Enchanted Forest (Night 1 of 2)

Join Merry Lea this fall for an “enchanted” night hike! Trail guides will lead groups by lantern-light to meet real “live” animals on our trails. These friendly creatures will tell you about their diets, habits and favorite places. Our costumed staff and volunteers will answer questions about life as a native Indiana animal. Hikes are one hour long and head out about every 25 minutes.

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Enchanted Forest (Night 2 of 2)

Join Merry Lea this fall for an “enchanted” night hike! Trail guides will lead groups by lantern-light to meet real “live” animals on our trails. These friendly creatures will tell you about their diets, habits and favorite places. Our costumed staff and volunteers will answer questions about life as a native Indiana animal. Hikes are one hour long and head out about every 25 minutes.

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Merry Lea Milers: Bites & Biodiversity – October

Join us at the Goodrich Prairie to see firsthand how fire, grazing, and soil health work together on working lands. We will tour an existing field experiment to investigate "prairie strips". You’ll learn how these strips act as safe havens for wildlife and help trap nutrients to keep the soil healthy and the water clean. This talk will explore how common tools like controlled burns and grazing can be used in patches of prairie to create a multifunctional landscape.

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October Tales & Trails

Winter is getting closer! Join us at Luckey’s Landing as we read Time to Sleep by Denise Fleming and explore how different animals prepare for winter. We will feel furs, build our own warm den and pretend to be animals preparing for the winter as we hike on the trails.

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Nature Journaling 2026

Explore, discover and connect to the natural world through nature journaling at Merry Lea. Nature journaling is the act of noticing what is happening in the beyond-human world around you and recording it in some way – writing, drawing, painting, photography, or a combination of methods. Nature journaling is accessible to anyone, even if you don’t have prior experience with formal art or writing. We’ll spend time both indoors and outdoors observing and journaling. Light snacks and all materials needed will be provided. Dress for being outside in the weather.

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Homeschool Series #3: Wing Watchers (AM)

What birds are here in the winter? Come find out who is here and learn how to identify the birds! We will be participating in Cornell’s Project FeederWatch. We’ll get to observe and keep track of the birds that visit the feeders.

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Homeschool Series #3: Wing Watchers (PM)

What birds are here in the winter? Come find out who is here and learn how to identify the birds! We will be participating in Cornell’s Project FeederWatch. We’ll get to observe and keep track of the birds that visit the feeders.

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Merry Lea Milers: Bites & Biodiversity – November

This month, we’ll explore the Glacial Retreat Center with our Environmental Education & Outreach team, walking through portions of our popular field trip route. Along the way, we’ll discover a fascinating geological formation, visit the gravel pit, and even take on the bog jump.

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Soap Making

In this beginner-friendly soap making workshop, you’ll learn about the art of turning animal fat into a rich, deeply moisturizing soap. We’ll guide you step-by-step through the process, focusing on how resourcefulness and zero-waste thinking can yield beautiful, high-quality household goods. You’ll leave with the knowledge and confidence to make your own natural soap from scratch.

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November Tales & Trails

Join us to read Winter Is Coming by Tony Johnston, Illustrated by Jim LaMarche! We will spend some time outdoors documenting seasonal changes that we see around us. As we explore the trails, we will create a nature journal to take home.

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