The following programs occur on an annual and/or ongoing basis, and are for children ages PreK-12 and the entire family.
View programs for the following children’s age groups:
Visit our events page to see all of Merry Lea’s upcoming events and to register.
Tales & Trails
Hear a tale and hike a trail with your preschooler to discover 
the natural
wonders around you together! Children and their caregiver(s) gather for a short story that incites curiosity before exploring different places around Merry Lea. This is a 1.5-hour monthly program designed for children ages 3-5, with younger siblings welcome to join, led by a Merry Lea educator.
When: Last Tuesday of every month (except December)
For more information about Tales & Trails, click the button.
Nature Preschool
The outdoors provides rich opportunities for variety, movement and 
creativity that can be supplemented with additional tools, hands-on activities and student agency. Merry Lea provides nature preschool in collaboration with Central Noble Primary School (CNP), Wolf Lake, Ind. and the Cole Center Family YMCA, Kendallville, Ind. Preschoolers spend each morning learning in their indoor classroom at CNP before exploring Merry Lea’s outdoor classroom in the afternoon for two hours in rain, shine or snow.
When: Monday – Thursday during the school year
For more information about Nature Preschool, click the button.
PROWL After-School Program
PRogram for Outdoor Wilderness Learning (PROWL) is an after-school 
program for Central Noble K – 5th grade students. Students explore the local wilderness of Merry Lea with hands-on activities focusing on different habitats. We learn through hiking, playing, creating and having fun!
When: Tuesdays & Thursdays during the school year (varies between grades)
Due to COVID-19, Merry Lea has been hosting PROWL at Central Noble Primary and Elementary schoolyards. Please contact Tom Hartzell at tchartzell@goshen.edu for more information.
Spring Break Day Camp
Looking for a way to keep your student entertained during spring break? 
Merry Lea hosts a Spring Break Day Camp for students in K – 5th grades. Students participate in hands-on activities grouped by age for fun, outdoor exploration.
When: First full week of April
Conservation Leadership School
Merry Lea hosts high school students for a week focused on exploring 
what it means to conserve natural resources in northern Indiana. The week includes workshops, activities, and student-developed projects for developing communication and leadership skills. Participants explore our 1200-acre nature preserve through hiking, canoeing, camping, swimming, dipping for macroinvertebrates, banding birds, and more.
When: Early – Mid June
Registration is now open! For more information about Conservation Leadership School, click the button.
Homeschool Programs
Each year, Merry Lea hosts programs for homeschooled students covering
a range of natural history and environmental topics. During homeschool programs, students spend a significant portion of time outdoors to take advantage of Merry Lea’s wonderfully diverse landscapes. Students are grouped by age for trail explorations to provide age appropriate instruction.
For more information about Homeschool Programs, click the button.
