre-registration is required: 219-844-3188.

Leave No Trace

Gibson Woods

Sunday, July 18          1-3 p.m.                       Fee - $15 per person paid in advance

Registration and payment by July 2               Call: 219-769-7275

Attention teachers, youth leaders and outdoor enthusiasts!  Become a Leave No Trace facilitator for your group. Learn the seven principals of LNT and ways to teach your group about the fundamental use of front country and back country outdoor ethics. Be prepared to conduct your own teaching experience for the class.

Visit www.lnt.org for more information about the seven principals of Leave No Trace.  This facilitator training class is limited to 15 participants so be sure to sign up early. 

Leaf ID Workshop

Deep River                  Saturday, September 11         10 a.m.

$2 program fee                       

$2.50 for booklet “Identifying the Trees of the Lake County Parks”

Reservations required: 219-844-3188             Individual sign ups only

Before you start collecting leaves for your leaf collection, you’ll want to attend the Leaf ID Workshop.  It’s a great way to learn how to sort out all those leaf arrangements, shapes, lobes, margins, etc.  With a few simple tips, you will be well on your way to finishing your collections quicker and easier than ever before.  Insect repellent is recommended for this outdoor program. Payment may be made at the program.  Meet at the north end of the visitor center parking lot. 

Geology Merit Badge                       

Gibson Woods                                    Sunday, October 3                  1-3 p.m.           Ages 12 +

Learn some of the secrets of the earth through rocks and minerals. Become familiar with stones that are commonly found in this area. Discover the many uses of rocks and mineral in construction and everyday life. Test for hardness and be able to identify class or physical properties. Plot stream gradients and discuss how the flow affects sediment.

Registration is required by October 1 for this free program. Call: 219-844-3188.

Archeology in Indiana         

Gibson Woods                        Sunday, November 14                        1-3 p.m.           Ages 12+

Spend an afternoon learning about the archaeological history of Indiana along the Kankakee River. Mark Schurr, Ph. D., professor and chair of the Department of Anthropology at the University Of Notre Dame will share notes and experiences from his research at Collier Lodge. Collier Lodge is located near Kouts, IN and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.  Call 219-844-3188 by November 11 to reserve your place for this very popular presentation.

Have you visited Gibson Woods and want to learn more? We have developed interactive educational programs that are designed for special interest or home schooled groups to do on their own.  These programs, which are available free on our website, meet Indiana and Illinois educational requirements for 5^th to 7^th grade science. Topics available now are “Poison Ivy” and “Fire Ecology”. Click on the Educational Resources button

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GIBSON WOODS WILD ONES 

The Gibson Woods Chapter of Wild Ones continues to grow as the interest in gardening with native plants increases. The meetings are held at Gibson Woods on the first Saturday of each month at 10 a.m. The group does not meet in January. Members of Wild Ones can help gardeners learn more about native plants, from what works well for your soil type to what attracts birds and butterflies. After all, the purpose of natural landscaping is to put something back for the original inhabitants of any given area and make the landscape more environmentally sound. It is also interesting and educational to learn about native plants and their traditional uses. Members research a different plant each month and share the information at each meeting. Guest speakers are scheduled when possible and a native plant sale is held each spring. If you are interested in incorporating natives in your landscape, Gibson Woods Wild Ones would be glad to help.

Local native plant enthusiasts are happy to share their knowledge of growing wildflowers and grasses. 

This group can help you start naturalizing your yard to attract butterflies and birds and to make it more environmentally friendly. Field trips and guest speakers may be scheduled throughout the year. Contact Gibson Woods at 219-844-3188 for more information.

Wild Ones Upcoming Schedule

• July                                       No meeting

• August                                   No Meeting

• Saturday, September 4            Ferns

• Saturday, September 25          Native Plant Symposium (see article below)

• Saturday, October 2                Outing to “Gardens on the Prairie”

• Saturday, November 6             Seeds  

Saturday, September 25          7 a.m. to 2 p.m.           Villa Cesare, Schererville, IN

Join Gibson Woods Wild Ones at their 3^rd Biennial Native Plant Symposium. This year’s theme is “Native Plants in the Past, Present and Future”. Guest speakers include Patsy Clark from The Bittersweet Cultural Center, Connor Shaw of Possibility Place Nursery and Mike Nowak, host of the Mike Nowak radio show.

