Sandhill cranes flying over Stillwater Marsh on March 1. Photo by Jeff Danielson

It's actually a bad idea to release ANY animals from a pet store into the wild... captive-raised animals are very unlikely to survive on their own - and they could introduce new/different diseases into the local wild population.

Two spots have opened up for Tuesday's Winter Exploration Hike on McGowan Road! You can grab them at http://bit.ly/wehmar27-2018

March 19th wasn't a great day to be an American coot in our Stillwater Marsh... but it was a pretty good day to be a hungry bald eagle! (Photos by Jeff Danielson)

Sometimes, it's hard to figure out how an animal got its name...

Location: Activity Center Amphitheater, Paynetown SRA Celebrate National S’mores Day with our s’mores buffet! We’ll have a wide array of ingredients to let you experiment with unusual and unique combinations. DROP BY after dinner – we’ve got your dessert covered. Donations welcome to help cover supply costs.

• Sign up at http://bit.ly/exploremonroeaug2018 • Registration is required by August 10. • Program fee is $10 per person. • Limited to 10 people. Restricted to ages 16 and up. • All participants must have at least 2 hours of prior paddling experience OR have completed one of our Intro to Kayaking workshops. • Bring your own canoe/kayak, or rent a kayak from us for an additional $20. Location: Cutright SRA (Saddle Creek) Explore the quieter side of Monroe Lake during these guided paddling trips that journey through backwaters, wetlands, bays, and/or slow-moving streams. Trips highlight beautiful views, hidden wildlife, aquatic plants, and unique land features. Find your new favorite place to kayak! 2 to 2 ½ hours

• Sign up for this session at http://bit.ly/florafieldaug2018 • Registration required by August 5. • Free; recommended for ages 12 and up. • Session location: Allens Creek SRA Want to work on your flora identification skills? Practice with a naturalist! Field day emphasis is on proper use and application of an ID key, which opens the door to identifying thousands of species. The naturalist will work with each attendee based on their prior experience. If you’ve never worked with flower ID before, this is a great way to learn. If you have prior experience, this is a fun way to practice your skills (and maybe add some new blooms to your life list!). 2 hours Things to Bring: • Newcomb’s Wildflower Guide (extra copies available, if you don’t have your own) • bug spray (long pants are also a good idea!) • hat and sunglasses (for sun protection) • water bottle (pre-filled) • camera (if you’re the picture-taking type)

• Sign up at http://bit.ly/exploremonroejul2018 • Registration is required by July 14. • Program fee is $10 per person. • Limited to 10 people. Restricted to ages 16 and up. • All participants must have at least 2 hours of prior paddling experience OR have completed one of our Intro to Kayaking workshops. • Bring your own canoe/kayak, or rent a kayak from us for an additional $20. Location: Pine Grove SRA Explore the quieter side of Monroe Lake during these guided paddling trips that journey through backwaters, wetlands, bays, and/or slow-moving streams. Trips highlight beautiful views, hidden wildlife, aquatic plants, and unique land features. Find your new favorite place to kayak! 2 ½ hours

• Sign up for this session at http://bit.ly/florafieldjul2018 • Registration required by July 1. • Free; recommended for ages 12 and up. • Session location: Cutright SRA Want to work on your flora identification skills? Practice with a naturalist! Field day emphasis is on proper use and application of an ID key, which opens the door to identifying thousands of species. The naturalist will work with each attendee based on their prior experience. If you’ve never worked with flower ID before, this is a great way to learn. If you have prior experience, this is a fun way to practice your skills (and maybe add some new blooms to your life list!). 2 hours Things to Bring: • Newcomb’s Wildflower Guide (extra copies available, if you don’t have your own) • bug spray (long pants are also a good idea!) • hat and sunglasses (for sun protection) • water bottle (pre-filled) • camera (if you’re the picture-taking type)

Concert Location: Activity Center Amphitheater (next to the beach), in Paynetown SRA Some bench seating is available; you may want to bring your own chairs. Craig Brenner will perform music and invite the young - and young at heart - to join him in exploring the jazzy side of blues, boogie woogie and other piano styles, focusing on Indiana composers and musicians. Attendees will be invited to play along on some tunes, using percussion instruments Craig will provide. 60 minutes This activity is made possible by support from the Indiana Arts Commission and the Indiana Department of Natural Resources.