On May 9, Merry Lea’s Environmental Education Outreach (EEO) team wrapped up its first year of Kinderforest in a long-awaited burst of greenness. For a full day every month, two classes of kindergartners from Wolf Lake Elementary School, Wolf Lake, Ind., traded desks and bulletin boards for tree trunks and the crunch of leaves underfoot.
On May 25, 2018, the tenth cohort completes Merry Lea’s Master of Arts in Environmental Education. Cohort number ten! That brings the total number of graduate alumni to 51. The eleventh cohort begins on July 6 with twelve students—the largest cohort to date. It’s stimulating to reflect on the journey that led to the establishment of this important program at Merry Lea.
Luckey's Landing gets a facelift; the master's in environmental education program concludes ten years and Kinderforest has an amazing year. Who got to go to Tanzania and who had to stay home and think about climate change? Who's an expert on pheasant chicks? On blue holes? What about dumpster diving? Read more.
Researchers from Virginia Tech joined Merry Lea school programs two days in April 2018. Daniel Pratson, a master’s student with the School of Forestry and Neil Savage, a research assistant, have been traveling across the country visiting environmental education programs. Their work is part of a nationwide study analyzing the characteristics that drive student outcomes.
Stephan Rauh (ASI 2016) wants to be part of a movement toward greater health–community health, individual health and ecosystem health. That’s why he accepted a position as production farmer at Hungry World Farm in Tiskilwa, Ill.
Douglas Graber (GC class of ’76) joined the Merry Lea Team as its new building manager and grounds assistant March 1.
Douglas comes to Merry Lea following 20 years as director of maintenance at Tabor College in Hillsboro, Kans. The combination of a position at a nature center and family members in Goshen, Ind.,–including a new grandchild–wooed Douglas and his wife, Nancy (GC class of ’76), away from the sunny prairie state.
Merry Lea celebrates the inauguration of a new Goshen College president; staff recall what they like best about winter; students learn about themselves--and leadership--at the Sustainability Summit. Also pick up some tips on identifying trees in winter.
During the 2017 Agroecology Summer Intensive, undergraduate students were required to reflect at the end of each week and share what they wrote with staff and instructors. What students documented about their thinking and learning was profound, revealing discovery of possible career aspirations, but also inspiring for the readers to experience.
Merry Lea has now been in existence for 50 years. In this issue, we look back on our history of caring for land, educating about the environment and providing a place that re-creates body and spirit. Read about the Sunflower Festival, see old photos, discover how childhood experiences at Merry Lea have left their mark. Also watch our News page and Facebook page for additional photos and memories. Do you have one to share? Email mccn@goshen.edu.
As a young girl, I explored the magical wonderland of Merry Lea. During winter, the meadows were transformed into fields of snowflake diamonds under the moonlit skies. I remember hosting guests for evening and weekend cross -country skiing. There was always a warm buzz under the rustic wood beams of the Kesling barn as my family helped outfit visitors with skis and boots.
