An unidentified youngster sprinkles food into an aquarium during a Critter Encounter event last summer at the Lilly Center for Lakes & Streams. Photo provided.

News Release

WINONA LAKE — The Lilly Center for Lakes & Streams has a bunch of educational experiences planned for the public this summer.

Library Time

WCPL Stories & STEM: Bring your elementary-age children to the Warsaw Community Public Library in downtown Warsaw at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesdays in June (June 7, June 14, June 21 and June 28) to learn about the many aspects of lake ecosystems and take part in hands-on projects. No registration is required.

Critter Encounters

Turtle: A morning of fun for the whole family will start at 9:30 a.m. Friday, June 9, at the Lilly Center. Interact with native turtles and enjoy a themed critter tale, critter creation and critter activity. Registration is required. The event is free and includes snacks.

Crayfish: The whole family is invited for the session that starts at 9:30 a.m. Friday, June 23, at the Lilly Center. Enjoy a native crayfish-themed critter tale, critter creation and critter activity. Registration is required. The event is free and includes snacks.

Frog: A morning of fun for the whole family will start at 9:30 a.m. Friday, July 7, at the Lilly Center. Enjoy native leopard frogs through a themed critter tale, critter creation and critter activity. Registration is required. The event is free and includes snacks.

Mystery Critter: Another critter event will start at 9:30 a.m. Friday, July 21, at the Lilly Center, with a to-be-announced critter tale, critter creation and critter activity. Registration is required. The event is free and includes snacks.

Lake Ecotours

Get to know some of your area lakes on a whole new level with ecotours. Ecotours are like ranger talks but on the lakes. Each one starts at 7 p.m., and registration is required.

Big Chapman Lake: Monday, July 10

Lake Wawasee: Tuesday, July 11

Winona Lake: Thursday, July 13

Lake Tippecanoe: Friday, July 14

Aquatic Plant ID Expedition

From 6-7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 10, you can spend time outside at the Tri-Lake with Matthew Linn, a biologist with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, and learn about the diverse aquatic plants in area lakes. Registration is required.

The Lilly Center is grateful to DePuy Synthes for sponsoring Critter Encounters and to Zimmer Biomet Foundation for sponsoring the expedition and ecotour series.

For more information and to register for events, visit lakes.grace.edu/events.

The Lilly Center for Lakes & Streams is offering ecotours of several area lakes this summer during the month of July. Photo provided.