The Kansas Wetlands Education Center is gearing up for the Sept. 26 Butterfly Fest and events that will take place in October.

KWEC Butterfly Festival - 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Sept. 26

Each year, millions of monarch butterflies undertake their annual fall flight to Mexico. Nets and tags will be available during the event for those who want to capture and tag monarch butterflies.

Participants head out into the flower-filled fields and shelter belt around the KWEC to capture monarchs, with tagging leaders stationed along the trail to help with the tagging process. For the past several years, monarchs tagged at the event were recovered at three Mexico roost sites.

On the way to Mexico, data collected from tagged monarchs helps support the research of Monarch Watch. Tagging helps answer questions about the origins of monarchs that reach Mexico, the timing and pace of migration, mortality during the migration, and changes in geographic distribution.

Kansas City based StoneLion Puppet Theatre will present the Bubba and Trixie show in our auditorium at 9:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m., and 11:15 a.m. Bubba is a scaredy-cat caterpillar too afraid to leave his leaf until he meets the fearless Trixie, a crimped wing ladybug. Amazing adventures happen until winter sets in and Bubba must make a new journey ... into a butterfly. A story of true friendship and facing your fears. When you arrive at the festival, be sure to secure free tickets to attend the show at one of the scheduled times.

Kellie Honey Farm from Larned will be present with a demonstration hive on display in the exhibit hall to educate about the importance of honeybees.

KWEC will also feature an invertebrate zoo, with giant walking stick insects, butterflies, caterpillars, chrysalises, fluorescing scorpions, a tarantula, and more.

Kids can make a Perler bead butterfly magnet craft in our classroom. Race through a pollinator obstacle course and earn a temporary butterfly tattoo. Contribute to community art by helping replace the mural panels in the Melody Marsh with fresh designs. Use a sling shot to shoot seeds bombs full of potential pollinator blooms out into our prairie and take home your own packet of seeds.

New this year will be Agents of Discovery, an AI-powered, augmented reality experience. Using a smart phone, visitors can learn more about pollinators and butterfly migration by completing challenges at learning stops on our nature trail.

Stargazing with the FHSU Astronomy Club - 8:30-10 p.m. Friday, Oct. 9

The wonders of the universe are coming to the wetlands! Join the Fort Hays State University Astronomy Club from 8:30-10 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 9 for an evening of stargazing at the Kansas Wetlands Education Center. Visitors will have the opportunity to explore some of the most beautiful celestial objects visible in the autumn sky.

Club members will set up several telescopes and share their knowledge of astronomy with participants of all ages. Whether you are a seasoned skywatcher or looking through a telescope for the very first time, this event offers a chance to experience the night sky in a whole new way.

Throughout the evening, guests will have opportunities to view a variety of deep sky objects, including:

• Saturn – One of the most recognizable planets in our solar system, famous for its spectacular ring system.
• M31 (The Andromeda Galaxy) – The closest major galaxy to our own Milky Way and visible as a faint smudge of light to the unaided eye under dark skies.
• M45 (The Pleiades) – Often called the Seven Sisters, this bright open star cluster is one of the most stunning sights through binoculars and telescopes.
• M24 (The Sagittarius Star Cloud) – A rich region of stars within our own galaxy that appears as a bright patch along the Milky Way.
• M6 (The Butterfly Cluster) – An open star cluster whose stars form a pattern resembling the wings of a butterfly.
• M7 (The Ptolemy Cluster) – One of the largest and brightest open clusters in the night sky.

In addition to telescopes, the Astronomy Club will bring an astrocamera, allowing visitors to see how astronomers capture detailed images of celestial objects. Participants will learn how modern astronomical cameras can reveal colors, structures, and details that are often difficult to see with the human eye alone.

The event is a unique opportunity to combine science, exploration, and the natural beauty of the wetlands after dark. Astronomy Club members will be available throughout the evening to answer questions about the objects being observed, telescope equipment, astrophotography, and careers in astronomy and science.

The program is free to the public and suitable for families, students, and anyone with an interest in the night sky. Participants are encouraged to dress for the weather.

Come discover distant galaxies, sparkling star clusters, and the rings of Saturn while learning from local astronomy enthusiasts.

Turtle Tots Returns for the Fall - 10-11 a.m. Friday, Oct. 2

Skinks! Turtle Tots, a nature-based program for preschool youth ages 3-5 attending with their caregiver, will continue from 10-11 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 2 at the Kansas Wetlands Education Center. Turtle Tot programs often include a story, craft, science experiment, and outdoor exploration time.

Little Skink has lost her tail. While hunting ants, Little Skink is attacked by a crow. To escape, she uses a lizard survival trick! Come learn all about that trick, play pin the tail on the skink, and meet our live Great Plains Skink animal ambassador. Reptile fun awaits!

This one-hour program is offered at no charge. Registration is required. Many of the Turtle Tot sessions are currently full and taking a waitlist. Call 877-243-9268 to check availability and join the waitlist.

Save the date for these additional Turtle Tots sessions: Friday, Nov. 13; Friday, Dec. 11; Friday, Jan. 8; Friday, Feb. 5; Friday, March 12; Friday, April 9.