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Lakeside Lab

Owned by the state of Iowa and operated through the Board of Regents, we seek to provide science classes and research opportunities for university students, and offer Outreach Programs and provide services through the state universities.

What's Happening at the Lab

Lakeside Laboratory offers experiential learning at its finest! Any student preparing for a career in the sciences will find high quality field-based experiences that will give your resume an edge. All students; artists, business majors, pre-service teachers and more, will engage in valuable learning that will take you to the next level. Join us for a summer of learning beyond the classroom. At Lakeside Lab, we are helping you build career ready skills! 

Tuesday Lecture Series

Dr. Kata McCarville presents "Rocking Iowa Lakeside's Stone Labs" at 7 pm in Mahan Hall, August 1st.  

Learn to “read the rocks” and uncover the geologic story of Iowa and the secret of Iowa’s agricultural wealth.  The walls of Lakeside Laboratory’s five historic stone labs display a variety of beautiful and interesting stones.  These stones, brought to the site from the north by glaciers, reveal a story of North America’s geology.  We will also discuss the construction of the labs.  Enjoy the talk, and feel free to join us afterward for a short optional walk to explore the stone labs and practice our rock-reading skills!

Okoboji Writers Retreat

Iowa Lakeside Lab is proud to host the 2023 Okoboji Writers Retreat September 17-20, 2023.  During 2.5 days, attendees can choose from over 30 small group sessions, ranging from hands-on workshops to panel sessions on memoir, storytelling, fiction, non-fiction, and the business side of publishing.

Women in Nature Day

Join adult women 18 years+ for an opportunity to discover new outdoor recreation skills, build a nature-loving community, and experience the natural landscapes of Dickinson county! Fall WIND registration will open September 5th and can be found using this link. Click PDF icon here to see the session offerings. 

WIND is a partnership program between Lakeside Lab, ISU Extension & Outreach, Dickinson County Conservation and Clay County Conservation. Fall WIND will be held at the Maser Monarch Lodge. 

No School & Homeschool Explore Camps

No School and Homeschool Explore Camps are available for students on no-school days as well as homeschool students!  Registration for our fall camps will open at 12pm on Monday, September 25th and can be found using this link. Click PDF icon here to see our K-4th grade camp and PDF icon here to see our 5th - 8th grade camp. Questions? Call Ashley Scheve at 712-337-3669 ext 7 or Mary Skopec at 712-337-3669 ext 5.

Scholarships are also available.  Click PDF icon here to apply.  Join our mailing list for updates!

Summer Camps 2023

Summer Camp registration opens Wednesday, February 1st at 10am! Click HERE to register.  Click PDF icon here to see the list of camps.  Questions? Call Ashley Scheve at 712-337-3669 ext 7 or Mary Skopec at 712-337-3669 ext 5.

Scholarships are also available.  Click PDF icon here to apply.  Join our mailing list for updates!

Wild Wednesdays

Wild Wednesdays are free, family friendly programs happening every Wednesday during the summer. Check back here early 2024 for our new list of programs!

Let's Talk About Harmful Algal Blooms

Dr. Kalina Manoylov and the Ecology and Systematics of Algae class produced a new document PDF icon "Let's Talk About Harmful Algal Blooms".  Check out this wonderful resource!

MyLakeside Student Portal

Students are able to access all the information they need through the MyLakeside Portal.  Registration, Enrollment Status, Scholarships, Tuition and Billing and more!  

Lakeside Reads Book Club

Meetings are being held by Zoom.  For more information, please contact Mary Skopec at mary-skopec@uiowa.edu

Friends of Lakeside Lab logo
Friends of Lakeside Lab

The Friends of Lakeside Lab was founded in 1994 to support Iowa Lakeside Laboratory and Regents Resource Center through scholarships and as a community resource for water quality monitoring, environmental education and research. The Friends is a tax-exempt, 501c3 non-profit organization.

CLAMP Volunteers collecting samples on West Okoboji
The Cooperative Lakes Area Monitoring Project

The goal of CLAMP is to provide long term monitoring data on regional lake conditions and educate local citizens about lake ecology.  Click here to see CLAMP videos! 

If you are interested in becoming a CLAMP volunteer, please email Ashley Scheve, Education Coordinator, at ashley-scheve@uiowa.edu.

Lakeside GLEON Buoy on West Okoboji
GLEON Buoy

The Global Lake Ecological Observatory Network conducts innovative science by sharing and interpreting water quality and weather data on West Okoboji and Big Spirit Lake

Water Quality

In its partnership with the State Hygenic Lab, we provide water testing services, and educate citizens on how to better care for our natural lakes.

Okoboji 3rd Grade educational program
preK-12 Education

Lakeside Lab offers many opportunities for experiential learning. We will work with you in developing a program that is appropriate for your school. Contact our Education Coordinator Ashley (Hansen) Scheve at 712-337-3669 ext.7 or ashley-scheve@uiowa.edu

Citizen Science

Lakeside is committed to empowering citizens to engage with science.  

On-Line Educational Resources

During the school closures, there are lots of great options for learning.  Check out:

NEW** All About Bald Eagles (submitted by our friends Stacey and the Lyndhurst STEMettes) https://wizardpins.com/blogs/education/all-about-bald-eagles

PBS Learning Media:  A variety of topics and age levels https://iowa.pbslearningmedia.org/

Iowa Outdoors: http://www.iowapbs.org/iowaoutdoors

Lakeside Educational Videos:

University of Northern Iowa On-Line Lesson Plans.  

Discovery EducationTake a virtual field trip

Pinterest and Iowa STEM activities

Cincinnati Zoo Virtual Tours

Discover birds in your backyard from tools at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.  Watch Birds Nesting Cameras

Bird identification tools 

Iowa Ornithologists' Union of the birds of Iowa checklist

Free Scholastic Learn at Home Resources

STEM At home learning calendar

Experiential Learning

Lakeside Lab features a variety of classes that offer hand's on learning.  Alex Braidwood's Acoustic Ecology class was featured on Iowa Outdoors.  

Recent News

Iowa Lakeside Laboratory is honored to be one of the groups honored as part of the Six Pillars of Character Award for the Iowa Great Lakes.  

Lakeside Reads

Lakeside Reads is a book club focused on nature or science topics.  We meet the 4th Thursday of the month at 11:00 (April - Oct).  Come for the conversation, beautiful view and snacks!  Call Mary at 712-337-3669 ext 5 for more information.

Community Pages

Treasure hike at Lakeside Lab yields little treasures
LAKESIDE TREASURE HIKE!

June 1 – October 1
This self-guided nature exploration and tour of Lakeside grounds is perfect for children, families, and “kids at heart” of any age. Pick up a treasure map at Lakeside entrance and go exploring for hidden clues and secret messages.

Volunteers doing invasive species removal at Lakeside Lab
Volunteer Opportunities

COFFEE AND GROUNDS

Work hard and learn about native ecosystems while restoring prairie and oak savanna at Lakeside. Then relax and make friends over coffee and rolls. Meet at the Waitt Lab at 8:30 am each Tuesday during snow-free months.

VOLUNTEER FOR WATER QUALITY!

The Cooperative Lakes Area Monitoring Project is looking for volunteers to monitor lake health. Free training and equipment provided. Contact 712-337-3669 Ext. 7 for information.