Free Forensic Investigations camp for high schoolers

Indiana University Northwest will host a free Forensic Investigations Summer Camp from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 23 to 26. The four-day immersive camp will feature interactive lectures, hands-on laboratory work, field trips and real-world exposure to the many facets of forensic science. Open to local students entering 11th or 12th grade in fall 2025, camp activities will be led by IU Northwest faculty, staff and area professionals, providing students with a comprehensive introduction to the field. Space is limited to 20 participants on a first-come, first-served basis. To register, visit go.iu.edu/6TOp.

Gary Community School Corporation offers youth summer programs

The Gary Community School Corporation (GCSC) will offer a wide range of summer programs to support academic growth for students of all ages. Summer School for students enrolled in the Gary Community School Corporation, specifically second- and third-graders, will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays through June 26. Targeted academic opportunities will be tailored to students’ needs, with a focus on developing critical reading skills. At the high school level, Summer School classes take place from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. for students grades 9 through 12. Credit recovery will be available as well as opportunities for students to excel further in their academic journeys. The Summer Passports program is open to all students entering Kindergarten through 12th grade. Rising kindergarten through 8th-grade students from any school in Gary can attend this free program. For grades 9 through 12, students must be registered as GCSC scholars to participate. Registration is required for the Summer Passports Program. Curriculum topics include health, career exploration, and extracurricular activities that will be available beyond the summer. The Gary Community School Corporation also is partnering with local organizations to provide additional programming: Gear Up STEM Camp for middle school students explores the world of science, technology, engineering, and math from June 16 to 18; and the Second Annual Northwest Learning Lab for students entering the fourth or fifth grade, hosted by the Urban League of Northwest Indiana. This program offers enrichment experiences outside of the classroom. To ensure all Gary Community School Corporation students can participate, breakfast, lunch, and transportation will be provided at no cost for enrolled participants. For more information and bus routes, visit garyschools.org or call a student’s home school for assistance.

Gabis Arboretum 2025 Acorn Concert Series lineup

Experience summer evenings under the stars at Gabis Arboretum at Purdue Northwest’s (PNW) 2025 Acorn Concert Series, featuring five outdoor family-friendly music shows. All shows will begin at 7 p.m. at 450 West 100 North, Valparaiso. For all concert and ticket information, visit pnw.edu/gabis-concerts. The full 2025 Acorn Concert Series lineup includes: Kashmir — Led Zeppelin tribute, with opening act Triangle Method, June 20; Rocks Off — Rolling Stone tribute, with opening act Head Honchos, July 11; Hyryder — Grateful Dead tribute band, Aug. 9; The Mike and Joe Band — Modern Rock tribute, with opening act The Double Features, Aug. 29; and The Prince Experience — Prince tribute, with opening act Lauren Dukes, Sept. 12. Gates open one hour before showtime. Concerts will be held rain or shine. Individual tickets are $23 in advance, increasing to $28 the week of the concert for non-members. Children age 12 and younger are free but must attend with a paying adult. Event parking is free but limited. Special member and season ticket pricing is available, including VIP season tickets that are on sale through June 20. Local food vendors will be on-site selling alcoholic beverages and food. No outside alcohol is permitted; coolers and personal items are subject to search. Friendly dogs on leash are permitted. Concert attendees are encouraged to bring their own lawn chairs or blankets for seating. For more information on the Acorn Concert Series, visit pnw.edu/gabis-concerts.

Art + Innovation exhibits extend VCC’S reach

The Valparaiso Creative Council (VCC) has grown its artist programming over the past two years, providing a free quarterly series entitled Art + Innovation featuring local artists at two downtown Valpo venues: Roots Cafe and Lower Lincoln. As an expansion of this programming, VCC now also partners with Purdue University Northwest to exhibit at their Hammond campus. The VCC’s latest Art + Innovation artist exhibit, “Comparative Works of Art Deco + Sculpture,” is on display through July 11 at Roots Cafe, 108 W. Lincolnway, Valparaiso, and Lower Lincoln, 212 E. Lincolnway, Valparaiso. The six featured artists are: Collin Smallegan; Carol Estes; Lizzy Cohan; Ricardo Cortez; Heather Wood; and Teneia Dilosa. A reception will be held at 4:30 p.m. June 19 at Roots Cafe, transferring to Lower Lincoln at 5:15 p.m. Drinks will be available and two professional creatives will be featured as speakers:

Women Owned NWI @womenownednwi and Eddie Escalantes @partyproz219. More information can be found at https://valpocreates.org/.

LCMGA to host June in Bloom garden walk

Lake County Master Gardeners will present the 2025 Garden Walk, “June in Bloom,” from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 29. Stroll through nine inspiring private gardens in Crown Point, Lowell and Cedar Lake, where homeowners and Master Gardeners will be on-site to share tips, answer questions, and showcase how gardens can be both beautiful and beneficial. Practically Magic, 611 N. Indiana Ave., Crown Point, will be the official ticket hub and cooling station. There attendees can pick up their Garden Walk program booklets, raffle entries and refreshments. Tickets can be purchased at Leo’s in Cedar Lake, Niemeyer’s, The Artful Garden, Elzinga’s, Walt’s in Dyer, Remus Farms in Hobart, Alsip’s, Mighty Mike’s in St. John, Bee Quilting and Such in Munster and via Eventbrite, surcharge applies. Tickets are $15, children 12 and younger are free. More information can be found at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lcmga-garden-walk-2025-june-in-bloom-tickets-1357348539019?aff=ebdssbdestsearch or email lakecountymastergardeners@gmail.com.

— Staff repot