(upbeat music) >> This week on "Friends & Neighbors"... >> Jeremy: An arboretum is essentially an outdoor tree museum.

We do a lot of scientific research here what it takes for trees and plants to survive and how they deal with changes in their environment.

We also use that research to create some best practices and how people can care for trees and plants in their neighborhood.

>> Brian: It's a group of people that promote disc golf at a local level, putting in courses, running leagues and just generally working on the courses.

So we formed a club.

>> Justin: We have this club that they can go to where they have this social aspect of reaching out to the community, playing games together and getting an opportunity to even come to the school to begin with because they want to do something.

>> Jeanne: Our volunteers are, you know, the life of this organization.

Just, they all pitch in and everybody does what they're good at, and it just works.

So we all have one goal in mind.

Our goal is to save lives and to help dogs.

As long as we keep that mindset and that's in our hearts I think it'll always be successful.

>> Announcer: Centier bank is proud to serve hometown community banking across Indiana.

For over 128 years, Indiana's largest private family-owned bank has been not for sale and promises to keep it that way for years to come.

>> Announcer 2: Sacred Dunes Integrative Health is your comprehensive holistic wellness center, specializing in acupuncture, massage therapy, functional lab testing, nutrition, and herbal medicine, Sacred Dunes where wellness grows.

>> Announcer 3: Local programming is made possible by IBEW Local 697, Northwest Indiana's source for electrical professionals.

Providing certified, trained and experienced professionals for residential, commercial, industrial, and solar projects.

(lively music) >> I have a very strong connection to other students.

Everyone makes an effort to help each other.

I'll remember the feeling of being here.

The feeling that I was a part of a family.

>> Announcer 4: Strack & Van Til is hiring full and part-time positions, for Deli, Floral, Bakery, department managers and more.

With flexible work schedules, sign on bonuses, paid vacation and benefits.

Learn more at 'strackandvantil.com'.

>> Announcer 5: Methodist Hospital's mission is to provide compassionate quality healthcare services to all those in need.

Methodist Hospital, celebrating 100 years of healing in Northwest Indiana.

Learn more at 'methodisthospitals.org'.

(bright music) >> Announcer 6: Additional support for Lakeshore Public Media and "Friends & Neighbors" is provided by "Viewers Like You".

Thank you.

>> Welcome to "Friends & Neighbors", the Lakeshore Public Media program that explores what it means to live in northwest Indiana.

Celebrating the idea that behind all of the good things that are happening in the region are good people making it happen.

I'm your host, Matt Valuckis.

Whether spending time alone to recharge your batteries, or exploring with a group, nature encourages us to reflect on ourselves and our surroundings.

The Morton Arboretum consists of 17,000 acres of manicured grounds, rugged forests, art installations, and interactive experiences for children.

The facility is maintained by a legion of experts and volunteers, dedicated to the stewardship, and educating visitors on the power of trees.

(enchanting music) >> An Arboretum is essentially an outdoor tree museum.

We do a lot of scientific research here what it takes for trees and plants to survive and how they deal with changes in their environment.

We also use that research to create some best practices on how people can care for trees and plants in their neighborhood.

You can really get out to nature if you want to at the arboretum.

All of our roads are one way, so once you come in, you can drive and eventually if you drive far enough, you'll be back where you started.

So you don't have to stress too much about knowing where you are, but you can get really deep into our woods and our different collections here.

I think even just spending time in nature is more important than ever today.

The past couple of years have definitely shown just how critical it is to have green space for everyone's even just health and mental wellbeing.

And the Arboretum is a really great resource for that for the community.

The arboretum has a 1700 acre footprint and you can definitely just come and explore and enjoy on your own.

But if you want something more guided we have a ton of programs and classes and experiences that someone can register for.

Our public facing programs are all built around connecting people to nature.

And we can do that with people of all ages.

A through line through those age groups is getting people to think differently about trees and plants in their area.

And then hopefully learn a little bit about what it takes to care for them.

If you wanna get a little more advanced and learn about how to start doing natural areas conservation work on your own, we've got classes for that.

And then there's also a ton of art based and wellness based programs, year round.

