Nate Bosch, left, director of the Lilly Center for Lakes & Streams at Grace College, Winona Lake, is shown leading an ecotour in 2022 on Winona Lake. Photo provided by the Lilly Center for Lakes & Streams.
News Release
WINONA LAKE — The Lilly Center for Lakes & Streams at Grace College collaborates with local lake associations to host educational tours of Chapman, Wawasee, Winona and Tippecanoe lakes.
People can explore what it takes to be a lake scientist by joining an ecotour. A new format this year means you can help collect data from your local lake with the guidance of a Lilly Center intern.
When you meet the group on the lake, you can allow a member of the student team to board your boat along with a variety of research equipment. College interns provide an interactive experience as they demonstrate how the Lilly Center conducts research.
Participants can follow along from the comfort of their own boat as Lilly Center director Nate Bosch narrates the tour on an FM radio station. You will have the opportunity to text your question and comments to Bosch at any time during the event.
During an ecotour, you will learn about data and information that is specific to your lake:
- Depth, sediment and clarity
- Lake food chains
- Dissolved oxygen levels
- Lake stratification
- Algae and aquatic weed identification
Ecotours begin at 7 p.m. on the following days:
- Monday, July 10: Big Chapman Lake
- Tuesday, July 11: Lake Wawasee
- Thursday, July 13: Winona Lake
- Friday, July 14: Lake Tippecanoe
Ecotours are free to the public, thanks to sponsorship from the Zimmer Biomet Foundation. To register for an ecotour and for more information, visit lakes.grace.edu/events.