ST. LOUIS, Mo., April 6, 2006 – The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) and Ducks Unlimited (DU) hosted the annual Wetlands for Kids Day event at the August A. Busch Memorial Conservation Area on Saturday April 1. Nearly 2,000 children and adults attended to learn more about wildlife and wetlands.
“This is our most successful year yet,” said Patti Redel, outreach and education regional supervisor for the MDC. “This event is a great opportunity to introduce and educate kids about nature and excite them about the outdoors.”
Cub Scout Pack 830 All children who registered at the event received a free goodie bag and a complimentary DU Greenwing membership courtesy of the Monsanto Fund. Several Missouri outdoor organizations participated and helped introduce children to various aspects of the natural world.
“This was a record year for the Wetlands for Kids Day,” said DU Missouri Regional Director Troy LaRue. “We registered more than 1,000 Greenwing youth members and had 20 demonstration and activity stations.”
The MDC hosted several activities including a duck wing maze that led participants through a path to help them identify ducks using only the wing. An artificial beaver lodge built by MDC staff was set up, and kids could crawl inside to learn about the importance of beavers to wetlands. A live-animal exhibit of fish, reptiles and amphibians gave visitors a close look at wetland dependent wildlife. MDC staff also helped the kids practice target shooting with air rifles and bows and arrows.
DU showcased activities from its Project Webfoot scholastic program. Kids got their hands wet and dirty by participating in a demonstration that showed how wetlands work to prevent flooding and filter contaminants from our drinking water. In addition, DU also brought a collection of waterfowl mounts, so visitors could test their waterfowl identification skills and compare dabbling ducks like the mallard to diving ducks like the canvasback.
The Missouri Trappers Association brought a variety of animal pelts for kids to touch and compare the textures of different animal furs. The Mississippi Valley Duck Hunters Association sponsored a coloring contest where the winners received a $10 gift certificate to Bass Pro Shops. Volunteers from the World Bird Sanctuary brought a great-horned owl and several other birds of prey to give attendees the opportunity to see these large birds up close. Representatives from the St. Louis Audubon Society showcased birds found at backyard birdfeeders and educated visitors about different foods birds eat based on beak shape.
A member of the Central Missouri Foundation of Safari Club International brought a collection of animal mounts from all over the world including a hyena, a baboon and a warthog. Also attending were members of the Ozark Fly Fishers Association who demonstrated the art of fly tying. Additional demonstrations included waterfowl decoy carving by Dr. Ira McCauley and retriever dog training by Sorenson Kennels.
Before they left the event, children who visited all the activity stations were given a tree to plant at home courtesy of the MDC and the George O. White nursery.
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With more than a million supporters, Ducks Unlimited is the world’s largest and most effective wetland and waterfowl conservation organization. The United States alone has lost more than half of its original wetlands - nature’s most productive ecosystem - and continues to lose more than 100,000 wetland acres each year.
Look for Ducks Unlimited on the World Wide Web at www.ducks.org. Tune into The World of Ducks Unlimited Radio Network, and starting again in July, watch Ducks Unlimited Television on the Outdoor Life Network (OLN).
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