​Day 2 | Indiana Dunes National Park

This morning, we became part of Indiana Dunes National Park history.

As the inaugural STEAM in the PARK group to stay in the newly restored Goodfellow Lodge, we realized that we weren't just visiting a historic building—we were helping begin its next chapter.

Originally built in 1941 as the centerpiece of U.S. Steel's Good Fellow Youth Camp, the lodge welcomed generations of children whose parents worked at the Gary Works steel mill. After the National Park Service acquired the property in 1976, the building waited decades for its next chapter. Today, thanks to an extraordinary restoration effort and the dedication of people who believed this place was worth saving, Goodfellow Lodge is once again filled with laughter, learning, and community.

One of those people is Judy Collins, who has spent decades working to preserve the history of Indiana Dunes National Park and advocating for the restoration of Goodfellow Lodge. Because of her perseverance, along with the efforts of countless others, educators from across the country are able to experience this remarkable place. We are incredibly grateful for her vision and commitment to ensuring that future generations will continue to learn from and enjoy this historic lodge.

One of the highlights of our day was gathering outside the lodge for a group photograph that will become part of the new Goodfellow Lodge time capsule. What an incredible honor to know that years from now, someone will open that capsule and discover the faces of the very first STEAM in the PARK educators to call this beautifully restored lodge home.

Our learning continued with the incredible Great Marsh Wetland Restoration team. We learned about the importance of native plants and wetlands before rolling up our sleeves to help clean seeds that will eventually be grown in their native nursery. It was rewarding to know that such a simple task today will contribute to restoring habitats throughout the Indiana Dunes ecosystem. Conservation isn't always glamorous, but it is always important, and today we became a small part of that ongoing story.

From there, it was time for the Indiana Dunes Rescue Challenge. Campers worked together to solve problems, think creatively, and discover just how interconnected the plants, animals, and people of Indiana Dunes really are. We also explored our artistic side by creating paints from natural materials we found around camp. Every color came directly from nature, reminding us that the landscape itself can be both our classroom and our art studio.

Then came one of the funniest moments of the week so far—our Adaptations Auction. This year was a first for me because I stepped into the role of auctioneer, and I have to admit...I think I found a new favorite job! Pacia and Neysa embraced their roles as my wildly enthusiastic auction assistants, helping keep the bidding moving while adding plenty of laughs along the way. Emily wisely chose a different strategy—she mostly stood back and laughed at all of us as the competition became more and more spirited. It was energetic, a little chaotic, and exactly the kind of joyful learning we love.

Our Rewilding session was another success as we continued talking about the small actions each of us can take to restore habitats and make a positive difference long after camp comes to an end. It is always encouraging to watch educators begin thinking about how they can take these ideas home to their students and communities.

We closed the evening with our CCC LEGO Build, where campers recreated Civilian Conservation Corps projects while learning about the lasting impact the CCC had on Indiana Dunes and parks across the country. It was a fitting way to end a day that connected history, conservation, creativity, and community.

Tomorrow we head out for an all-day field experience with our amazing Indiana Dunes National Park rangers. We can't wait to explore more of this incredible park together.