When: July 31st -August 1st, 2026.  Check-in begins at 8:45 am CT on 7/31, and the workshop concludes at 4 pm CT on 8/1.   

Where:  Dunes Learning Center, 700 Howe Road, Chesterton, IN 46304, located within Indiana Dunes National Park.

Who: Open to all 5-12th grade formal and non-formal educators. 

Cost: $50* includes room and board for one night at the Dunes Learning Center, workshop materials, and swag. Scholarships are available to ensure cost is not a barrier to participation. Contact: [email protected] with your inquiry. 

Registration: https://www.simpletix.com/e/earth-systems-a-great-lakes-perspective-tickets-266021  (Registration Deadline: July 8, 2026)

Description

Dunes Learning Center, Indiana Department of Natural Resources/Division of Fish & Wildlife, National Great Rivers, and Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant have teamed up to offer a two-day, Lake Michigan watershed workshop for educators. Through this hands-on, overnight workshop, educators will be eligible to earn 12 ISBE clock hours in Illinois or 12 PGPs in Indiana.

After completing the workshop, participants will receive Project WET Water in Earth Systems guidebook that includes 23 activities that are tied to Common Core and the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS).

Project WET, an award-winning, multidisciplinary program, teaches about water resources, and the role water plays in various ecosystems and human life through hands-on, investigative activities that encourage teamwork, problem-solving, and critical thinking.

In this multi-day professional learning workshop, educators will:

• Gain knowledge about the important role of water in Earth’s systems with a special focus on the Great Lakes.
• Experience at least 14 hands-on lessons as a learner while also developing an understanding of navigating the curricular materials from an instructional standpoint.
• Learn how the activities are aligned with Common Core and NGSS and identify connections between workshop activities and standards relevant to the learning environment.
• Become familiar with regional resources, programs, and opportunities to engage in place-based learning and stewardship with students. 

*This workshop is possible through funding from the Indiana Department of Natural Resource/Division of Fish & Wildlife, Dunes Learning Center, and Swarovski Foundation Waterschool.