Wildflower Hike: Wildflowers of the Indiana Dunes National Parks

West Beach, Indiana Dunes National Park

 

Indiana Native Plant Society (North Chapter) Wildflower Hike

Where: West Beach https://goo.gl/maps/muxDp25uiGGz2T7DA

Date: Sunday, June 26, 2022 

Time: 9:00 am CT, 10:00 am EDT 

Trip Leaders: Scott Namestnik and Nathanael Pilla

Participation: No limit

  • Meet at the West Beach parking lot for a 9:00 am central/10:00 am eastern hike.
  • Nathanael & Scott’s book, Wildflowers of the Indiana Dunes National Park, will be for sale (and will sign copies as well); cash, check, or Venmo payments accepted. 
  • The National Park fee will apply (Pay fee at gate entrance or show National Parks Pass).
  • Following the hike, Nathanael & Scott will go to Hunter’s Brewing in Chesterton for some beer. All are welcome to join!

* e-mail Esteban Coria at [email protected] to participate. 

 

 

Nathanael Pilla – Speaker

Guide, Botanist

Nathanael J. Pilla is a charismatic plant preacher. He is a botanist, performer, father, husband, lover of life, and when not writing, dancing, or botanizing, he is studying philosophy and theology. He received his Master of Science in Biology from Purdue University Northwest. Nathanael is an active public speaker and nature enthusiast. His written work has appeared in peer-reviewed journals including Proceedings of the Indiana Academy of Science.

 

Scott Namestnik – Speaker

Guide, Botanist, Indiana DNR – Division of Nature Preserves

Scott Namestnik is the Botanist at the Indiana Natural Heritage Data Center, which is part of the Indiana Department of Natural Resources – Division of Nature Preserves. Much of his work involves conducting botanical inventories, assessing sites for protection consideration, and documenting and monitoring occurrences of endangered and threatened species. He has a degree in Botany with a focus in Environmental Science and over 20 years of experience with the flora of the Great Lakes region and the Midwestern United States. His written work on the flora has appeared in several peer-reviewed journals including The Michigan Botanist, The Great Lakes Botanist, Phytoneuron, Proceedings of the Indiana Academy of Science, and Rhodora, and he is co-author of Wildflowers of the Midwest (Timber Press) and Wildflowers of the Indiana Dunes National Park (Indiana University Press), both available in May 2022. He currently serves as a board member for NatureCITE, Indiana Native Plant Society (North Chapter) and South Bend-Elkhart Audubon Society, is on the advisory council for Shirley Heinze Land Trust and the planning committee for the Indiana Dunes Birding Festival, and is active with the Indiana Native Plant Society (Journal Team Leader) and the Indiana Academy of Science (member of the Biodiversity and Natural Areas Committee and Chair of the Plant Systematics and Biodiversity section). Scott has conducted bird surveys professionally and participates regularly in several Christmas Bird Counts and May bird counts. He also participated for several years in Upland Sandpiper (and other grassland bird) monitoring in South Bend. In addition, Scott has conducted volunteer monitoring as part of FrogWatch USA for many years.