We’re going to search for treasure! The treasures include tracks, nests, and signs of animals eating. We’ll make our own track stories after reading In the Snow: Who’s Been Here? By Lindsay Barrett George. What all will we discover together?
The IMN program features various nature topics for folks to discover Indiana's outdoor world through hands-on activities, outdoor investigations, volunteering and learning from local experts across different career paths, interests and organizations.
Interested in connecting with fellow educators? The Early Childhood Hoosiers Outdoors (ECHO) Network is designed to support education practitioners wanting to get students into outdoor learning settings. We meet on the second Monday of odd months at 4 pm by zoom.
Native shrubs are an integral part of our natural areas providing food, nesting space, and cover for wildlife. They can also add interesting structural diversity, texture and color to a native planting area. Learn about native alternatives that work well in any location and how you can propagate your own shrubs from cuttings. Take your native gardening to the next level by learning how to propagate your own native shrubs.
Come take a hike with the family to explore, and investigate different soils at the Merry Lea Farmstead. We will then use those soils to create a mud mixture to create a natural painting! Afterwards, we will be deciding which soil creates the best mud - bracket style!
Squish! Let’s go on A Wetland Walk (By: Nancy Luenn)- will it be frozen, muddy, wet, or somewhere in between? We will explore along the edge of the wetland to discover what is living and growing there in the early spring. Also be sure to wear clothing appropriate for the weather - we will be in damp conditions the whole program time and be sure to wear boots or other footwear that will get wet and muddy.
Wade through the waters of a wetland to discover what organisms live in our wetlands! Investigate how wetlands are a special ecosystem for many different types of plants and animals by using our wetland lab to identify macroinvertebrates. Explore the ways wetlands provide a home for many organisms and how they benefit humans too.
Calling all K-5 learners! Join us at Merry Lea for an exciting adventure into the world of flight. Become a flight fanatic as you explore the fascinating wings of insects, birds, and mammals through fun, hands-on activities. Embark on exciting hikes to discover these winged creatures in their natural habitats, play games with fellow explorers and be immersed in the outdoors!
Join us as we explore the power of pollinators this spring. Hike around different ecosystems to explore the wide variety of pollinators that are out and about. Tromp through a meadow to catch pollinators, investigate signs of pollination, examine parts of flowers and more!
Seeds aren’t the only way to get more native plants. Many of our favorite grasses, sedges and forbs can be propagated through root division. Learn how to select which plants work best for this process and how to make individual plants cover more ground. If you do start seedlings in a flat, what do you do when they start filling their space? We will also go over methods for potting up seedlings you may start in the future.