(upbeat string music) It's never too early to start engaging with nature.

And to that point, we have a four acres children's garden.

Five different areas, a playground structure, our Wonder Pond area.

All designed around safe exploration that really helps children spark their natural curiosity in the world around them.

I really love our youth volunteer program.

Not only does it show how impactful spending a summer as a volunteer can be at the arboretum for the volunteers, we're helping people explore STEM, and think about possible future career paths.

What's interesting about having the chance to do different volunteer roles in the garden, for a middle and high school age student, is that you pick up non STEM skills as well.

People feel more confident, you know, in themselves after spending a summer talking to guests.

They feel a deeper connection, not just to nature, but to the arboretum, because they've spent the summer with us.

We've literally helped a generation of STEM professionals find pathways into the field.

>> First experience with the arboretum was as a kid.

My parents enrolled me in the summer science camp program.

I did that second grade all the way through eighth grade, and then I got to the point where I couldn't do this anymore and I asked one of my instructors, how do I keep being involved with the arboretum?

And he told me, well, you can volunteer.

There's this new children's garden, they're having a volunteer program, why don't you join that?

So I joined the volunteer program, did that as long as I could, and then I went, now what?

And they said, well you can volunteer in the soil sciences lab.

So I did that, and then I went to college and now my job is to teach people about the arboretum through the tram tours.

If you told, you know, eighth grade me, that this is where I'd be now, I'd be like, "Really?

You can actually work here?"

Yeah, I mean it's just, it really is I would say a dream come true.

Stewardship, for me, it starts with looking around you and not just seeing what's around you, but knowing what's around you.

And from there, you can learn more about what things you can do to help your environment, help your community.

We're an educational and research institution, with 1700 acres of trees from all over the world.

And it's not just trees.

There's, you know, lots of flowers and shrubs and gardens and all kinds of special events.

It's a place, as Arboretums go, that's unlike any other I would say.

When I am going out for a hike, you know, I just kind of, I don't like to listen to music, or kind of, you know, tune out.

I like to tune in.

So I'm a certified arborist, in addition to all of my other things that I do.

And tree identification and flower identification relies on all of your senses.

It's not just seeing a leaf.

You can feel a leaf you can feel bark texture, you can smell flowers.

You know, it's a complete sensory experience.

And the only way that you're going to have a proper understanding of the natural world is by having that sensory experience.

You don't get that in a classroom.

Starting young is crucial, especially now in the world that we live in.

You know, the more we can educate younger generations about the world that we live in, and the way the planet is changing, the more we have a base for the future to be able to, you know, activate some change and really create positive change that will benefit the planet long term.

>> For visiting information, volunteering opportunities, or educational programs that will help you become a better steward, visit the Merchant Arboretum Online.

Red Roc Disc Golf Club is a community driven organization that gives back.

Over decades, organizer Brian Cummings, has developed a partnership with several parks departments in the area.

Acting as stewards of the disc golf scene in the region, Red Roc maintains existing courses, and is developing new courses, while sharing their love of the game.

(upbeat music) >> It's a group of people that promote disc golf at a local level, putting in courses, running leagues, and just generally working on the courses.

So we formed a club.

And we've been around since 2001.

We're named after a Roc, which is a myth mythical bird, which one of our fallen disc golfers, it was his favorite disc.

I started playing in 1976.

The first course went in in 1980, Munster, a nine hole.

And then the '86, the first 18 hole course in northwest Indiana went in in Riverside.

From there, we branched out all over Lake County.

Courses in Maryville, a ton of them in Hammond.

We built the Lemon Lake Disc golf course, which has four courses in one spot.

So we've been rather involved.

Well, I just think people play the sport and they get so hooked on it, and love it so much, they just want to come out and make the courses better, make it all better and have fun.

I mean, this course is real beautiful because you go back into the woods and it's just, even if you weren't playing disc golf, it's a lot of fun.

But when we run leagues, we charge money, and a dollar, everybody pays a dollar every time they play.

That goes back into course maintenance, lawn mowing, trimming, gas, that type of thing.

I see people, they go to exercise class and this and that and they quit because it's no fun.

