Duneland.com > Duneland Channels > Kids & Family

Duneland Kids & Family Channel

The world is your playground. Why aren’t you playing?

— Psychologist Ellie Katz, PhD.

Sarah Bennet and father Keith practice hammering skills at Chelberg Farm during the Harvest Festival. Welcome to the Duneland's Kids & Family Channel! Parents will find information about homework help sites, medical centers and doctors, family services and support, and how your local schools rate compared to other schools across the state and nation. Kids will discover exciting games, activities, stories about the Duneland area, and ways to get involved.

More Coming Soon!

Have expertise or ideas to share?

If you have suggestions about what you'd like to see here, or if you're interested in contributing articles, advice, photos, or videos, and/or becoming a guide to the Kids & Family Channel, let us know!

"Boozhoo!" Means "Hello!"

"Boozhoo!" is a Potawatomi phrase for "Hello, friends!" Before Europeans settled in Northern Indiana, the area was settled by the Native tribe, Potawatomi.

Native American history is passed down generations in oration, or the telling of stories. According to the oration of the Potawatomi history, they originated in Wisconsin and moved east into northern Indiana and southern Michigan. [1]

The Potawatomi people were part of a larger tribe called, Anishinabe, or "original people." This tribe split into three groups: Chippewa: Keepers of the Faith, Ottawa: Keepers of the Trade, and Potawatomi: Keepers of the Fire.

The split in the tribe led to the three groups separating the land that was once communal, or belonging to all the people. The Potawatomi took the land that is now southwestern Michigan, southeastern Wisconsin, northwestern Ohio, and northern Indiana and Illinois.

Years later the American government held the policy of Manifest Destiny. They believed that they should own the entire continent. As they pushed farther and farther west, the natives were moved from their land to reservations in Oklahoma, Kansas, New Mexico, and Arizona.

Manifest Destiny led to the passing of the Indian Removal Act in 1830. The natives from Georgia and Virginia were moved to Oklahoma in 1838-1839. This well-known movement is called the Trail of Tears. That same year, the Potawatomi were moved out west to Kansas in the less known but just as grave Trail of Death. [2]

In the late1830s, Leopold Pokagon argued that Catholic Potawatomi people should not be removed from the area. He set up a church that was ministered by the Holy Cross Fathers of Notre Dame, Indiana. Pokagon Potawatomi tribe re-settled in southwest Michigan and northwest Indiana. [3]

Indiana was accepting of Potawatomi people, but Michigan was still unreceptive to them. Leopold Pokagon continued his argument until his death in 1841. After his death, the Michigan Supreme Court granted the descendants of Leopold Pokagon property in southwest Michigan. [3]

To learn more about the Potawatomi that lived in this area, check out the references.

[1] "Potawatomi Indians - Neshnabek Nations, Bands and Clans," AAA Native Hearts, http://potawatomi.aaanativearts.com/

[2] "History of 1838 Trail of Death," Trail of Death Association, http://www.potawatomi-tda.org/ptodhist.htm

[3] John N. Low, "Keeper’s of the Fire: The Pokagon Potawatomi Nation" (PDF document, A Joint Exhibition of the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indian Nation and the Museum at Southwestern Michigan College, June 21- December 29 2006), http://www.pokagon.com/presentation/SMCppt_20080112.pdf

Diana of the Dunes

It is night time on the lakeshore. You see a ghostly image of a woman running along shoreline. She runs into the water and disappears.

Many people claim to have seen this exact thing, but who is this woman?

According to local legend, the woman running along the lakeshore is Alice Gray, who was sometimes described as a "nymph" roaming the beach.

In the early 1900s, the beauty of the Indiana Dunes attracted many writers, artists, and bohemians. One of these was Alice Gray, who came to be known Diana of the Dunes.

Alice, born in 1881, grew up in Chicago and went on to attend the University of Chicago. While at University, she got swept up in the Chicago Renaissance movement. This movement was inspired by the chaos of the city and the open beauty of the Indiana Dunes. It began with many great Americans, like poet Carl Sandburg and Nobel Peace Prize winner Jane Addams.

