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.
Additionally, any of our standard field trips are available as a homeschool co-op program as well. Contact us for more information.
Please see our Homeschool Policies – Safety Policies for the latest information regarding program modifications due to COVID-19. Registration will be limited to 20 students each day. Masks will be required.
Students will learn about native reptile and amphibian species at Merry Lea. They will have the opportunity to observe these animals in their habitats.
Dates: Thursday, September 17 and Friday, September 18
Students will explore the life that exists in the leaf litter, soil, and wetland bottom- macroinvertebrates, fungi, plant root systems, burrowing mammals, herptiles, and more!
Dates: Thursday, October 15 and Friday, October 16
The marvelous world of trees is diverse in function, characteristics, and uses. Students explore trees’ anatomy and physiology, life cycles, identifications, and roles within different ecosystems. Examine leaves, seeds, buds and more as students hike among the trees, compare and contrast living tree examples, and participate in trail-based activities designed to spark curiosity and learning – all about trees!
Dates: Thursday, November 5 and Friday, November 6
Students will spend the morning exploring what plants and animals are doing to survive the winter. This experience will be shortened to 9:30 – 11:30 a.m. and will take place completely outdoors.
Date: Friday, January 22
Students will have the opportunity to discover that art is all around them – even outside! They will make crafts and spend time exploring the colors, textures, and shapes of nature.
Dates: Friday, April 23
What do owls eat? How can you find out? Students will get the chance to discover more about owls and dissect an owl pellet to learn more about their diet and how they survive.
Dates: Thursday, May 20
All offerings are aligned to Indiana Academic Standards, and are designed to support your student’s academic and outdoor learning. Please review our Scheduling Policies page with any questions about scheduling a program and to register.