Registration prior to August 28 is $25 for members and $35 for non-members. Late registration August 29 to September 13 is an additional $5. Registration fee includes a continental breakfast and box lunch.  For further information call 219-844-3188. For a registration form, please visit www.gw-wildones.org

Click here for 2010 Native Plant Symposium Registration Form (pdf format)  

Click here for Symposium Agenda (pdf format)

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Many species of birds pass through Northwest Indiana during the spring and fall migration and many stop to rest and feed in natural areas, like Gibson Woods, that contain insects, caterpillars and other sources of food that help sustain migrating birds on their journey. That means we get a chance to see many colorful birds along the trails and at our feeders.

A wonderful way to spend some time, especially in late April and May, is to walk slowly along the trails or sit quietly in the wildlife observation room at the Gibson Woods Environmental Center. You'll likely see Baltimore Orioles, Hummingbirds, bright yellow Goldfinches, Indigo Buntings, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks and many other gorgeous birds.

While you're at the park, don't forget to check out the displays, including an impressive collection of taxidermy mounts of birds and other animals inside the center. The animal mounts, labeled with names and information, allow visitors to get a good look at many birds and animals that they wouldn't be able to get close to in the wild. None of the animals were killed for display purposes. All came by way of donations to the park department for educational purposes.

The Dunes Calumet Audubon Society and the Lake County Parks are sponsoring “Birding 101”, six weeks of workshops designed to help birding enthusiasts develop their bird identification skills. This course is an easy way to learn bird identification for aspiring, beginning birders. Those with more experience will find it a good way to review and brush up on the basics.

The first week, bird ID basics will be covered with subsequent classes focusing on different groups of birds. All classes are on Tuesday evening. Doors open at 6 p.m. Classes begin at 6:30 p.m. and end at 8:30 p.m. A field trip will be offered later in the course.  Join fellow bird enthusiasts for a chance to learn more about our feathered friends.

• Oak Ridge Prairie
• Earth Day Wednesday, April 20, 2011

• 7:15 p.m.  Meet at the shelter

• For more information or to sign up call 219-844-3188

• Please no groups for this activity 

• Deep River             

• Saturday, September 11, 2010                        

• 10 a.m.

• $2 program fee                       

• $2.50 for booklet “Identifying the Trees of the Lake County Parks”

• Reservations required: 219-844-3188

• Gibson Woods on Saturday, December 4, 2010 
• 1 to 3 p.m.

Stop in at the Gibson Woods Environmental Awareness Center any time between 1 and 3 p.m. for "Tree Decorating Naturally." Trimming the tree at Gibson Woods is a tradition that has been going on for a long time. Join us for some holiday fun as we use unique items that nature has provided to fashion one-of-a-kind ornaments for our holiday tree. Acorns, pinecones, seedpods and other dried natural "finds" will be available, but you are welcome to bring your own materials to share as well. Make an ornament for the tree at Gibson Woods and make one to take home. Stay to enjoy some holiday music and stop by the "Bird Room" to see who’s visiting the feeders. Registration is required. For further information or to sign up call 219-844-3188.

• Gibson Woods on Saturday December 11, 2010
• 1 to 3 pm

Don’t forget our furry and feathered friends during the holiday season. Stop by Gibson Woods any time between 1 and 3 p.m. for the "Wildlife Holiday Program." We will be making edible ornaments for our wildlife visitors. Popcorn garland, peanut butter pinecones and mini-donuts are just a few of the special treats we will be hanging on the trees and shrubs outside the windows of the bird observation area. Afterwards, sit back, relax and enjoy watching as the animals outside as they find the tasty ornaments we have made them. Registration is required. For more information and to sign up, please call 219-844-3188.

Last updated June 17, 2010