PLEON Workshops

PLEON conducts free workshops focusing on lake ecology and management. Workshops feature scientists working at the forefront of lake ecology and facilitate interactions and collaborations among lake scientists, landowners, and the public. Workshops cover topics such as basic lake ecology, sampling methods and equipment, as well as common management challenges in the Poconos. 

Workshops are held at Lacawac Sanctuary and are free of charge.

Have an idea for a workshop topic? We would love to hear from you! Contact Beth Norman (beth.norman@lacawac.org)

2021 PLEON Summer Workshop Series

PLEON is continuing to serve Pocono lake communities during the COVID-19 pandemic by providing virtual and in-person workshops. Masking and social distancing is required at all in-person events. Thank you for helping keep our community safe.
HARMFUL ALGAE IN THE POCONOS: PART 1
MAY 15, 2021
10 AM AT LACAWAC SANCTUARY
Masks and social distancing required. Event will be outdoors. 

Join PLEON scientists for a discussion of harmful algal blooms (HABs) in freshwater lakes led by Lauren Adkins Knose, a graduate student from Miami University of Ohio specializing in HAB dynamics. We will discuss why blooms form and which algae are harmful, challenges and best practices for detecting blooms and algal toxins, and how PLEON can help you monitor your lake for HABs.
RAINING AND POURING: HOW CHANGING RAINFALL PATTERNS AFFECT LAKE ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
JUNE 5, 2021
6:30 PM AT LACAWAC SANCTUARY
Masks and social distancing required. Event will be outdoors. 

Pennsylvania is seeing an increase in the number of extreme rain storms (in some areas of the state, heavy storms are 84% more common than they were in 1948).  What does all this rain mean for the water quality of our local lakes and ponds?  Dr. Kristin Strock, an associate professor at Dickinson College, will discuss changing climatic conditions in Pennsylvania, the effects these may have on lakes and ponds, and how networks like PLEON can collect long-term data that help us better understand changes that occur in response to changing weather patterns. 
WHO'S SWIMMING IN YOUR LAKE?
JUNE 28, 2021
6:30 PM (VIRTUAL)
This is a virtual workshop held via Zoom

Join PLEON for a discussion of the ecology of fish in freshwater lakes led by Miami University of Ohio researchers Nicole Berry, Addie Zeisler, and Isaac Smith. Have you ever found yourself wondering: Do fish get "sunburn"? Do fish "sweat" on a hot sunny day where the water feels as if it is boiling to the touch? What is the name of this fish? and how do I identify it? Join us to learn some of the basic life history of common freshwater fish, and the important role that sunlight can play in regulating fish populations.
ECOLOGY OF AQUATIC PLANTS
JULY 18, 2021
2:00 PM
Masks and social distancing required. Event will be outdoors. 

Ever wonder about the aquatic plants in your lake? Wonder if they may be invasive species? Join us for a hands-on workshop on aquatic plants given by Dr. Elizabeth Carroll, an expert in aquatic plant ecology and identification from Holy Family University. Participants will learn how what makes aquatic plants unique, their role in lake ecosystems, and how to identify common native and invasive species. Participants will also learn how to survey aquatic plants in their own lakes by helping to conduct a lake-wide survey of the aquatic plants in Lake Lacawac and Heron Pond (from shore or using boats provided by Lacawac). 
2020 Workshops
Pocono Lakes and a Changing Climate
Presented by Dr. Craig Williamson, Ohio Eminent Scholar of Ecosystem Ecology, Miami University
Harmful Algae in the Poconos
This workshop was held virtually using Zoom.
Presented by Lauren Knose, Miami University of Ohio and Beth Norman, Lacawac Sanctuary 
Ecology of Aquatic Plants​
This workshop was held virtually using Zoom. ​
​Presented by Elizabeth Carroll, Holy Family University
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