ILMS is pleased to announce its 2025 Lake Appreciation Event Sponsorship winners.  These sponsorships are intended to reduce the cost of holding educational events in or around Lakes Appreciation Month, July.  A total of $1,000 in sponsorships were provided, including $200 in funds generously provided by Jones Lake Management.  Recipients will receive $100 to $200 to help cover the costs of materials, speaker fees, space rental, or event promotion.  

Congratulations to our 2025 recipients:

• Wawasee Area Conservancy Foundation – Pontoon Ecology Cruise.  On August 2, WACF will take community members out on the lake to conduct water testing, learn plant identification techniques, and hear about ongoing projects working to protect and improve the lake.  Learn more at https://wacf.com/events/pontoon-tour/
• Starke County SWCD – Kankakee River Days.  This exciting event will take 4th-6th grade students on the river in voyageur canoes as the highlight of a full day of educational activities.  There will also be a Community Day on Saturday September 13!  More details coming soon.
• Friends of Lake Monroe – Watershed Tour.  On Saturday June 21st, community members will board a bus to explore the South Fork portion of the Lake Monroe watershed.  Sites include a recreation area, a burn site in Hoosier National Forest, a stream gage on South Fork Salt Creek, and the Lake Monroe dam.  Learn more at https://www.friendsoflakemonroe.org/events-page/tour
• Lilly Center for Lakes and Streams – Cyanotypes from the Wetland.  On Saturday July 12, local artist and educator Erin Patton-McFarren will lead a hands-on cyanotype workshop that blends art, nature, and environmental awareness.  Participants will explore a local wetland, learn about regional water issues, and make their own cyanotype prints using shoreline plants.  Learn more at https://lakes.grace.edu/events/workshop-cyanotypes-from-the-wetland/
• Cordry Sweetwater Conservancy District – Keeping Our Lakes Pristine.  During the summer, volunteer boat stewards monitor the boat ramps at select times, inspecting boats, answering questions, and educating boaters about how to keep the lake healthy.  
• Lake Shafer Association – DNR Boating Class.  On May 18, the Lake Shafer Association worked with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources and the Lighthouse Bed and Breakfast to offer a Boat Safety Class.

We hope you will attend a Lakes Appreciation Event happening near you this summer!