​Great Lakes Odyssey 2: What We Learned Along the Way

There’s something really special about taking a journey with thousands of students at the same time.
Even though we were spread out across the country—in classrooms, at kitchen tables, gathered around screens—we were all asking the same questions together.
That’s what Great Lakes Odyssey 2 became.
Not just a series of livestreams. Not just three incredible national park sites. But a shared experience of curiosity, wonder, and learning—together.
Over the course of this journey, we found ourselves returning to three big questions:
What threatens an ecosystem? What holds it together? And what happens when nature reshapes it entirely?

Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore: The Things We Cannot Yet See
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
At Pictured Rocks, the story started quietly.
With something so small you could easily miss it.
The Hemlock Woolly Adelgid.
And almost immediately, the questions started coming in:
* How can something so tiny cause such a big problem?
* If it’s not even here yet, how do we prepare for it?
* What happens to everything else if the hemlock trees disappear?
It felt a little like being let in on a secret.
That science isn’t always about reacting. Sometimes, it’s about noticing early. About paying attention. About protecting something before it’s even in danger.
One student said, “This is like being a forest detective.”
Yes. Exactly that.
We were reminded that healthy forests don’t just happen. They are cared for. Studied. Protected.
And maybe most importantly—shared.
Because even if a student never steps foot in Pictured Rocks, the work happening there still matters to them.
To all of us.

Indiana Dunes National Park: What Holds It All Together
Indiana Dunes National Park
Then we traveled south, where the story shifted beneath our feet.
At Indiana Dunes, everything looked simple at first.
Sand. Wind. Water.
But then came the questions:
* How do dunes actually move?
* What keeps all that sand from blowing away?
* Are dunes alive?
And then—marram grass.
The quiet hero of the dunes.
The more we talked, the more it clicked:
This isn’t just sand. This is a system.
One student said, “Wait… grass can stop a whole dune from moving?!”
Another: “So the grass is basically the hero here.”
Honestly… yes.
We talked about roots holding the sand in place. About how where you step matters. About how one small plant can support an entire landscape.
And it turned into something bigger than science.
It became a conversation about responsibility.
About how small actions—like staying on a trail—can protect something much larger than ourselves.
At Indiana Dunes, we didn’t just learn what holds an ecosystem together.
We realized that we are part of that system too.

Cuyahoga Valley National Park: When Nature Takes the Lead
Cuyahoga Valley National Park
And then came the beavers.
And honestly… they stole the show.
At Cuyahoga Valley, the question changed again:
* Why are beavers called ecosystem engineers?
* Are they helping… or causing problems?
* What happens when nature doesn’t follow human plans?
We watched what happens when water slows down. When wetlands form. When an entire landscape begins to shift.
And it wasn’t always neat.
It wasn’t always convenient.
But it was real.
One student said, “So… they’re basically builders with teeth.”
Another said, “I think I’m team beaver.”
Same.
Because what we saw was something powerful:
Beavers don’t just live in ecosystems. They build them.
And with that comes both beauty and challenge.
Flooded trails. Changed waterways. New habitats.
It sparked one of the most important conversations of the entire Odyssey:
What do we do when a healthy ecosystem doesn’t fit neatly into our plans?
And maybe the answer is…
We learn to live with it. We learn to adjust. We learn to see the value in something bigger than convenience.

What We’re Taking With Us
Across three parks, thousands of students, and countless questions, one thing became clear:
Every ecosystem tells a story.
At Pictured Rocks, we learned to notice what we cannot yet see. At Indiana Dunes, we learned what holds everything together. At Cuyahoga Valley, we learned what happens when nature reshapes the world around us.
And somewhere along the way, we were reminded of something even more important:
We all have a role in this.
Whether it’s cleaning our boots. Staying on a trail. Asking better questions. Or simply paying attention.
These places belong to all of us.
And so does the responsibility to care for them.

To everyone who joined us on this journey—students, teachers, rangers, partners, and friends’ groups--
Thank you.
You made this more than a program. You made it a shared experience.
And if you’re reading this and thinking about your own park, your own story, your own Odyssey…
Reach out.
We’re ready when you are.

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https://www.expeditionsineducation.org/gettingstartedglo2.html