WAYNE — The Kennebec Land Trust has announced the dates and speakers for its 16th annual Lyceum lecture series and walks. This year’s program focuses on “Maine’s Amphibians and Reptiles.”

The March lecture series is modeled after the early New England lyceums that began in 1826 in Massachusetts. For many years New England lyceums hosted lectures, debates and concerts for public audiences. The trust’s lyceum is supported by Gloria, Lincoln and Robert Ladd. This year’s series is sponsored by the Biology Department of Colby College.

All three March programs are free and open to the public and are held at the Ladd Recreation Center.

Topics are as follows:

Reptile Conservation and Management: 7 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, March 15. Derek Yorks, Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, will speak about the natural history and ecology of Maine’s reptiles with a focus on multi-state turtle conservation and the conservation of Maine’s rarest and largest snake.

Diversity and Natural History of Maine Amphibians: 7 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, March 22. Cathy Bevier, professor of biology at Colby College, will share an overview of the habits and habitats of Maine’s frogs and salamanders, details of how some amphibian species survive Maine’s winters and highlights of research on the mink frog, the green frog and the mudpuppy.

Maine’s Vernal Pool Special Area Management Plan — Local Conservation of Vernal Pool Ecosystems: 7 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, March 29. Aram Calhoun, professor of biology at University of Maine, and Elizabeth Hertz, owner, Blue Sky Planning Solutions, will speak about vernal pool ecology, their current research findings and integrating regulation and conservation.

The spring Lyceum Amphibian Walks are as follows:

Saturday, April 21: Rosmarin and Saunders Family Forest, Readfield; www.tklt.org/rosmarin-and-saunders-family-forest. Join KLT Steward Tom Danielson on Earth Day Weekend for an exploration of amphibians in the Rosmarin Beaver Pond, stream and vernal pools.

Saturday, April 28: Gott Pasture Preserve, Wayne; www.tklt.org/gottpasture. Alan Seamans, Maine master naturalist, will lead a walk to explore vernal pools at the Gott Pasture Preserve.

For more information contact KLT, 331 Main St., P.O. Box 261, Winthrop, ME 04364; call 207-377-2848 or visit www.tklt.org or www.tklt.org/lyceum/.