You work all day, you want to go out and do something fun after work, and that's what this is.

You still get your exercise.

You walk about two miles every time you play.

So I would consider that pretty good.

>> The more I play, like my breathing's better.

I just feel more at peace, relaxing.

You don't have to rush through the round.

You can find, we have plenty of benches out here where you can sit down and relax, enjoy nature, all kinds of wildlife.

It's really beautiful.

Even beyond the disc golf.

Our ladies community is growing more and more.

We're trying to get together to play tournaments.

We have tournaments coming up that we will be participating in.

So ladies absolutely can come out and join us and we'll be there supporting each other.

>> Just the group of people we have and being in nature, it's good exercise.

Get away from, you know, the hustle and bustle.

>> It's very family oriented, especially when you come to a course like this where it's quaint and small.

The holes are short.

Kids can throw it just as well as the parents can and they can all learn together.

It's one of those sports that a family can get together and try and learn the sport together.

I guess it's my life.

(laughing) I really enjoy it.

I'm addicted to it.

I play probably every single day of the week.

What you're probably gonna take away is I can't wait to get back out there again and try this again in a different way.

Because just like in ball golf, you can hit a ball several different ways.

Doesn't mean it's gonna go down the fairway.

So I think it's addicting, it's and addicting sport.

It really is.

It'll make you come out and keep playing.

>> It means a lot, you know, we get kids, women, that come out here, younger players, older players, you know, it means a lot to me.

It's a lifestyle, you know >> This sport's come a long way since when I first started.

It amazes me how fast it's growing and how it keeps going.

>> I think Red Roc is a hardworking, fun-loving group.

A lot of guys that play are hard workers on the regular job and they come out here, and put their time in to make this sport better.

So, you know, when you work with somebody and play with somebody, it's a bond, I think.

And that's what I really like about it.

It's like a family to me really.

I loved the game ever since I was young and just like tonight I came out and there's a father and a son playing.

And you know, they're not spending a ton of money.

And they're getting exercise and bonding.

So just seeing people play these courses that we've put in gives me great satisfaction.

>> What a great way to get exercise and help out our local parks.

For more information on Red Roc Disc Golf Club you can visit their Facebook page.

Imagine you're in a sports arena, surrounded by thousands of screaming fans.

As each athlete enters the arena the crowd somehow gets louder.

And then one by one, they sit down.

They grab a keyboard and they start playing games.

It's probably not what you're expecting.

But "eSports' has gained popularity over the last decade, by enthralling hundreds of millions of spectators, at Purdue Northwest, the "eSports' team builds themselves through teamwork, competition, and the love of the game.

(upbeat music) >> "eSports' is online competitive gaming.

So a lot of people think of gaming as, you know, you're just playing games with your friends and having fun.

Whether that's like a sports game, or like a racing game, like Mario Kart, or something like that.

"eSports' is a little different than that.

There's a lot of different genres of games that are more competitive than others.

Like MOBAs, multiplayer online battle arenas.

Those are usually all competitive.

"eSports' comparatively, like Mario Kart, or like some other like Nintendo games are usually more casual and not as competitive.

Our varsity titles where we give out scholarships, for League of Legends, Rocket League, Call of Duty, (indistinct) and Super Smash Brothers.

Our titles are based off of if we can find competitive teams for them.

And if we can compete regionally and nationally in those specific games.

(upbeat music) >> There's a lot of jobs that you can find to intern as "eSports' player and electrical engineering.

And as electrical engineer, you might be assigned to, you know, build the stage and or do the wiring for the stage and set up panels for everything.

And you're kind of like behind the scenes, and yeah you might have, you know, cameras, and or like video people that are filming everything.

But really behind the scenes everything that is built is mechanical, electrical engineers, anything you can think of.

And I have found like interview jobs that do kind of like, oh wow, you do both.

So really helps me to kind of get myself in that field.

>> I got into this pretty late, I'm a senior.

And for a while I didn't even really know we had a league team, until I randomly went to an event with my brother and I found the assistant coach.

And basically after a little conversation, 'cause I was going around checking all the other tables at the event, I talked about how we had an "eSports' team and they were in dire need of a player.

