Mary Jane Rieth: a Devoted Visionary

Mary Jane Rieth: a Devoted Visionary

When Andy Rieth was a young boy growing up, he would often spend a week at his aunt’s and uncle’s house on the lake with his close cousins. They would wake when the sun came up, swim and fish all day long, and run through acres and acres of the wooded land.

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Bird Banding at Merry Lea

Bird Banding at Merry Lea

Bird banding research has been a highlight during the summers at Merry Lea since 2001. Staff and volunteers wake up very early in the morning to learn more about the flying inhabitants of Merry Lea. However, due to safety restrictions related to COVID-19, we are not banding this summer in order to protect both the human team and the birds.

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Nature Preschool Fashion Week

Nature Preschool Fashion Week

You don’t need to travel for this year’s New York Fashion Week in the middle of a winter storm – not to mention during a global pandemic – to catch the latest fashion. See what styles and trends our Nature Preschoolers have to offer for winter 2021.

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The Language of Sustainability

The Language of Sustainability

When Emma Zuercher, Apple Creek, Ohio, visited Merry Lea during freshman orientation fall 2019, she heard about cheesemaking, soapmaking and other hands-on opportunities through Merry Lea’s programs.

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Merry Lea’s Goats Have Kids

Merry Lea’s Goats Have Kids

Merry Lea Sustainable Farm is now home to six new baby goats, also known as kids, born the first week of May. Our two adult female goats, Ruby and Diamond, each had triplets and both families are doing well.

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Jason Martin Named Executive Director at Merry Lea

Jason Martin Named Executive Director at Merry Lea

The search committee for Merry Lea Environmental Learning Center of Goshen College has named Dr. Jason Martin as Merry Lea’s new executive director. He brings over 10 years of programmatic leadership across environmental services and environmental education programs.

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Merry Lea’s trails are here for you

Merry Lea’s trails are here for you

Along with our colleagues at Goshen College, most of the Merry Lea Team is hunkered down and working from home due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

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Small things, great love

Small things, great love

Greetings from the Commonwealth of the Bahamas.

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Sustainability students confront complexity

Sustainability students confront complexity

It’s been nearly two months since the seventh cohort of undergraduates completed Merry Lea’s Sustainability Leadership Semester (SLS). Between mid-August and mid-December, they shared classes, meals, field trips, hikes, social activities and a weeklong canoeing adventure.

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Nature preschool excursions

Nature preschool excursions

What happens when children’s interests drive education? Merry Lea’s Nature Preschool could offer plenty of examples. In one case, it all began with dinosaurs.

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