Naturalist

School Activities
    Discovery Tour
    Program
    Available Dates


Nature Center

Campground Schedule

Amphitheater

Halloween Campout
Nature Center

Meeting at the AMPHITHEATER
at Indian Lake State Park

with

Naturalist Vert Molitor

The Indian Lake State Park Nature Center Programs are sponsored jointly by the Indian Lake Watershed Project and OSU Extension-Logan County .







naturevert.jpg - 16.48 K
Vert Molitor
Indian Lake State Park Naturalist
 Vert Molitor has helped Indian Lake State Park's Volunteers in the Park program attract state recognition. As Indian Lake's naturalist, her programs examine plants and wildlife and even offer glimpses of state and local history. The programs are not limited to guests at Indian Lake State Park but are open to local residents and to schools.
Contact Mrs. Molitor by email at indian.lake.parks@dnr.state.oh.us
or by phone 937-843-2717.

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Discovery Tour
Click on photos to enlarge.

We are studying spiders!
Huntsville Elementary School, Indian Lake School District
3rd Grade - Mrs. Hanson

The spiders keep bugs down at Indian Lake Making spider webs. Making spider webs
Making spider webs Hunting for spiders Caught one!
Up close. Making tree webs Making webs on stone
Making a wall web

 

Huntsville Elementary School, Indian Lake School District

4th Grade - Mrs. Thomas.
Huntsville 4th Grade Class








Vert Molitor is teaching a nature project to the Huntsville 4th GradeMicroscope discovery  


Huntsville 4th Grade Class, Penny Cummings - Discovery Boat Tour
Life Jackets for everyone Boarding the pontoon
Using a Secchi to test for clarity Testing water clarity At the surface the oxygen level was 8.2 miligrams per liter Thursday Sept. 9, 1999. This good level of oxygen comes from the algae growth on the bottom of the lake that also causes the green appearance which is the desirable color.
Indian Lake has faced two major problems:
  • The lake lost 35% of its original depth because of sediment. Sediment comes into the lake from wind and water soil erosion. To prevent the erosion many farmers along the four major arteries feeding Indian Lake (North fork of the Miami River, South fork of the Miami River, Blackhawk Creek, and Vanhorn Run) use the no-till method of farming. This method cuts the crops off at the ground leaving the roots to hold the soil in place. Crews, monitoring how deep the sediment is, estimate a reduction from 80,000 tons of sediment to 10-13 tons today.
 Huntsville 4th Grade
  • The second problem was to improve the nutrients in the lake for wild life habitat. If you saw the lake 10 years ago you would describe the color as brown. The healthy green color we observe today is due to the efforts of the Indian Lake Development Corporation, The "clams", a citizens group that do voluntary water clarity checks, and the Indian Lake State Park Rangers.


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Available Dates for 2002

Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday of each week during the time periods of Aprilk 23 - May 23 and September 9 - October 3

Preview Training for teachers and aides will be conducted April 16 and September 5 from 3:30 to 5:30 PM

Please call Vert Molitor (937) 843-2504 to schedule your class or arrange to attend a "Preview Training Session".

Training Program Schedule

Nature Programs
Student Arrival
 9:30 AM - 10:00 AM  - (Depends on school bus availability)
Welcome

Vert Molitor, ILSP Naturalist- Divide into Groups

Group 1 - Nature Center

Group 2 - Water site

Training Commences

10:00 AM - 11:15 AM

Restroom Break 11:15 AM - 11:30 AM
Lunch 11:30 AM - 12:00 PM - Trainers switch groups
Training Continues 12:00 PM - 1:15 PM
Prepare for Departure 1:15 PM - 1:30 PM
Clean up and Store Equipment 1:30 PM - 2:00 PM - Trainers and volunteers


School Nature Center Program Schedule

Time is: 1 hour 15 min. to 1 hour 30 min.

Discussion Topics:

Recycling

Wildlife and History Exhibits

Map of Watershed

History of Watershed Project

Show Wetlands Movie

Discuss Movie

Demonstrate Wetlands

Hands On:

Explain collecting water samples

Discuss possible findings

Show Transparencies of Macroinvertibrates

Dos and don'ts of using microscopes

Examine water samples


School Water Site Program Schedule

Time is: 1 hour 15 min. to 1 hour 30 min.

Discussion Topics:

Explain importance of wetlands/water plants

Explain the proper use of equipment being used

Discuss possible findings

Give safety rules around water
Hands On:

Dipping and Identification of Macroinvertibrates

Class discussion

 

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Amphitheater

IL St. Pk. Amphitheater
Click here for camp ground map.
 


Campground Activity Schedule


Nature Programs
Tuesday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM  		Projects Day - Join the Naturalist at the new Nature Center as she works on projects like composting, gardening, trail work, and, recycling.
Wednesday
10:00 AM

1:00 PM

6:00 PM

Adventures In Nature - For all ages! A new discovery at each session.

Water, Water, Everywhere! - What lurks in Indian Lake? Meet at the beach.

Live Animal Program - Meet some of the park's permanent residents.
Thursday
10:00 AM
1:00 PM


9:30 PM

Adventures In Nature (Session II)

Fish Ohio - We provide the bait, tackle and knowledge. Itis up to you to catch the big one.
Night Walk-Experience the mysteries of the night.
Friday
10:00 AM
1:00 PM


8:30 PM

9:00 PM

Adventures In Nature (Session III)
Nature Center Open House- Visit exciting displays and exhibits

Campfire

A Surprise Evening: Guest speakers on topics ranging from vicycle safety to astronomy
Saturday
10:30 AM

1:00 PM

8:30 PM

9:00 PM.
Morning Walk - Check out the bird boxes and other interesting natural things on the Cherokee Trail.
Nature Center Critter Day - Each week the Naturalist will bring out a new critter to show you and talk about.

Campfire

Saturday night at the Movies!


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New Nature Center Building


Nature Center


The State Park purchased 1.3 acres adjacent to the Campground on State Route 235 for a new nature center. This parcel of land contains a modular home which has been converted to a year round Interpretive Nature Center. The Ohio Division of Parks & Recreation has committed to funding the necessary displays and exhibits.
The Nature Center will focus on Indian Lake's rich heritage and past. Displays and programs on native Americans, the Miami and Erie Canal, the old amusement park and resort and local fauna and flora will be housed here.

The official dedication of the new Indian Lake State Park Nature Center was March 21, 1998.





Fall Flowers frame the picnic area pictured here. Fall flowers
Beautiful butterfly flowers surround the garden path The flower beds include unique planters
The pond is the source of wildlife studies.
Pictured in the photos is Gus Giannola, a Bellefontaine Senior. Gus helped with the planting and maintenance of the flower beds, stone path, and pond around the Nature Center

We hope you will visit the Nature Center soon.
Open to the General Public
Fridays and Saturdays 12:00 - 4:00 pm
Groups may schedule programs by calling 937 843-2717
Be sure to mention that you saw us on the Indian Lake Website. Thank you.
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