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 10:00 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

======================

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

WHEN: Saturday, May 7th, 2022, 11 AM C.S.T.  (And scroll down to the bottom for seven more hikes!)

WHERE: Indiana Dunes State Park’s Pavilion on the Lake Michigan beach It costs $7 per car for Indiana residents and $12 per car for out of state residents to enter the Indiana Dunes State Park. 

Here is the exact  Google Map location for the Pavilion: https://goo.gl/maps/zsfy7qjafsbhYrym6

WHO:  YOU! Veterans, their families, their friends, their supportive groups, friendly loving dogs and service animals, oh and those who are thankful for their FREEDOM!

WHAT: Hike at the Birthplace of Ecology, the Indiana Dunes. Hike in the greatest biodiversity density in America 🇺🇸 to build your ENTIRE body from mind to physically, including your soul. We will be hiking on a flat dirt trail for a total of about 3 miles. (We will go from the Pavilion through the campground past the Nature Center on Trail 10 to the cutover to Trail 9 and then back on Trail 9 to the Nature Center to the campground to the Pavilion.)  Optionally people can add 2 miles on to this by going to see the beaver lodges on the Trail 2 boardwalk. 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 fellowship, to get the greatest microbes from the greatest biodiversity density in the UNITED STATES to build your mental/physical/spiritual health, learn the nature of nature, learn about the history, and countless more things...

ALSO: There will be two ***optional*** AFTER HIKES for those who can't get enough of the Indiana Dunes !!

               1) 3:00 PM Hike the Lake   ( START at the Pavilion then EAST alongside  water, that is Lake Michigan, then RIGHT on Trail 8 south UP TO Mt. Tom {Tallest dune in Indiana}, down Trail 4 to campground, turn LEFT, east, go east past the Nature Center, turn LEFT, north, up Trail 8 to Mt. Jackson then to Mt. Holden, then down to Lake Michigan then turn left alongside water and return to the Pavilion. 

               2) 7:00 PM SUNSET, TWILIGHT, and NIGHT(same course as original first daytime hike) There will be sunset, twilight, and NIGHT...

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. 

5.6.22 7:03 PM

NOTE: IF Google Forms below is not working or is just too much of pain to use, JUST SEND AN EMAIL TO IndianaDunesHiking@Gmail.Com with your name, and phone and any other info you have time to send, like what branch you served in. Thank you!