Day 5 of the Great Lakes Odyssey!

Today was a blast! Teachers and students called it one of our best LiveStreams yet! We kicked off the morning with breakfast at our hotel, then headed to the Great Marsh Observation Overlook, greeted by Dr. Erin from the GLREC, two mute swans, and a group of egrets. Things were already off to a great start!

It took us a few hours to set up, and we were so grateful to have some of our STEAM in the PARK campers—Pacia, Justine, and Tracy—drive several hours to lend a hand. 🙌 A huge thanks to these rockstars!

Our LiveStream was packed with amazing insights: 
✅A warm welcome from Ranger Kip, a long-time supporter of Expeditions in Education and a true advocate for the park.
✅Dr. Dan Mason shared the history of the Great Marsh Restoration and the importance of restoring the marsh today.
✅Dr. Erin and Resource Management Crew Lead, Daniel, talked about the challenges of managing marsh restoration.
✅We heard from Crew Lead Billy, who showed us the HUGE invasives (seriously, those cattails and phragmites were massive!). 
✅And team member Mary-Ann showcased the "tools of the trade," proving that hard work really does pay off!
✅We were blown away by the students' questions and their eagerness to help us make a difference in the world. 🌎

After the LiveStream, our team joined the resource management crew and a few volunteers to plant native plugs in another area of the marsh. Together, they planted 4 buckets of native plants to help with the restoration. 🌿💧

Following a well-deserved meal, we said goodbye to our awesome helpers and headed back to the hotel. It was an incredible day, and we're exhausted! Major shoutout to the Indiana Dunes National Park staff for putting on a fantastic show today.
Tomorrow morning, we’re plunging into a water safety class on Lake Michigan. For now, it’s time to rest! 

#GreatLakesOdyssey #IndianaDunes #ExpeditionsinEducation