The Kansas Wetlands Education Center will host a Crane Family Workshop from 1-3 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 13.  The KWEC and Barton Community College’s Shafer Gallery are presenting the art show “Choreography of Cranes.”  The show will run throughout October, and features a wide variety of crane art, educational exhibits and hands-on activities, said Jean Aycock, education director at the Center.  The Family Crane Workshop is part of the lineup of events related to the Choreography of Cranes Art Show.
There are 15 species of cranes around the world. Cheyenne Bottoms is a major migration stopover point for two of them:  the sandhill crane, and the whooping crane.  Whooping cranes have the unfortunate honor of being one of the most endangered birds in North America.  There are currently fewer than 600 whooping cranes alive today, both captive and wild.  Many organizations are working hard to keep whooping cranes around for future generations, such as the International Crane Foundation, and the Friends of Patuxent Wildlife Refuge.  
As part of its Crane Family Workshop, KWEC will be raising money to “adopt” a whooping crane from the Friends of Patuxent Wildlife Refuge.  This will help support conservation efforts for whooping cranes across the United States.  If just five people donate $5 each, KWEC will be able to adopt an “egg,” Aycock said.
Entrance to the workshop is free, but a donation to the Adopt a Crane Fund is requested. Those not attending but who would still like to help out can  mail a check to “Adopt a Crane,” care of KWEC, 592 NE K-156 HWY, Great Bend, KS 67530.
Other activities at the Crane Family Workshop will include migration games, origami crane folding, and crane dancing lessons. For more information about the Crane Family Workshop, or other Choreography of Cranes events, call the KWEC, 1-877-243-9268.