Fort Hays State University’s Kansas Wetlands Education Center (KWEC) will host a variety of free daily hands-on activities each afternoon of Spring Break March 11-15, providing a chance for people to get out and explore the diversity of the wetlands. A different activity will take place from 1-4 p.m. each day. The event is informal, come-and-go, and no registration is required. Activities are geared toward school-aged children.
After enjoying the hands-on activities, visitors can check out the center’s interactive exhibit hall, classroom with live animals, 16-minute video about Cheyenne Bottoms, and walk the nature trail. They can also grab a map and take a self-guided tour of the wetlands. The following is a synopsis of each day’s activities.
• Monday, March 11 – Jumping into Spring Break
Grasshopper Discovery. Join us for a hop-tastic adventure as we learn all about grasshoppers and their orthopteran kin. Discover the fascinating world of insects as we explore these amazing creatures. Get your creative juices flowing as we make our very own bouncing grasshoppers to take home.
• Tuesday, March 12 – Hotel for Bees. Join the Kansas Wetlands Education Center in helping the bees! We will be making bee hotels to help the bees in their search for a place to live. Own your own Hotel for Bees, and help us help the bees!
• Wednesday, March 13 – Frogs vs. Toads
Dive in and see if you can tell the differences between toads and frogs by meeting our live toad and frog friends. Create your own origami or spring-loaded jumping frog!
• Thursday, March 14 – Beak Busters
Have you watched bird beaks in action? Each bird’s beak can tell us about their way of life. Try your hand at using different bird beaks to capture food. Then, create your own birdseed ornament to feed seed-eating birds in your own yard.
• Friday, March 15 – Wonderful World of Wetlands
Discover the amazing world of wetlands! Did you know one acre of wetland can absorb 1.5 million gallons of water? See an example of the filtering capability of wetlands. Then, choose paper animals and plants to put in your own take-home build-a-wetland diorama.
Can’t join us in person or want a teaser of the activity? At 10 a.m. each day, tune in tohttps://www.facebook.com/wetlandscenter for a chance to meet the staff member presenting that day and a story that fits the theme of the afternoon activity.
KWEC is located at Cheyenne Bottoms, 10 miles northeast of Great Bend, on K-156. For more information, call 877-243-9268 or visit wetlandscenter.fhsu.edu.
