Porter County Auditor Vicki Urbanik will host Coffee with the Clerks at 9 a.m. Friday in Room 102A of the County Administration Building, 155 Indiana Ave., Valparaiso. Coffee with the Clerks is an outreach effort between the Porter County Auditor’s office and local clerk-treasurers, school and library fiscal officers and other local government leaders. Agenda topics include the upcoming tax distribution and the statewide budget calendar. Information: 219-465-3350.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony for Samardzija Field will be held at 4:30 p.m. Friday at Tower Park, 1000 N. Franklin St., Valparaiso. Participating in the event will be members of the Samardzija family, Mayor Jon Costas, members of the Park Foundation and Park Board and other community leaders. After the ribbon cutting, the first Valpo Parks baseball game will be played on the field. More than 60 donors have joined the Leaders Giving Back Campaign and will be recognized with plaques on site. Information and campaign donations: jseibert@valpo.us, lkusbel@valpo.us, hpierce@valpo.us or 219-462-5144.

Shirley Heinze Land Trust will host an educational bus tour of its nature preserves from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday departing from the Meadowbrook Conservation Center and Nature Preserve, 109 W. 700 North, Valparaiso. During the ride, staff, board members and guest speakers, including Indiana University Northwest Geosciences professor Erin Argyilan, will provide insights on land conservation and the ecology, geology and history of northwestern Indiana. Ten of the organization’s nature preserves are included on the tour through Lake, Porter and LaPorte Counties. The bus will make brief stops at five preserves. The cost for the tour is $40 per person, which includes the lunch. Reservations are required at 219-242-8558. Information: www.heinzetrust.org.

Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore will host a campfire program from 8 to 9:30 p.m. Friday at Kemil Beach, 300 East State Park Road, Beverly Shores. Meet in the parking lot for a short walk to the beach. Rangers and volunteers will demonstrate how to construct a self-sustaining garden during an urban farming program from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday at the Paul H. Douglas Center for Environmental Education, 100 N. Lake St., Gary. All ages are welcome, no experience necessary. Birding enthusiasts are invited to join a ranger every Saturday through Labor Day from 9 to 10:30 a.m. at the Great Marsh Trail, 500 South Broadway, Beverly Shores, for a morning of bird-watching. A spotting scope and binoculars will be provided. The program starts at the southern gravel parking lot followed by a short hike to the Great Marsh observation deck. History hikes exploring the Bailly Homestead and Cemetery and the Chellberg Farm will be offered from 1 to 3 p.m. Sundays through Sept. 2 at 618 N. Mineral Springs Road, Porter. Information: 219-395-1882 or www.nps.gov/indu.

The Friends of Robinson Lake will host a free family fishing event for children accompanied by an adult from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday at Robinson Lake Park, 5333 S. Liverpool Road, Hobart. Information: 219-947-1273.

The ’Velt ’63 Lady Panthers and Supporters will host their semiannual social from 1-3 p.m. Saturday at Chops Lounge, 3100 W. Fifth Ave., Gary. A representative from the ’63 Gary Roosevelt Reunion Committee will give a status of the 55th reunion during the event. Register by Friday at gweney.pooh@att.net. Information: daisy21007@sbcglobal.net or 219-938-3946.

—Staff report