Frog in the Bog: on the Trail with Dunes Learning Center

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Frog in the Bog: On the Trail with Dunes Learning Center The Cowles Bog Trail is one of the most biologically diverse areas of Indiana Dunes National Park. It is named to honor University of Chicago botanist Henry Chandler Cowles who first documented eco- logical succession there in the 1890s. During a 4.5 mile guided hike, students examine intricate ecosystems including wetland, Eastern deciduous forest, oak savanna woodland, foredune, and open beach. 9:15 am 10:00 am 10:45 am HYPOTHESIS: Before heading out, ECOSYSTEM INVESTIGATION: Stu- EXPLORATION: Students observe and students make and record predictions dents observe changes in the soil and document plant and animal diversity. about the ecosystems they will be puddles. They also measure and chart visiting. weather conditions, wind speeds, and temperatures. 12:00 pm 12:45 pm 1:00 pm DISCOVERY: Students get their first JUBILATION: After a hearty trail lunch RECREATION: Students enjoy a stretch glimpse of Lake Michigan and a better to restore their energy, students take off of pristine beachfront before heading understanding of how one plant com- on a fast and furious run down a dune. back on trail to finish collecting data. munity gradually replaces another. 4:45 pm 6:20 pm 8:00 pm CELEBRATION: After a long day on the REFLECTION: Students analyze and CONNECTION: The group wraps up trail, students proclaim, “If I try, I can graph ecosystem data to compare it their busy day with songs, skits, and achieve it!” as they share stories from with their hypotheses and draw new s’mores at the campfire. the trail. conclusions. The Cowles Bog Trail highlights an area of such outstanding plant diversity, it was designated a National Natural Landmark in 1965. You can explore this unique series of ecosystems yourself! The trail is mostly sand and packed soil, with steep, rugged sand dune climbs near Lake Michigan. The full loop hike can take 2-3 hours. C owles B og T rail.

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10/23/2014 The Historical Roots of The Nature Conservancy in the Northwest Indiana/Chicagoland Region: From Science to Preservation Category: Vol. 3, 2009 The Historical Roots of The Nature Conservancy in the Northwest Indiana/Chicagoland Region: From Science to Preservation Written by Stephanie Smith and Steve Mark Hits: 10184 The South Shore Journal, Vol. 3, 2009, pp.1-10. Stephanie Smith - Indiana University Northwest Steve Mark - Chicago, Illinois Abstract The present article highlights the impact that scientists, educators, and activists of the Northwest Indiana/Chicagoland area had on the conservation of land. The habitat and ecosystems of the Indiana Dunes were deemed to be of scientific interest by Henry Cowles, who led an international group of ecologists to visit the area in 1913. This meeting resulted in the formation of the Ecological Society of America, an offshoot of which eventually became The Nature Conservancy. It was only when preservation efforts expanded their focus from scientists attempting to prove that habitats were worthy of preservation to include contributions by people from all walks of life, did conservation take off. Keywords: The Nature Conservancy, Ecologists Union, Volo Bog The Historical Roots of The Nature Conservancy in the Northwest Indiana/Chicagoland Region: From Science to Preservation …There is not a sufficient number of scientific people as voters to enthuse the politicians… …. (Garland, 1954). In the late 1890’s and early 1900’s, Henry Chandler Cowles, a botanist at the University of Chicago, published a number of scientific papers on ecological succession from research conducted in the sand dunes of northwestern Indiana (e.g., Cowles, 1899; Cowles, 1901).
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