4th Annual “Return of the Mayfly” Fest to be held

Date: June 14, 2012
Contact: Nichole Fifer, 419 285-2184

History gets a little watery on Saturday, June 23^rd, at Perry's Victory and International Peace Memorial when we turn our attention from the Battle itself to the Lake. The National Park Service site is hosting its 4th annual "Return of the Mayfly" festival from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. "Return of the Mayfly is a free event that gives adults and children alike the opportunity to learn about our fascinating friend, the mayfly and his ecological counterpart in Lake Erie…the fish" said Memorial Superintendent Blanca Stransky.

Events and activities will focus on the Lake Erie ecosystem and some of our favorite critters will be here, the mayflies! "Our annual Mayfly Fest honors those pesky insects we all love to hate.Yet, mayflies play such an important role in the local ecology and in determining the health of Lake Erie that they deserve our respect and understanding," Stransky added.

This year's activities will again include a variety of fun science based activities. Visitors will have the opportunity to study mayflies with some student volunteers using viewing scopes provided by Ohio State University Stone Laboratory.Children may participate in the ever popular "Build-A-Bug" and "Bug Mask" crafts.Fishing, Ichthyology and Invasive Species Ranger Programs will provide kids with the opportunity to see and understand some interesting

critters and plant species. Plus, some of our park rangers will help children discover the effects of pollution using hands-on water quality testing.For more information, please call Perry's Victory and International Peace Memorial at [phone] or visit www.nps.gov/pevi.