ST. LOUIS, Mo., March 27, 2008 – The annual Wetlands for Kids Day hosted by the Missouri Department of Conservation and Ducks Unlimited and supported by a $25,000 grant from the Monsanto Fund will be held on Saturday, April 5 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the August A. Busch Memorial Conservation Area in St. Charles, Missouri.
Each child who registers will receive a free Ducks Unlimited Greenwing membership, which includes a one-year subscription to the Puddler magazine, courtesy of the Monsanto Fund.
“It is an honor to team up with the Monsanto Fund to encourage children to become conservationist at an early age,” said Jane Bell, Ducks Unlimited state chairwoman and Wetlands for Kids Day volunteer. “Last year, despite bad weather, hundreds of children and adults attended. We hope this year will be even more successful.”
Over 20 demonstration and activity stations will be available to introduce children to various aspects of the natural world. Highly trained experts who have the ability to instruct the participants and to answer all of their probing questions man each learning station. All children who register will receive a free gift bag containing fun prizes, additional wetland and wildlife learning materials, and a tree to plant at home.
Ducks Unlimited and MDC encourage children and their families from all parts of the St. Louis region to attend. Scout troops are welcome. All children, whether they live in the city or in rural areas can learn something new at this event.
Attendees will have the opportunity to see live birds of prey, create wetland artwork, explore a beaver lodge, learn to identify waterfowl and other birds, tie fishing flies, see and touch snakes, frogs and turtles and much more. For more information, contact the Missouri Department of Conservation at the August A. Busch Conservation Area (636-441-4554).
The Monsanto Fund is the philanthropic arm of the Monsanto Company. Incorporated in 1964, the Fund’s primary objective is to improve the lives of people by bridging the gap between their needs and their resources. The Monsanto Fund is focused on grant-making in four main areas: nutritional well-being through agriculture; science education, primarily on professional development for teachers; the environment, which includes conservation, protection of biodiversity, clean water and restoration of wildlife habitat; and improving the quality of life in communities where Monsanto employees live and work.
With more than a million supporters, Ducks Unlimited is the world’s largest and most effective wetland and waterfowl conservation organization with over 12 million acres conserved. The United States alone has lost more than half of its original wetlands - nature’s most productive ecosystem - and continues to lose more than 80,000 wetland acres each year.
Media Contact:
Andi Cooper
Regional Biologist- Communications
(601) 206-5463
acooper@ducks.org