(LAKE MONROE) – Jill Vance, Interpretive Naturalist for Monroe Lake reported the following events for the month of November at Lake Monroe.
VIRTUAL ASTRONOMY CELEBRATION! One Starry Night on Sunday, Nov. 15
Keep an eye on Monroe Lake’s Facebook page throughout the day for hands-on activities, crafts, video links, and other ideas to explore astronomy with your children, and then enjoy the new moon in the evening by bundling up and heading outside for some stargazing! Get a reminder (and maybe some advance info!) by marking yourself as GOING on the Facebook Event Page!
Elkinsville History Tour, Nov. 16 at 1 p.m.
Join us for a combination driving and walking tour through the town that was. Elkinsville was once a center of commerce and community for a remote part of Brown County. That all changed with the construction of Monroe reservoir. Discover the history of this town, walk its former main street, and find out what happened to it after the lake went in. Participants will meet in Story and then caravan to Elkinsville. 2 hrs 30 min (including drive time)
Registration required by Nov. 12. Limited to 10 people; recommended for ages 12 and up. Tour fee is $10 per person.*10 spots available
Monroe Lake Holiday Hiking Challenge, Friday, Nov. 27 – Sunday, Nov. 29
We challenge you to forget about shopping and holiday stress. Spend your time outside instead, exploring the beauty of the outdoors along our Monroe Lake trails. The Holiday Hiking Challenge consists of hiking ALL of Monroe Lake’s trails (about 9.5 miles total) and completing the challenge activities! Each of our trails will have at least one challenge station where you will need to complete the posted activity and take a photo to document it. Everyone who completes the challenge and submits their photo set by the deadline will be entered into the prize drawing! For full challenge details, visit the Facebook Event page.
Friendship Cemetery Tour, Dec. 14 at 1:30 p.m.
Residents of the Salt Creek valley shaped the history of the area that would become Monroe Lake and the Hoosier National Forest. Friendship Cemetery, whose oldest documented burial was in 1850, lies on a hillside overlooking Salt Creek. Explore the history of this cemetery and learn about some of the people buried within on this walking tour. Participants will meet at the Northfork Hunter Check Station (Kent Rd and S.R. 46) and then caravan to the cemetery. 1 hr 15 min (includes travel time)
Registration required by Dec. 10. Limited to 10 people; recommended for ages 14 and up. Tour fee is $6 per person. *10 spots available
Self-Guided Winter Poetry Walk at Fairfax SRA, Friday, Dec. 25 – Sunday, Dec. 27
Looking for a quiet, contemplative break from holiday stress? Enjoy a winter poetry walk! This self-guided activity can be done at your leisure, anytime during daylight hours on Dec. 25-27. Poetry selections will be posted periodically along the path, each accompanied by a suggested activity or question to prompt further thought. The map to guide you to the poetry stops at Fairfax SRA will be posted on the Facebook Event page on the evening of Dec. 24.
Upcoming Virtual Programs
Click on the program name to follow the link to the Facebook event page. Select “GOING” to receive an automated reminder from Facebook.
- Gone but Not Forgotten: Gravesite Series at 10 a.m. on Nov. 10, Nov. 24, Dec. 8, and Dec. 22
The Salt Creek Valley, now home to Monroe Lake, was once full of small communities, commerce, and family farms. Many of these former residents now lie in rest in one of the over 300 cemeteries that dot the area. In this video series, we’ll visit the gravesites of some of these people and explore their stories. Videos will premiere on our main Monroe Lake Facebook page.
- Facebook LIVE: The Nut Gatherers on Friday, Nov. 20 at 10 a.m. – Chipmunks, squirrels, and blue jays are some of the animals that gather nuts and store them away for the winter season. Join Monroe Lake naturalist Jill Vance for a look at their gathering and caching strategies and the types of nuts that they prefer.
- Homemade Holiday Craft Tutorials at 10 a.m. on Dec. 2 and Dec. 16
In this video tutorial, naturalist Jill Vance demonstrates how to make a holiday or winter-themed craft, inspired by nature or using natural materials, to decorate your house or gift to someone special this season! Videos will premiere on our main Monroe Lake Facebook page.
- Facebook LIVE: Ancient Earthquakes on Friday, Dec. 18 at 10 a.m. – Slips, dips, and grabens… The Salt Creek Valley contains not just one, but two fault lines. Monroe Lake’s interpretive naturalist, Jill Vance, will discuss the geology of the Mt. Carmel and Heltonville fault lines and how they’ve impacted the land around the lake.
Past Virtual Programs
Did you miss a Facebook virtual program? No problem! Here are direct links to recordings of our past programs…
Facebook Live Programs/Hikes: Recordings of the Live Broadcast
- NEW! The Science of Leaf Color (10/16/20)
- NEW! How Rocks Made the Lake (9/18/20)
- Pernicious Plants (8/21/20)
- Basics of Wildflower ID (7/17/20)
- Animal Skulls “Quiz”(6/26/20)
- On the Water Q&A with a Conservation Officer (5/28/20)
- Fossils of Monroe Lake (5/21/20)
- What Bird Is That? Quiz (5/16/20)
- Memories and Q&A with Rex Watters, Wildlife Biologist (5/14/20)
- Learning Leaves Hike (5/7/20)
- Wild Edible Teas (5/1/20)
- American Beavers (4/17/20)
- Salt Creek Wildflowers Hike (4/14/20)
- Backyard Plants Hike (4/10/20)
- Signs of Spring Hike (4/3/20)
- Geodes(3/27/30)
- Salamander Search(3/21/30)
- Slithering Snakes(3/20/20)
Craft Tutorial Videos
- Chlorophyll Pounded Leaf Craft Tutorial
- Bald Eagle Flyer Craft Tutorial
- “Flying V” Geese Bookmark Craft Tutorial
- Constellation Viewer Craft Tutorial
- Sunflower Greeting Card
- Striped Skunk Mini Puppet
- Painting with Nature
Interpretive Program Videos
- The Frog Chorus
- Canada Geese: Nesting Season
- Canada Geese: Management Matters
- Turtles of Monroe Lake
- Unfurling Ferns
- Kayaking at Crooked Creek
Monroe Lake Website: on.IN.gov/monroelake
Monroe Lake on Facebook: facebook.com/monroelake