After she graduated from the University of Chicago in 1903, Alice Gray studied in Germany. There, she got involved in a movement, "Birds of Passing." It was a community of young adults who gave up their material possessions and lived in nature.

When Alice returned to Chicago, she worked as a secretary at an astronomy magazine. In this time period, women were not given the same opportunities as men. About her life in Chicago, Alice said, "The life of a salary earner in the cities is slavery, a constant fight for the means of living." In 1915, she escaped normal society to live off the land of the Indiana Dunes.

As the Dunes were being taken over by factories and ports, Alice began fighting to save the nature of the Dunes. She caught the attention of many newspaper reporters, and eventually, the newspapers began calling her "Diana of the Dunes."

Alice met and married Paul Wilson, who was known for having a violent temper and being in trouble with the law. The two moved into a shack in Ogden Dunes and called it "Wren’s Nest." Several times, the couple tried to move to Texas, but the Dunes called Alice back to Wren’s Nest every time.

When Alice died, many believe it was Alice’s wish have her ashes scattered across the Indiana Dunes. Paul Wilson refused to do this. Instead, he had her body buried in the Gary cemetery.

To this day, Alice Gray, “Diana of the Dunes,” is a topic of conversation and local lore along the lakeshore that she loved so much.

Note: The above story is local legend only, and is not presented for historical accuracy.

Read more about Diana of the Dunes:
http://chestertontribune.com/Local%20History/alice_gray.htm

More Local History

To find out more about the history of the Duneland area, visit:

All news & announcements >

Have a press release or announcement to share? Send it to info@duneland.com.

Homework

Discovery (Grades K-12)
Rose Hulman Institute of Technology (Grades 7-12 and College)

Research

World Almanac for Kids (Grades K-12)
INspire (Grades 4-12 primarily)

Events for Kids & Families on the Duneland Calendar

Mon21MayGirls on The Run at Sunset Hill Farm : Porter County Parks and Recreation is the only organization to offer this international… Details >

Wed23MayGirls on The Run at Sunset Hill Farm : Porter County Parks and Recreation is the only organization to offer this international… Details >

Wed23MayThe Write Club for You: Write Club for You is a new writing/journaling club at Westchester Public Library.… Details >

Fri25MayScales and Tales at the Indiana Dunes: Slither over to the Campground Shelter (by site 113) for a fun look at the reptiles… Details >

Sat26MayDouglas Center Family Day: Enjoy the hands-on, family activities available at the Indiana Dunes National… Details >

Sat26MayChesterton's European Market : Shop. Dine. Enjoy the ambiance of Chesterton's European Market. With over 250… Details >

Sat26MayHigh Dune History at the Indiana Dunes: Join us for a morning stretch at the Indiana Dunes State Park as we ascend to… Details >

Sat26MayA High Tech Scavenger Hunt: Join us for a scavenger hunt with a techno-twist! Meet at the Nature Center… Details >

Sat26MayHoosier Quest Patch Program: Visit the Nature Center of the Indiana Dunes State Park to find out how you… Details >

Sat26MayNight Moves at the Indiana Dunes: Meet the park interpreter for an evening adventure into the darkening forest… Details >

Duneland Kids & Family Channel

More Coming Soon!

Have expertise or ideas to share?

"Boozhoo!" Means "Hello!"

Diana of the Dunes

More Local History

Indiana DNR Promotes a Child's Right to Play Outside

Dunes Learning Center Celebrates National Get Outdoors Day

Spring Out to Sunset perfect for the whole family

Book Discussion Group for Grades 4-6

Guided Tours Offered at Barker Mansion

Nook eReaders available at Library

Record Season Opener for European Market

Boys & Girls Clubs of Porter County partners with GrowNWI

Homework

Research

Medical

Parenting

Online Games & Activities

Events for Kids & Families on the Duneland Calendar

Related Duneland Directory Listings

Arts, Entertainment, & Recreation

Schools, Classes, & Education

Field Trips

More