Northern Lights Eco Adventures Goes Virtual

2020 has been unusual to say the least. Between extreme weather and COVID19 we had to cancel our Northern Lights Eco Adventure Camp. (Part of our Take Bike the Streets Initiative check out takebikethestreets.org for more info.) However trail usage is up 200%+. We are producing a few virtual tours of area attractions that you can enjoy with your friends and family.

Virtual Tour 1 (Kemil Beach, Indiana Dunes NPS)

Northern Lights Eco Adventures Virtual Tour 1 (Kemil Beach)

2020 has been unusual to say the least. Between extreme weather and COVID19 we had to cancel our camp. However trail usage is up 200%+. We are producing a few virtual tours of area attractions that you can enjoy with your friends and family. #IndianaDunesNPS #NorthernLightEcoAdventures #TakeBikeTheStreets

Posted by Northern Lights Eco Adventures on Saturday, August 29, 2020

Virtual Tour 2 (City of the Century Homes)

Northern Lights Eco Adventures Virtual Tour 2

Coviad Summer 2020 Virtual Tour of City of the Century Homes (Indiana Dunes NPS) 2020 has been unusual to say the least. Between extreme weather and COVID19 we had to cancel our camp. However trail usage is up 200%+. We are producing a few virtual tours of area attractions that you can enjoy with your friends and family. #IndianaDunesNPS #NorthernLightEcoAdventures #TakeBikeTheStreets

Posted by Northern Lights Eco Adventures on Saturday, August 29, 2020

Project Background:

In the summer of 2018 Northern Lights Eco Adventures piloted our first Region Service Expedition. It encompassed four nights and five days of expedition-based learning through the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore and Northwest Indiana. The campers started in Michigan City and ended at the Douglas Center in Gary. The campers backpacked/paddled/and biked through the dunes and beach while learning about the local ecosystems and natural history of the community. The students also participated in local service projects and community art projects. By the end of the trip the students created a goal with an action plan dedicated to an individualized service project committed to complete in their hometown. 2019 saw us do several day trips and win the American Planning Award. 2020 has required us to take our camp online. For more info on all our adventures please check out our Facebook and our blog! 

Living in our Newest National Park

Gary’s Miller Spotlight volunteers couldn’t be happier about the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore becoming the USA’s newest National Park. 

(Rep Visclosky addresses community members at the park's designation.)

Over the years the good folks at NPs have been some of our best community partners and have actively helped us implement our 2025 community vision.

(NPS, VOCART, Northern Lights Eco Adventures, Causes for Change and Miller Spotlight at an adaptive paddle.)

Our 2025 Vision:

Miller is a beautiful, high density, universally designed neighborhood in Gary, Indiana, known as an active arts community and a destination for beach and waterfront recreation. Miller provides quality education and programs for its youth and a variety of activities for residents of all ages. Inviting gateways and transit options make Miller accessible to visitors from throughout the region, and Miller’s inclusive community design make it easy for residents and visitors alike to enjoy the area’s activities and natural environment. A vibrant downtown supports a strong business community and provides quality employment opportunities. Resident leadership and initiative create a thriving, safe, and inclusive neighborhood with government, philanthropic, and business support enriching those initiatives. The Miller neighborhood is a vibrant and functional community to live, work, and play in.

(Brainstorming session in 2015 at Marquette Park UMC)

This vision was created during Gary’s Miller Spotlight Collective Impact Plan process. It was the culmination of a year of relationship-building and planning efforts that happened between 2014-2015. We were part of the pilot year of the Legacy Foundation’s Neighborhood Spotlight program. You can download and read the plan in full here. 

(Monthly meeting of the Access Miller Action Group in 2019 at Anna's Kombucha Cafe.)

This plan is not final; it has continued to evolve with the emerging priorities and needs of our community as new opportunities have been identified and past concerns are resolved. As a community, Miller seeks to participate in the revitalization efforts occurring within Gary via a place-based collective impact process.

(Rep Visclosky discussing transportation equity with Jessica Renslow, Zully Alvarado and Jennie Rudderham at a Take Bike the Streets Event.)

Seven action groups were formed based on themes identified in the vision: 

• Area Context 
• Education, Youth and Child Programming
  
• Environment and Ecotourism
  
• Jobs and the Economy
  
• Property and Blight
  
• Safety and Code Enforcement
  
• Transportation and Infrastructure 

(Northern Lights camper paddling and NPS escorting folks at one of our adaptive paddles.)

We cannot wait to continue to help NPS steward our environment, while also helping our city infuse its economy by this new boon. 

(Zully Alvarado and Jessica Renslow at the Bike Walk Summit in Indianapolis and the Douglas Center's Sign.)