Fort Hays State University’s Kansas Wetlands Education Center will host several drop-in events Dec. 29 and 30. 

The December WILD program will take place at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 29. This month’s focus will be on falconry. 

Falconry is the sport of hunting wild animals in their natural state and habitat using a trained bird of prey. Ellsworth area falconer Don McKnight will share how he became involved in falconry, how he cares for and trains his birds, and how to identify different birds of prey.  

Weather dependent, he will do a flying demonstration with one of his falcons. McKnight trains Saker, Peregrine, and Gyrfalcons.

WILD is a monthly program for school-aged kids and their families. The goal is to get off electronics and outside into nature. 

Then from 1-4:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 30, participants can experience the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math of Winter Water through a variety of hands-on interactive activities.  

These free, family-friendly stations will be come-and-go. Dissolve a snowman, craft a spinning snowflake card, learn how to save a bird from an oil spill, and create a unique oil and water droplet painting.  

At 3 p.m., a Rube Goldberg device designed by the Ellinwood High School robotics class will release a balloon drop for an early New Year countdown and dance party, complete with sparkling cider. 

No registration is required for the free events. For more information, call the KWEC office, 877-243-9268. 

Kansas Wetlands Education Center, affiliated with FHSU’s Werth College of Science, Technology and Mathematics, is located 10 miles northeast of Great Bend at 592 NE K-156 at the Cheyenne Bottoms Wildlife Area. More information can be found atwetlandscenter.fhsu.edu.