Press release for 5/13/23

Ron Seman, the founder of Indiana Dunes Hiking and biking, kayaking, snowshoeing, cross country skiing, and sledding; and an Indiana Master Naturalist, has been leading at least one or more daily events since the pandemic began at the Indiana Dunes National Park, Indiana Dunes State Park, Shirley Heinze Land Trust Nature Preserves in six counties, Porter and LaPorte County parks, Coffee Creek Watershed Preserve, Moraine Nature Preserve, Westchester Migratory Bird Sanctuary, and in Michigan the Warren Dunes  and Galien River County park. With over fifty years of hiking experience in this area and many national parks a great opportunity came up.

While at Porter County Parks and Recreation Department new flag pole event, Jeremy D'Alessio, the Community Engagement & Partnerships Coordinator of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs of the Veterans Health Administration, asked Ron if he could start a new program reaching out to veterans through hiking events at national and state parks to improve the physical and mental health of veterans, family, and friends.

The next event to happen is on Saturday, 5/13/2023 at 9:45 AM  at the Pavilion of the Indiana Dunes State Park in Chesterton, IN. There will be an easy flat hike which can be done up to 3 miles or less based on abilities. In addition there will be an optional rugged hike as well as a third hike which is a night, will will match the first day hike.

The details are at HikerVETS.com and questions can be emailed to HikerVETS@Gmail.com . All those who enjoy freedom are welcomed and are encouraged to tell others. There are no fees, other than entry into the Indiana Dunes State Park which cost $7 for Indiana residents or $12 for out-of-state residents. No items will be sold nor donations to anything allowed.

3.13.23

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Text for 5.13.23 event:

Welcome to a beautiful hike for veterans/family/friends at the world famous Indiana Dunes, the Birthplace of Ecology, with the greatest biodiversity density in our United States. Why is that important? We have the greatest diversity of microbes. Why is that important? You have 99,000,000,000,000 (99 trillion) microbial cells in your body and only 1 trillion human cells, which are MUCH larger. YOUR collection of microbes are called your microbiome. Forget the limiting name of gut health.

"Historically, military units could spend months marching home from war. During this journey, they would process and come to terms with their wartime experiences. But in today’s age of modern transportation military personnel can find themselves home within a few days of serving in a combat zone."       

           -WarriorExpeditions.org/background/

"WALK OFF THE WAR" - Earl Shaffer when he came home from WWII, and four months later he was the first person to hike the entire Appalachian trail!

"The Sand will Wash Off" - Ron Seman

There is an army rising up to break every chain with HIS help.

See Press Release: HikerVETS.com/Press-Release-for-51323

3.13.23

NEXT SCHEDULED EVENT

          Saturday, 

          May 13th, 2023

          Arrive at 9:45 AM and hike with us OR

          come whenever you want for some healing by nature.

  There will be several routes that will be available and I will clearly lay them out ahead of time with photos and videos.  Check back here for details.

  1) A hike on concrete/deck/hard dirt/asphalt with a round trip distance of from 1/4 mile to 1/4 - 2 miles. (From Pavilion all the way to the Nature Center of the Indiana Dunes State Park)   

2) A hike on concrete/deck/hard dirt/asphalt/hard dirt from the Nature Center of the Indiana Dunes State Park around a portion of Trail 10    

 to the FACE TREE and then over to Trail 9 and back to the Pavilion. That includes 1) and brings total to 3 miles.

3) As we come back from 2) above we take Trail 8 north on the infamous killer sand THREE(3) Dune Challenge. We will descend from Mt Tom to the beach collapsing bavk at the pn.  to the FACE TREE and then over to Trail 9 and back to the Pavilion. That brings total to 5 miles.

WHERE: The Pavilion at the Indiana Dunes State Park  . (There is a gate fee for the Indiana Dunes State Park. It is $7 per car for Indiana residents and $12 for out of state cars.)

Here is the exact  Google Map location for the Pavilion: https://goo.gl/maps/f9pKQsH8G1rq62YN8

WHO:  YOU! Veterans, their families, their friends, their supportive groups, friendly loving dogs and service animals, oh and ALL LOVERS OF  FREEDOM!

WHAT: Hike at the diverse and beautiful Indiana Dunes State Park  We hike in dry/drizzle/hail/rain/sleet/snow/. There are no t-shirts, no bananas, no flags being handed out, no boring irrelevant speeches,  and no soliciting for anything. IT IS SIMPLY YOU IN NATURE. 

WHY: For fun, fellowship, to build your mental/physical/spiritual health, learn the nature of nature, learn about the history, and countless more things...

INITIALLY we are focusing on hiking because it is the easiest to organize. As I do with IndianaDunesHiking.Com I also lead bicycling, kayaking, snowshoeing, cross country skiing, and cool sledding & tobogganing! 

Thank you!

3.29.23