Registration will close Sept. 3 for the 22nd Natural History Weekend to be held Sept. 6-8 at Iowa Lakeside Laboratory.

University of Iowa students and other interested individuals are encouraged to spend a fun and fascinating weekend learning about the cultural and natural history of the Iowa Great Lakes region. This occurs through field trips, lectures, and discussions led by Iowa’s leading experts in the fields of archaeology, conservation, entomology, ornithology, and other subjects.

A variety of registration options are available, including full package, one day, or half day sessions. Meals are included and lodging on the rustic Lakeside campus is also available. Brochures and registration forms can be downloaded here, and the deadline to register is Tuesday, Sept. 3.

The weekend will kick off Friday evening with a lecture on aquatic invasive species in the Iowa Great Lakes presented by Jonathan Meerbeek, research biologist investigating lakes for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. He will provide the latest research results on the presence of zebra mussels, silver carp, and other aquatic invasive species in the Iowa Great Lakes, and successes and challenges in combating their establishment.

The Saturday morning trip will introduce participants to the world of insects. Presenter MJ Hatfield discovered her passion for insects in mid-life when she came face-to-face with the bugs on land she was restoring to prairie in northeastern Iowa. She went back to college to study entomology and co-founded the Iowa Insect listserv, a forum connecting insect experts and novices.

On Saturday afternoon, participants have a choice between ‘Birding and Bugging’ or exploring ancient rock drawings at the Jeffers Petroglyphs Historic Site in south west Minnesota. The former expedition will be led by Lee Schoenewe and Robert Cruden, organismal biologist, who will demonstrate how binoculars can be trained on dragonflies as well as birds during stops to area wetlands. John Doershuk, director of the UI Office of the State Archaeologist, will lead the visit to the Jeffers Site.

Saturday evening will feature a showing of Lost Nation: the Ioway, the award-winning documentary film by Fourth Wall Films.

Natural History Weekend will conclude Sunday morning with two field trip options: a birding expedition to prairie and savanna habitats with Lee and Nancy Schoenewe, or “Miniwakan to Milford,” an exploration local archaeological sites with John Doershuk.

Iowa Lakeside Laboratory is a field station of Iowa’s state universities. It has provided classes and research opportunities since 1909. As a Regents Resource Center, Lakeside also offers lifelong learning programs for the people of northwest Iowa.

Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to attend all UI-sponsored events. If you are a person with a disability who requires an accommodation in order to participate in this program, contact Jane Shuttleworth, education coordinator at Iowa Lakeside Laboratory, at 712-337-3669, Extension 7, or at jane-shuttleworth@uiowa.edu in advance of the weekend.