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
Check out our Events Page for special events happening at Lakeside this winter!
REGISTRATION IS OPEN and the Summer 2020 class list is available!
Check back often. More classes will be posted.
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!
Join us on Saturday, Jan 25th from 11-1 for soup, desserts and sledding! The event is being held at the Dining Hall on campus.
Applications for Summer 2020 Internships now open! 
Click here to find out more.
Applications now being accepted until March 1st! The Iowa Lakeside Laboratory Artist-in-Residence (AIR) program invites artists, musicians, composers, and performers of all genres to apply for a two to four week residency. Scientists and artists interact in new and innovative ways to understand and interpret the natural world. AIR also offers community events to highlight activities from their residency.
Next Meeting: April 2020
Reading selection for April: 1491 by Charles C Mann
Summer 2020 Nature Camps schedule will be released later this fall. We encourage a healthy, respectful and life–long relationship between students and the natural world while nurturing every student’s innate curiosity about nature.
Scholarships are available through the Leary Foundation and the Lindsay Vonn Foundation. Call to inquire 712-337-3669 ext 7.
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.
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!
The Global Lake Ecological Observatory Network conducts innovative science by sharing and interpreting water quality and weather data on West Okoboji. The GLEON Buoy is docked for the winter. See you spring 2020!
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.
The Writer in Residence program offers 3 week residencies to undergraduate and graduate students. Students interested in writing about ecology, natural history, environmental ethics or related topics can become immersed in the Lakeside Lab campus and culture to enhance their writing. 2019_summer_wir_flier.pdf
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 at 712-337-3669 ext.7, jane-shuttleworth@uiowa.edu.
Lakeside also facilitates Nature Connections, a unique collaborative of early childhood educators, professionals and naturalists dedicated to introducing children to a life-long, meaningful relationship with nature while meeting their developmental needs.
Lakeside Lab features a variety of classes that offer hand's on learning. Alex Braidwood's Acoustic Ecology class was featured on Iowa Outdoors.
Events
The Iowa Lakeside Laboratory offers a variety
of interesting events and initiatives.
Recent News
Winter Games at Lakeside - Join us for Soup and Slide
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.
Looking for a one-of-a-kind experience? Apply to be an Iowa Lakeside Lab Artist-in-Residence for 2020. Information can be found here.
Looking for a family-friendly activity during the upcoming Winter Games? Plan to attend Lakeside Lab’s Soup and Slide Event on Saturday, January 25, from 11:00am to 1:00pm. Families with children of all ages are invited to bring their sleds and appetites to the Lakeside Lab Dining Hall for both indoor and outdoor fun.
Hearty soups and delicious desserts will be served from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm for a freewill donation inside the Dining Hall. Outdoor activities will include sledding down the Dining Hall Hill (*if Mother Nature cooperates) and a self-guided nature hike of Lakeside grounds. Participants should bring their own sleds or toboggans as a limited number will be available on campus
Community Pages
Free, fun, family–oriented science programs! 7:00 PM at Waitt Lab during the summer. Wild Wednesdays will return in the summer of 2020.
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.
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.
Listen, learn and engage with scientists as they share their research. 7:00 pm each Tuesday May - July in Mahan Hall.