Group Members Names:

Indiana Dunes Biodiversity and Geological Scavenger Hunt

Background Info:
While visiting Indiana Dunes State Park it is easy to just enjoy the day at the beach or
taking a hike. What many dont realize is it is also home to thousands of different plants, animals
and organisms. Indiana dunes is a geological landmark displaying ecological succession of the
area around Lake Michigan. Today we will pay more attention to the biodiverse habitats,
geological factors and beauty of the Park. Our focus will be on comparing the different areas,
habitats and area of successions in the park and how those correspond with the plant and
animal diversity of the site.
Question/Purpose:
How does ecological succession affect the biodiversity and look of Indiana Dunes?
Instructions:
Your groups of 4-6 people will compete with other groups in the class in a scavenger
hunt over the course of our day at Indiana Dunes. On the bus ride you will be asked to make
your team a group card. This card will be important in the game so dont loose it. During this
scavenger hunt you will be rewarded points for every species of plant and location that you
successfully find and take a picture with. Some locations and plants are already included in the
scavenger hunt, but finding other surprise bonus point plants not included on the scavenger
hunt will earn your group more points. At the end of the day the teams will give their group cards
to the teachers and chaperones. Then they will tally up the points to determine the winner. The
winner will be announced at dinner and the winning group will receive free lunch from a
restaurant of their choosing the following day free.
Rules:
Your team card or one member must be in the picture somehow.
You are allowed to use your phones to help identify plant species and locations.
Pictures off the internet will NOT be accepted for points.
Stay on the trail at all times and no
disturbing your surroundings (respect the nature
around you), failure to do so will result in
disqualification.
Stay in your groups at all times. Set up
contact with all group members in case of
emergency or accidental split up.
Do not go in the water till teachers
announce that day whether it is safe or not.
You must return your team card back to
a teacher with all of your group members
present at the time of turn in.
If you loose a group member points will be deducted.
On your team card include names, grades, homeroom and a logo on the corner
that you can include in pictures.
Schedule:

Field trip should take place in April or May due to a later sunset. (~8 pm)
6:00 am - Leave Oswego east for Indiana Dunes. (1 hour drive)
7:30 am - Estimated arrival at Dorothy Buell Memorial Visitors Center to receive maps
and take bathroom breaks, etc.
8:00 am - Meet back on bus to enter state park (~10 min drive)
8:10 am - Arrive at pavilion/beach house and wait for further instructions from teacher
and explore/start lab (make sure to fill out lab sheet)
12:00 pm - Meet back at pavilion/beach house for lunch and competition halfway results
and relaxing
2:00 pm- Resume Lab competition
6:00 pm - Meet back at pavilion/beach house for Dinner
7:15 pm - Report to bus for headcount
7:30 pm - Leave Indiana Dues for Oswego East ( 1 hour drive)
9:00 pm - Estimated arrival time at Oswego East
*Winners will be announced the next school day.
**Winner receives free lunch of their choice from the teacher during school and 20 extra
credit points**
(Chick-fil-a, chipotle, mcdonalds, etc.)
Materials:
Writing utensil
Lab sheet provided from class
Camera (phone or better)
Map
Watch/clock
Water
Lunch
Backpack or drawstring to carry materials
Any other materials your group may want to bring
Hazards (Pay attention and be careful throughout the trip):

Dangers include poison ivy, dehydration, water conditions, rip tides,

strenuous activity, bug bites and stings.
Maps:

We will stop at the Dorothy Buell Visitor Center to pick up maps for all
groups to look off of when we get into the park.
Please listen to your instructor on the ride from the Dorothy Buell Visitor
Center to the park for further instruction on what paths are allowed and not
allowed to be taken.

 Park Map should look like this.

Data table: (What to find and point values)

Picture
#

Name

Point
Worth

Hints

Sand Dune

10

All around you

Toleston Shoreline

10

Beach

Beach

10

By pavilion

Pavilion

10

Where we are supposed to meet up

Lake Michigan

10

By beach

Devils Slide

15

Refer to map

Dunes Creek

15

Refer to map

Mt. Tom

20

Refer to map

Check-Box

Mt. Holden

20

Refer to map

10

Mt. Jackson

20

Refer to map

11

Fore-Dunes

25

Type of ecological succession. Sand and

some grasses. (Look for Marram Sand
Grass)

12

Dry Prairie

25

Habitat, Should be on map

13

Marshes

30

Habitat, Should be on map

14

Glacial Till

10

Leftover sediment from receding glaciers.

15

Oak Forest

20

Type of ecological succession. Area with

oak and Hickory trees

16

Pine Forest

20

Type of ecological succession. Forest

community with pine trees.

17

Beech-Maple Forest

20

Climax of succession. Beech and maple

trees with lots of organisms and leaves

18

Pitcher's Thistle

25

Grows in sandy conditions (near beach)

19

Lupine

25

Purple flower found in forest

20

Marram Dune Grass

25

Grows in sandy conditions (near beach)

21

Narrow Leaved Sundew

25

Marshes and shrub areas

22

Virginia Snakeroot

25

Leafy green plant found in forest

23

American Columbo

25

Leafy green plant found in forest

24

Red-Tailed Hawk

50

Try finding bird watching platform

25

White-Tailed Deer

40

Mostly found in deeper forest area

26

Cotton-Tailed Rabbit

40

Found in forest areas

27

Seagull

40

Keep eye out on beaches

28

Frog

40

Keep eye out in marshes

29

Six-lined Racerunner

50

Keep eye out on beach and foredune

regions

30

Other Animals found

30

Each animal correctly identified will earn

group 30 points

31

Other geological formations

40

Must be correctly identified

Total Points

In order to earn point one person from your group must upload pictures to
their google drive in a file with your group name and Indiana Dunes Field Trip
Pictures. (Groupname. Indiana Dunes Field Trip Pictures) Pictures in this folder
must be labeled with the corresponding numbers above to earn credit for them.
Share the folder with your teacher and winners will be announced the following
school day.