Dr. Natalie Krivas will be the featured speaker at the Valparaiso International Center’s (VIC) Fourth Friday Speaker Series 7 p.m. Friday at Trinity Lutheran Church Fellowship Hall, 201 N. Washington St., Valparaiso. A Canadian native, Krivas arrived in the United States in 2014 with her husband and daughter. She a faculty member of the Graduate Studies and Bloom Scholars Program at Valparaiso University. Krivas will highlight Canadian history, culture, music, food and politics. Food and refreshments will follow the presentation. More information can be found at https://www.valpovic.org/?p=3240.
Friends of Indiana Dunes will host two programs to help residents learn about the diverse vegetation that grows throughout the region. Plant expert Nate Scheerer will talk about species that are native to the area and how they can be incorporated into residential landscaping from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday. Botanist Steve Sass will discuss plant communities and their essential role in the web of life from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Sunday. Both programs will be held at the Indiana Dunes Visitor Center, 1215 North State Road 49, Porter. Friends of Indiana Dunes will hold their 27th Annual Native Plant Sale from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. June 3 at 1000 West Oak Hill Road, Porter. Admission is free. More information is at 219-707-3617 or go to www.dunefriends.org.
The Victory 4 Kids Scholarship Luncheon will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. June 17 at Avalon Manor Banquet Center, 3550 E. Lincoln Highway, Merrillville. Scholarships will be awarded to high school seniors pursuing healthcare careers in post-secondary education settings. The key note speaker will be Tree of Life Pastor, Rev. Dr. Eric Boone, Sr. Early bird tickets are $50 through Saturday. After Saturday, tickets are $60 per person, $400 for a table of eight. Tickets and more information can be found at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/scholarship-luncheon-tickets-559636085597.
A morning bike ride and an afternoon walk will be featured at the 23nd annual Wolf Lake Bi- State Wetlands, Wind and Water festival on Saturday. Sponsored by the Association for the Wolf Lake Initiative (AWLI), the festival begins at 9 a.m. near the Visitors Center parking lot at William W. Powers State Recreation Area, 12949 Avenue O, Chicago. To join the 15-mile bike ride through the Wolf Lake watershed, participants should arrive at 8:45 a.m. Riders will return to the Visitors Center about 11:30 a.m. Bike riders are required to wear helmets. A hike will begin at 1 p.m. at Eggers Grove Forest Preserve. The entrance is at East 112th Street and S. Avenue E. Marianne Kozlowski, co-steward at Eggers Grove, will lead the hike. Hikers should wear long pants, sturdy shoes and long-sleeve shirts. On-line registration is required for both events at www.wolflakeinitiative.org. Registration deadline is Wednesday.
Indiana Dunes National Park will offer three upcoming events. A ranger-led hike of Pinhook Bog Trail and Pinhook Upland Trail will be offered from 8 to 11 a.m. Saturday. Meet at the Pinhook Bog parking lot, 945 N. Wozniak Road, La Porte. An Open House and Nature Play Zone will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday at the Paul H. Douglas Center for Environmental Education, 100 N. Lake St., Gary. Children are invited to help feed and learn about the center’s resident animals including reptiles, amphibians, and fish. There also will be a nature-themed craft for children and parents to make together. A guided hike will be offered from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. May 28 in National Park’s Miller Woods following the Paul H. Douglas Trail. Meet at the Paul H. Douglas Center. For more information on these and other programs at Indiana Dunes National Park, call 219-395-1882, visit https://www.nps.gov/indu/index.htm, download the official National Park Service app, or go to https://www.facebook.com/IndianaDunesNPS/.
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