Two Decades of Outdoor Fun and Learning

Last week, the 6th grade took its class trip to Good Fellow Club Youth Camp at the Dunes Learning Center (DLC) in Chesterton, Indiana for the 20th consecutive year, marking an important milestone in the center’s history. In 1998, Peg Zerega and the Parker 6th grade became the first group of students to attend Good Fellow Camp. Today, the organization has grown to serve more than 100 student groups per year.

At the Dunes Learning Center, students explored the Dunes national lake shore. The DLC’s naturalists led the students on an eight-hour hike through the Dunes’ five biomes wherein they undertook independent ecosystem investigations, chose an environmental study question and learned to use naturalist’s tools to develop and present a solution to their problem. They completed team-building activities, played games and enjoyed a campfire. Furthermore, for the third consecutive year, the 6th grade earned the Karner Blue Butterfly award for leaving no food waste at the end of any meal.

Many thanks to the wonderful DLC staff for the fantastic experiences they have helped provide Parker 6th graders throughout the years, and special recognition for the efforts of DLC founder Geof Benson and annual trip coordinator Jaime Golba.