So that player just happened to be me.

So I showed up, I got a scholarship, now I'm playing next season again.

(upbeat music) It was a very healthy experience for me finally getting into a competitive video game because I've had a lot of experience with competitive sports before.

I used to just play like, you know, traditional sports growing up and through my teenage years.

So when I got into gaming and when I found out that the competitive scene for gaming is pretty much just as competitive, if not even harder than some of the sports that I played, it was very engaging and very addicting.

So now, I just want more of it.

>> It's another team that the community can root for.

So as you see, a lot of people come out to the basketball games, or soccer games, or tennis games, to cheer on, either their kids, or just players that they like, it's the same concept where people can come out to our "eSports' events, or watch our "eSports' events online.

One of our player's moms are here and is very supportive of him through his playing career.

And so it's things like that, that drive the community together, one to meet each other, and two, to have a common cause of, you know, cheering for something together.

And then also with the club and just making sure that they have the right connections.

You know, if this club didn't exist for "eSports', there would be a lot of people who wouldn't have even come to college to begin with.

There's a lot of students that I talked to before they even come here, where they want to do something "eSports' related, and they might not be the greatest player.

And so we can't have them on our our competitive team if they're not a good player.

So we have this club that they can go to where they have this social aspect, of reaching out to the community, playing games together, and getting an opportunity to even come to the school to begin with.

Because they want to do something where they can meet people and feel like they're a part of something, rather than just not going out because they aren't a huge fan of it.

And then it kind of brings them out of their shell and they start going out to community events that aren't "eSports' related.

So I think all of those opportunities exist because of "eSports'.

>> Announcer: Wanna join a game?

Visit Purdue Northwest's athletic page at 'pnwathletics.com'.

>> Rescuing a dog is a great way to add a loving member to your family.

Lakeshore Paws in Valparaiso takes in and adopts out hundreds of dogs every year.

Through hard work and compassion the volunteers and staff dedicate themselves to giving dogs in the region a second chance.

>> I founded Lakeshore Paws in April of 2011.

We were actually at a vacation in Belize, and there was all these like island puppy mills around, and we saved this one little dog, Sparky.

And then thought, well gosh, if we could save one dog on an island that I don't know anyone, maybe we could do more in Valparaiso, where we know a lot of people.

(bright music) We bring the dogs in and we vet them, we get them spayed or neutered.

While they're here, you know, they're played with, they get baths, they get groomed.

Then the people that want to adopt a dog they fill out an application.

Once they fill out the application, they come into meet and greet room and we have them meet the dog.

And we try and fit the dog with the person, or the family, you know, if they have young kids or if they have other dogs.

We also offer a fostered a dog.

So you can take the dog home for three days, and see if it works out for you, and then if it works out you could finalize, otherwise you could bring the dog back.

Our volunteers are, you know, the life of this organization, just, they all pitch in.

And everybody does what they're good at and it just works.

I think why it works is we all have one goal in mind.

Our goal is to save lives and to help dogs.

As long as we keep that mind and that's in our hearts I think it'll always be successful.

>> We supported Lakeshore Paws, maybe about five six years ago, we went to one of the wine events, we had two Schnauzers we rescued, but when they passed away we weren't ready to have another dog.

And, I just wanted to be busy, get my dog fix.

So I'm like, hey, why don't we volunteer at Lakeshore Paws?

It was pretty life changing.

I had no clue what goes on, at a rescue, but in the end, I mean, it was a lot of work learning what they do, the technicians, just the hard work.

But overall, it's just so satisfying, because you save a dog's life.

>> I look at it as I'm a bridge.

Last year I had a dog named Nina, a senior dog, and she'd been with me for 13 weeks.

I brought her to a dog event and a nice lady came in and she ended up fostering Nina, and she lived one more year.

So the joy I gave her, and the happiness she had the last year of her life that's why I do this.

It's just, you know, you're the bridge to get 'em to the next place.

>> I am a retired nurse, ICU, IMCU nurse for 20 years.

I retired from nursing.

I went into dog rescue here.

I've been here for six years.

I've always been a patient advocate for patients in the hospital.

