Events

This month, learn about urban wildlife with Jessica Merkling. She is the Urban Wildlife Biologist for Indiana DNR, Division of Fish, Wildlife, & Nature Preserves. Jessica will present on the importance of urban habitat, why it’s important, and what we can all do to benefit wildlife. Her roles are to help people co-exist with wildlife, create wildlife habitat and provide education and outreach while incorporating green infrastructure and sustainability. She received her B.S. in Biology from the University of Indianapolis and received her M.S. in Biology from Purdue University Fort Wayne for her research on environmental DNA and eastern massasauga rattlesnakes.

This month at Tales & Trails, we will be reading The Mystery of the Golden Feather by Tessa Strickland. We will be listening for our feathered friends at Luckey’s Landing and observing what kinds of birds are here in the spring! Be sure to wear boots or other footwear that will get wet and muddy. Please wear clothing appropriate for the weather.

Join us at Merry Lea to discover the diversity of the plants and animals that live here! Go on a hike to look for signs of animals, and discover the different ecosystems they inhabit. Analyze some of our native plants up close, and see how they help build habitats.

Join us at Merry Lea to discover the diversity of the plants and animals that live here! Go on a hike to look for signs of animals, and discover the different ecosystems they inhabit. Analyze some of our native plants up close, and see how they help build habitats.

Join Merry Lea for our first ever Vegetable and Native Plant Swap in partnership with Indiana Native Plant Society (INPS). Pot up your extra plants and join other growers and plant enthusiasts to trade them. Don’t have a plant to swap? We’ve got you covered! Everyone who attends will be able to participate. This is a great event to meet other plant enthusiasts in the community, learn about new plants, and of course take home a new plant!

Stories from Merry Lea: The Land and the People For our May Merry Lea Milers program come learn about the history of Merry Lea and its founders with Larry Yoder, Merry Lea Emeritus. Hear stories about his time as Executive Director, cross country skiing on the trails, prairie burns, growing sunflowers in a pot, how it was to work alongside Merry Lea’s founders and more about the land.  We will gather at the Learning Center (2388 S 500 W, Albion, IN 46701). During our time together, we will hear from our speaker while eating some lunch. Afterwards, we will spend the rest of our time hiking and exploring around the property. Please wear weather appropriate clothing, closed-toe shoes, bring a sack lunch and a water bottle.

This month at Tales and Trails, we’ll be reading My Awesome Summer by P. Mantis, written by Paul Meisel. This lively story follows a praying mantis through its summer life cycle. After our reading, we’ll head out to the Merry Lea Teaching Farm to look for signs that insects and other creatures are waking up from their long winter nap.

Don’t miss this opportunity to join Merry Lea at this free, family-friendly event designed to get people outside on Thursday, June 4, as part of a state-wide effort by Indiana Children and Nature Network (ICAN) Nature Play Days! There will be a variety of guided and self-guided activities to choose from all afternoon. Dip for tadpoles, create a craft, go on a hike, work on a scavenger hunt and so much more. Come explore the natural world in your own backyard!

Upcoming high school juniors and seniors can make Merry Lea their home for a week this summer during Conservation Leadership School! Camp overnight and explore a world full of natural resources and conservation. Hike across historic wetlands, help run a community nature event, get a taste of careers in the natural resources field, and canoe at Chain O' Lakes State Park.  Enjoy an educational and rejuvenating week at our beautiful 1,189 acre nature sanctuary with peers and professionals inspired by the natural world. 

June's Wetlands & Watercolors program will get students immersed in a wetland ecosystem while learning about the small animals and creatures that call it home. Create your own artistic masterpiece with watercolors to take with you!