LAKE ARIEL, PA — Nature Fest is a celebration of nature’s treasures in Wayne County that includes hikes, presentations and hands-on activities for all ages on Saturday, June 11 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. You can start the night before, Friday, June 10 from 8 to 9:30 p.m., with a National Park Service biologist who will lead an expedition recording the echolocation calls of bats flying overhead. Participants will be able to see the calls as they are recorded using acoustic monitoring equipment, and learn how this data contributes to our understanding of local bat populations. The cost is $5 for nonmembers and is free when you present your Lacawac membership card. Pre-registration is appreciated.

Saturday’s Nature Fest begins with a wild mushroom and edibles hike, led by Nathaniel Whitmore. Guided walking tours of Lacawac’s 100-year-old buildings are offered three times during the day. Enjoy an art show of photography and paintings by Heidi Van Lueven, a local artist who gained inspiration from nature during a residency program at Lacawac. She’ll share some thoughts and take questions at 11:30 a.m.

Lacawac’s staff and volunteers will lead a Pond Discovery Hike at 12 noon to explore the diverse ecology of a wetland with activities for all ages. Feel mammal furs and teeth, explore the adapted life of owls, build a bug, meet a lake scientist, hop along a nature course and much more throughout the day. Pack a lunch and enjoy Lacawac’s 500-acre property with eight miles of trails. Saturday’s admission is $10 per car. Visit www.lacawac.org.