Same with dogs.

In that, you know, what's in the best interest of the person, or the animal, to give them a good life.

I usually take in most of the mama dogs that are pregnant, or litters that don't have their mom.

And I built two OB wards for dogs at my house and a huge outdoor run at my house, so they can give birth there.

I video 'em, they get all their vaccinations, micro-chipped, and then they are put up for adoption.

>> What's nice about Lakeshore Paws, I always use an analogy, it's just a giant puzzle and we're all little pieces.

It's amazing how we all coordinate and work together, and everybody has their little specialties.

>> There are dogs that you think that they're here for a while and all of a sudden somebody comes in and that dog's just like the perfect little little dog.

And it's like that dog was waiting for that person, like this dog who's just the most unruly dog that nobody can handle.

And then they adopt the dog and then we call like 48 hours going, oh, we really wanna know.

And they're saying that dog's just perfect.

Just the perfect little dog.

They're just so thankful that you saved them and you gave 'em a second chance.

And you are giving a dog a second chance.

And basically, a lot of times, that first chance was not the dog's fault.

You know, there's kind of a misconception that there's problems with all the dogs that are in our in our rescue, and there aren't.

>> [Lakeshore Paws Volunteer] It's important to have a rescue in every community, anywhere you go, there's dogs that need a home, and every community should have somebody like Lakeshore Paws.

They really should.

>> To support Lakeshore Paws, or to set up a visit, go to 'lakeshorepaws.org'.

And that wraps another episode of "Friends & Neighbors".

I'm your host Matt Valuckis, and as always we're looking for feedback and suggestions.

Do you have a friend that goes above and beyond to make the community better, or the neighbor that has that funky local shop that you think we should know about?

Email us at 'friends@lakeshorepublicmedia.org'.

Maybe next time we'll highlight the unique people, places and experiences that are your Northwest Indiana favorites.

Until then, be kind and celebrate your friends and neighbors.

>> Announcer: Centier Bank is proud to serve Hometown Community Banking, across Indiana.

For over 128 years, Indiana's largest private family-owned bank has been not for sale and promises to keep it that way for years to come.

>> Announcer 2: Sacred Dunes Integrative Health is your comprehensive holistic wellness center, specializing in acupuncture, massage therapy, functional lab testing, nutrition, and herbal medicine.

Sacred Dunes, where wellness grows.

>> Announcer 3: Local programming is made possible by IBEW Local 697, Northwest Indiana's source for electrical professionals.

Providing certified, trained and experienced professionals for residential, commercial, industrial, and solar projects.

>> Announcer 4: Strack & Van Til is hiring full and part-time positions, for Deli, Floral, Bakery, department managers and more.

With flexible work schedules, sign on bonuses, paid vacation and benefits.

Learn more at 'strackandvantil.com'.

>> Almost every single professor I've had I'm on a first name basis.

By building that relationship with faculty I was able to get involved with research.

It's one thing to read about an idea in a book, versus physically doing it and seeing the results.

(lively music) >> Announcer 5: Methodist Hospital's mission is to provide compassionate quality healthcare services to all those in need.

Methodist Hospital, celebrating 100 years of healing in Northwest Indiana.

Learn more at 'methodisthospitals.org'.

(bright music) >> Announcer 6: Additional support for Lakeshore Public Media and "Friends & Neighbors" is provided by "Viewers Like You".

Thank you.

>> Announcer 7: Did you know that you can find all of your favorite Lakeshore PBS shows online?

Visit 'video.lakeshorepbs.org'.

You can stream a large selection of shows including "Eye On The Arts," "In Studio," and "Friends & Neighbors".

Missed the last night's episode?

No problem.

Lakeshore PBS has got you covered.

Search for your show and find your episode, ready to watch at any time.

Visit 'video.lakeshorepbs.org', to stream your favorite local shows.

>> Announcer 8: Across Northwest Indiana, stories are told, shared and sought after.

Tune into Lakeshore Public Media, 89.1 FM to hear these stories about Northwest Indiana and your community.

Streaming online at 'lakeshorepublicmedia.org'.

(bright upbeat music)