Photos by Jessa Pease.
0614 Lake Stomp
At Oak Mountain State Park, kids can dig in the sand by the lake and find different kinds of bugs, snails and shells.
Lake Stomp
Oak Mountain State Park, 200 Terrace Dr.
July 5 at 10 a.m.
Free with park admission
Something lurks in the lake at Oak Mountain State Park waiting to be discovered — bugs.
The Lake Stomp event creates the opportunity for guests of all ages to learn about the insects found in the water and how humans can negatively affect them.
Park naturalist Emily Cook leads the way, pointing out dragonfly and mayfly larva floating in the water before they are able to change into adult form.
“I have them come out, and we will look for different things that would be around in the lake,” Cook said. “We talk about how the insects can tell us about the water, what their function is and if the water is clean.”
Cook said her usual crowd is made up of children between five and 13 years old, and their parents are usually present as well. It can be a learning experience for everyone, she said.
July 5, Cook will be showing the kids around starting at 10 a.m. They will all have to be prepared to get wet, which Cook believes is some of the most fun.
“I think it is fun letting them get out into the lake but still learning a little bit at the same time,” Cook said. “So they can know that what we do impacts not only just us, but even the tiniest of the creatures that are in the water.”
Certain insects such as the mayfly can be indicators about pollution levels in the water because they require high dissolved oxygen levels. Large populations of these larvae imply low amount of population, while smaller numbers show the opposite.
Children can also stumble upon snails or old mussel shells, which Cook said makes the event exciting.
“A lot of them like the insects, especially when I start telling them that this one only lives in a certain type of water so they can see how fewer insects can mean something is wrong,” Cook said. “I really like doing it, and being able to share different experiences with them.”
Lake Stomp provides everyone with the opportunity to explore the lake to see what discoveries they can find and to learn something new.
Admission to Lake Stomp is free with park admission, which is $1 for children 11 or younger and $3 for adults. Meet at the park office at 200 Terrace Drive.
