Let’s hop around a vernal pond as we read And the Bullfrogs Sing by David L. Harrison. We will explore the life cycles of frogs and other small creatures that we find in our vernal pond and look for other herptiles nearby!
July’s Rock & Mineral Mania program will have students engaged in an active investigation of Indiana’s rock and minerals. Students will get the opportunity to practice their rock and mineral ID skills, walk through the rock cycle, identify characteristics of rocks and much more! It would be gneiss if you could join us to rock out!
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.
So many kinds of insects come out at night! Join us as we use “light lures” (lights on a sheet) to attract a wide variety of winged critters. We will also search for moths and other insects that glow under black lights while learning more about these fascinating creatures!
The IMN program features various nature topics for local youth 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.
Do you like insects? Do you like to catch them to study their color, shape, and size? If you said yes to those questions, you should come to Merry Lea to look for some local critters! We will be reading a story about the kinds of insects we can find then we will be using sweep nets to explore the area for interesting insects!
August’s Powered by Plants program will allow students to investigate plants on a deeper level. Students will learn parts of flowers and trees, do a simple flower dissection, and even make some art with the plants and trees that we explore. We will also discuss how animals may interact with the plants like beneficial pollinators and other animals.
Let’s make pickles! Salty, crunchy pickles! Children will help cut up cucumbers and make a quick pickle. Then we will read a book and taste some seasonal produce while identifying which part of the plant we eat. Before the end we will taste the pickles!
What do native seeds need to grow? What is stratification? What do you mean scarification?! Many of our native seeds require different “treatments” in order to grow their best and take root. We will go over a variety of ways to get your native garden growing.
