News & Updates

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.

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.

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.

The Kinderforest crew survived its first rainy day in November. Fortunately, a local business had provided matching frog togs for all of the children, so they were outfitted with raincoats, rain pants and boots. The wet, chilly day was harder for the adults than the kids!

Goshen College’s new president, Dr. Rebecca Stoltzfus, and her husband, Kevin Miller, came to visit Merry Lea on November 14. We treated them to a potluck that included homegrown hazelnuts, apples, sausage, venison, kale and squash. What did we talk about? In a nutshell, planetary health.