Merry Lea hosts fifth annual NatureFest June 6-7 for children and adults

WOLF LAKE, Ind. – This year, campers who attend the fifth annual NatureFest, held by Merry Lea Environmental Learning Center of Goshen College, won’t have to worry about cold toes. The date of this weekend adventure in local ecosystems has been moved from the first weekend of May to June 6-7, 2008.

Merry Lea’s NatureFest features hikes and seminars for all ages and interests and the opportunity to camp overnight if desired. Friday night activities include a campfire sing-along and stargazing. On Saturday, participants can choose from a wide range of outdoor activities such as canoeing, geocaching, wetland wading, a geology hike, a hike focusing on medicinal plants, a 5-K run, a tour of Merry Lea’s green buildings rated platinum by the U.S. Green Building Council and more.

Saturday afternoon at 2:45 p.m., special guest Bob Walton, of Huntertown, Ind., will offer his program, Going Bats. Walton runs a rehab residence for bats that are injured or were in a place where they bothered people. Walton says that most of the bats he receives are big brown bats, but he’s also nursed little brown bats, red bats, hoary bats, silver haired bats, pipistrelle bats and a long-eared bat. “Every bat has its own personality,” Walton said.

For directions, a schedule of events and registration form, visit www.goshen.edu/merrylea. Payment can be made by the event, day or weekend package. Adult registration fees are $5 per meal or event; $15 for all of Saturday and $20 for the entire weekend, including camping overnight. Children/youth and college students pay $3 per event or meal, $10 for all of Saturday and $15 for the weekend. Family rates are $30 for Saturday and $40 for the entire weekend including camping. Scholarships available when needed. For more information, contact Jennifer Schrock by calling (260) 799-5869 or e-mailing jenniferhs@goshen.edu.

Merry Lea Environmental Learning Center of Goshen College is an 1,189-acre nature preserve located in central Noble County, midway between Fort Wayne and Goshen. Merry Lea’s landscape includes a diversity of forest, prairie and wetland ecosystems. The center provides environmental education to people of all ages, including over 7,000 school children each year. Merry Lea was created with the assistance of the Nature Conservancy and the generosity of Lee A. and Mary Jane Rieth.

Editors: For more information about this release, to arrange an interview or request a photo, contact Goshen College News Bureau Director Jodi H. Beyeler at (574) 535-7572 or jodihb@goshen.edu.

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Goshen College, established in 1894, is a Christian liberal arts college rooted in the Anabaptist-Mennonite tradition. The college’s Christ-centered core values – passionate learning, global citizenship, compassionate peacemaking and servant-leadership – prepare students as leaders for the church and world. Recognized for its unique Study-Service Term program, Goshen has earned citations of excellence in Barron’s Best Buys in Education, “Colleges of Distinction,” “Making a Difference College Guide” and U.S. News & World Report’s “America’s Best Colleges” edition, which named Goshen a “least debt college.” Visit www.goshen.edu.