Environmental Education at your LaPorte County Parks

The Parks Department serves thousands of students throughout the county and is committed to quality environmental education that provides our children with the tools to better care for the earth.

Program Scheduling:

Call the Luhr Park Nature Center at (219) 324-5855. Call at least two weeks prior to the date of your planned visit. Programs are available Monday through Thursday at Luhr County Park, Bluhm County Park, Red Mill County Park, or Creek Ridge County Park.

When you call to schedule your program tell us:

• Your name (contact person), address, and phone number.
• The size of your group and grade level.
• The program title you are interested in.
• The park you would like to visit.
• The date you would like to visit.
• The time you want to arrive at the park; the time you would need to leave the park
• If you want Nature Center time and if you will be eating lunch at the park.

  Email Nature Niki for more information!!

   

  Schedule your program at one of these parks:

Luhr County Park
3178 S. 150 W.
LaPorte
Features: 2 acre pond fishing dock, playground, shelter, 3/4 mile paved trails, nature center, and more.

Creek Ridge County Park
7943 W. 400 N.
Michigan City
Features: Fishing access to Trail Creek, shelters, playgrounds, boardwalks, volleyball court, horseshoes, and more.

Bluhm County Park
3855 S. 1100 W.
Westville
Features: Mountain bike trails, playground, shelter, boardwalk, wetland, 1/2 acre fishing pond, over 1 mile of paved hiking trails, and more.

Red Mill County Park
0185 South Holmesville Road
LaPorte
Features: Fishing, hall rental, playgrounds, 108 acre Nature Preserve, hiking trails, 23 acre wetland, and more.

Spend an hour or day at one of your LaPorte County Parks! Call to schedule a program today!

Programs

The programs can last an hour or longer, depending on the size of the group and the age of the students. Programs for larger groups may require some teacher led activities while half the group is working with a Naturalist. Programs can be done on any topic. Below are some examples.

• Time Needed:1 hour Sensory Sensations Site: All County Parks Discover nature through the use of all five of the senses. Participants will learn about nature through hands-on activities. Bug Fun Site: All County Parks Hands on activities that teach students about spiders, flies, and other bugs. Food Web Exploration Site: All County Parks An active look at who eats whom in the wild. Gone Fishing Site: Luhr County Park Learn about fish and try to catch the big one. Fishing poles and bait will be provided for this program. Tracking Animals Site: All County Parks Spend time in the field looking for animal tracks and signs. Birds Site: All County Parks This is a fun program that explores bird adaptations. Pond Study Site: Luhr County Park and Red Mill County Park What lives in the water? This program takes a close look at pond life. Leaf Key Site: All County Parks Take a look at what makes leaves similar and different.

• Special Programs Various program topics such as bird identification, maps and compass course can be arranged with advanced planning. Programs can be tailored to subjects that you are studying or that your scout troop needs to receive a patch.