1838 Hwy 86

Milford, IA 51351

712-337-3669

www.lakesidelab.org

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The mission of the Friends of Lakeside Lab is to support Iowa Lakeside Laboratory as a community resource for environmental education, water quality monitoring, and research. for the Friends  would not exist without Iowa Lakeside Laboratory. Founded in 1909, Lakeside is one of the oldest biological field stations in the United States, and the only such facility in the North American prairie pothole region. The Friends organized in 1994 as a support organization for Lakeside, and formally incorporated in 1996. 

Today operated by the Iowa Board of Regents, Lakeside began as  the dream of Dr. Thomas Macbride, one of Iowa’s first leading scientists and conservationists. Macbride was also a gifted educator who understood the importance of hands-on, field based experiences to effective learning in the environmental sciences. Lakeside’s mission to “teach about nature in nature”, is a quote from Dr. Macbride.

With its location on the shores of Lake West Okoboji, its proximity to several state preserves and a diversity of freshwater and terrestrial ecosystems – including Iowa’s deepest, longest and largest natural lakes- Lakeside is choice location for teaching, research and learning in the natural sciences.

The Friends support Lakeside through student scholarships, and by supporting K-12 and community programs, as well as water quality monitoring and research.

Friends accomplishments include:

• A successful million-dollar capital campaign to build Lakeside’s first year-round teaching and research facility, the Waitt Water Quality Laboratory, completed under budget, on schedule, in 1998.

• Expanded scholarship opportunities for students and life-long learners.

• Leadership and support for Lakeside’s first year-round use of the Waitt facility for community and K-12 education.

• Commitment to ongoing water quality monitoring and research, including the involvement of community volunteers.

• An endowment campaign to support Lakeside environmental education programs, research and operations.

Programs the Friends have created or helped to sponsor:

Public Outreach   The Friends sponsor numerous free, fun and family oriented programs, such as Wild Wednesdays, Winter Wonder Land Open House, as well as programs for adult audiences, such as Conservation Conversations and Science Sundays.

Middle School Field Science Program  Over 200 students visit Lakeside in spring and fall to learn about aquatic and terrestrial ecology.

Science Teacher Workshops  New and even experienced science teachers come to Lakeside to gain experience and confidence in incorporating the outdoors into their curriculums.

Cooperative Lakes Area Monitoring Project  Since 1999 over 100 local citizens have been keeping tabs on water quality of nine Dickinson County lakes.

Water Quality Research  activities conducted out of the Waitt Lab have included identifying and prioritizing sources of nutrient input into the lakes, measuring the effectiveness of wetland restoration on reducing nutrient pollution, development of nutrient and hydrological budgets for selected Dickinson County lakes, and data collection for impaired waters restoration.

Science Camps for Kids immerse young learners in the outdoors. Campers shadow college-level students, create their own research projects, and have time for swimming and crafts, too!

Iowa Lakeside Regents Resource Center:  Most recently, the Friends have become proud supporters of the Lakeside Lab Regents Resource Center, and their efforts to expand Board of Regents presence and expanded life-long learning opportunities in northwest Iowa.