Valentine’s Day at Monroe Lake this year has gone to the birds… but that’s a good thing! The naturalist will be hosting A Very Birdie Valentine’s on Sunday, February 14 at Paynetown State Recreation Area, 4850 S. State Road 446 in Bloomington.

Six 60-minute sessions are available during the day, with a fee of $5 per person. Registration is required by February 10 at http://bit.ly/birdvalentine2021.

Jill Vance, Monroe Lake’s interpretive naturalist, recommends this activity for families with children in the 5 to 12 year age range. Participants will make two different types of heart-shaped treats for wild birds, craft a bird-themed Valentine’s Day card, and learn about common backyard birds while observing them at a special feeder station.

Due to Covid-19, each session is restricted to a single household (with a max. 6 people) and the work area will be sanitized between sessions. This is an indoor program and masks (covering both mouth and nose) must be worn by everyone, no exceptions.

Questions about this program should be directed to Vance at [email protected] or 812-837-9967. There is no gate fee to enter Paynetown SRA during the winter season.

Join WonderLab educators for STEM Sunday and work together on a project for the whole family. During this STEM Sunday, we will learn about lunar rovers – special vehicles used to explore the moon’s surface. We will use items around our homes to create our own lunar rover and test it out! Some suggested materials include tape, scissors, cardboard, rubber bands, and pencils. You can use other materials as well to build your own unique creation. This is a great opportunity for the whole family or group to explore the engineering design process as well as develop STEM skills such as defining & problem solving, exploring cause & effect, and the collaborative process. This program is made possible through funding from Cook Medical. and CFC Properties.