Monroe Lake will celebrate Earth Science Week, Oct. 8–14, with a variety of activities for children and adults. There will be two guided geology tours, a celebration of a partial solar eclipse, and additional activities covering a range of earth science topics.

Details are at bit.ly/2023-earthscience-monroelake.

The week will kick off with a day-long geology driving tour on Monday, Oct. 9 beginning at 9 a.m. The tour is an in-depth exploration of local geological history, focusing on the region around Monroe Lake, and includes several opportunities for collecting rocks and fossils. The tour is limited to 12 people with a $30 per person fee. Advance registration is required by Oct. 5 at bit.ly/2023-geologytour.

On Thursday, Oct. 12 there will be a 2-mile roundtrip hike to the crinoid fossil bed at Allens Creek SRA at 2 p.m. No collecting is permitted at this location. The hike is free but limited to 20 people, and advance registration is required by Oct. 10 at bit.ly/2023-crinoidhike.

On Saturday, Oct. 14, from 9 to 11 a.m., drop by the campground playground at Paynetown State Recreation Area (SRA) to decorate and assemble your own eclipse viewer using a special solar filter paper to see that day’s partial solar eclipse during which the moon should cover about 45% of the sun. A donation of $1 is appreciated to cover material costs. Supplies will be limited.

Later that day, there will be an eclipse viewing party on the swimming beach at Paynetown SRA from noon to 1:30 p.m. The eclipse peaks at 1:02 p.m. Eclipse glasses will be available ($1 donation requested), and the park will have an activity table where you can experiment with different ways of viewing it.

Additional programs at Paynetown SRA, free with park admission that week, include:

• Sunday, Oct. 8, from 10 to 11 a.m., at the campground playground, “Know Moh,” drop by to test rocks using Moh’s Hardness Scale.
• Sunday, Oct. 8, from 1 to 2:30 p.m., at the activity center, “Phases of the Moon,” drop by to make a diagram model of the moon’s phases.
• Tuesday, Oct. 10, from 2 to 4 p.m., at the campground playground, “Rising Waters,” drop by to see a demo of how water can defy gravity.
• Thursday, Oct. 12, from 10 to 11:30 a.m., at the Overflow Parking Area, “Digging for Fossils,” drop by to search for real fossils and learn about ancient ocean life.
• Thursday, Oct. 12, at 3 p.m., at the activity center, “Inside the Earth,” construct a model of the Earth’s interior as you learn about the layers of our planet.
• Friday, Oct. 13, at 10:30 a.m., at the activity center, “Chocolate Rock Cycle,” demo using chocolate to show how igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks are created.
• Friday, Oct. 13, at 2 p.m., at the activity center, “Cookie Excavation,” practice basic excavation skills used in paleontology on different types of cookies.
• Friday, Oct. 13, from 5:30 to 7 p.m., at the campground playground, “DIY Weathervanes,” drop by to construct your own mini weathervane.

The daily entrance fee at Paynetown SRA is $7 per vehicle with Indiana license plate and $9 per vehicle with out-of-state plates. Indiana State Park Annual Entrance Permits are also accepted.

Questions should be directed to the Paynetown Activity Center at 812-837-9967 or email Jill Vance at jvance@dnr.IN.gov.

To view more DNR news releases, please see dnr.IN.gov.