Events

    1 Jun Tracking to Cheyene Bottoms--KWEC June Jaunt Festivities

      Take a break from all the other June Jaunt Festivities going on in Great Bend and Ellinwood! Bring your family and leave your tracks on your way to the Kansas Wetlands Education Center at Cheyenne Bottoms to learn about animals and the tracks they leave behind.  During this come-and-go event, identify the animals tracks along the KWEC Nature Trail and make an animal tracks souvenir to take home.  This program is FREE and open to the public. Take advantage of all the fun activities along K-96 for June Jaunt!  Find out more by clicking here.

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    Location: Kansas Wetlands Education Center, 592 NE K-156 Highway, Great Bend, KS
    Time: 9:00 AM

    5 Jun - 19 Jun 2013 Photo Safari--Great Bend Rec Program

    Three-day Workshop, June 5, 12, and 19. Explore the world of photography and improve your skills in this three-session experience. After mapping out a course toward better photos, participants will stalk their prey with behind-the-scenes tours of the zoo and Kansas Wetlands Education Center to get up close to the animals.  The first session will be held at the Great Bend Activity Center on Wednesday, June 5; the second at the Great Bend Zoo on Wednesday, June 12; and the third at the Kansas Wetlands Education Center on Wednesday, June 19. Students should bring their camera and its instruction booklet if available, flash card (more than one if possible) and dress to be outside during the last two sessions. Bring sunscreen and insect repellent. Instructors:  Pam Martin, KWEC/KDWP Educator & Jennifer Leiker Enrollment:  Min. 10  Max. 20 Ages: 8-13 years old Fee:  $13.00 Preregistration required.  Call the Great Bend Recreation Commission to register 620-793-3755.

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    Location: Kansas Wetlands Education Center, 592 NE K-156 Highway, Great Bend, KS
    Time: 9:00 AM

    21 Jun Naturalist Day Camp--Great Bend Rec Program

    Whether it’s mammal trapping, making a track cast or putting up a tent, each year is a different, fun experience at the annual naturalist camp.  Camp includes lots of hands-on activities, which may include collecting, observing and/or identifying different birds, insects, plants and reptiles.  Students will also make a naturalist t-shirt during the camp.  Parents:  children will be taking part in outdoor activities and may be walking in mud and/or shallow water.  Please have your child wear old shoes and long pants that they can get dirty and muddy and BRING A CHANGE OF CLOTHING.  Each participant will be required to bring a lunch and beverage in a cooler (with ice if needed) with their name on it.  We will be providing snacks and beverages for your child in the morning and afternoon.  T-shirts are included in the fee. Please give shirt size when enrolling.  Partial scholarship available. Instructors:  Pam Martin, KWEC/KDWP Educator, & Jennifer Leiker Enrollment:  Min. 15  Max. 25 Ages: 6-12 years old Fee:  $20.00 Preregistration is required.  Register by calling the Great Bend Recreation Commission at 620-793-3755.

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    Location: Kansas Wetlands Education Center, 592 NE K-156 Highway, Great Bend, KS
    Time: 9:00 AM

    23 Jun Cold Process Soap Making Workshop

    Join us at the Kansas Wetlands Education Center to learn how to make your own soap!  Cold process soap making is a wonderful way to create safe, gentle, natural soap. Have you ever been concerned about additives in commercial soaps?  Have you ever wanted to learn how our pioneer ancestors kept their lives clean?  Do you enjoy creating things with your own hands?  Or maybe you're just tired of paying $4 a bar for boutique handmade soap!  This is the workshop for you! We'll take a look at the history of soap making, from the Egyptians to the American Pioneers, people have been adding lye to fat to make soap for thousands of years.  We'll also learn some of the chemistry behind how these simple ingredients come together to make soap.  Finally, we'll actually make some soap! Workshop Fee: $25 to cover materials Maximum Participants: 10 Please call the KWEC at 1-877-243-9268 to register for this workshop. Because of the caustic nature of some soap making materials, this is an adults only workshop.  Participants will receive sample bars of soap to take home the day of the workshop.  KWEC staff will cut and package the soap made at the workshop once it has set (this can take up to 3 days), workshop participants will be able to pick up the rest of their soap by June 28.

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    Location: Kansas Wetlands Education Center, 592 NE K-156 Highway, Great Bend, KS
    Time: 1:00 PM

    25 Jun - 26 Jun 2013 Digging Up the Past--Great Bend Rec Program

    Two-day Workshop, June 25-26, 9am-12pm both days. Have you ever found a weird looking bone in a field or wondered how that old rusty metal can got buried in your backyard? Join the staff of the Kansas Wetlands Education Center and the Great Bend-Brit Spaugh Zoo as we explore the sciences that dig in and get dirty to find the treasures that life left behind. Our first day will explore archaeology at the KWEC. Day two will explore paleontology at the zoo. Every student will have an opportunity to hunt for and dig up materials. After spending time hunting and digging, we will bring the students inside cleaning and cataloging found material from which they will identify and take home some of their own fossil treasure! Parents: Please drop off and pick up your child at the Great Bend Brit Spaugh Zoo entrance. Partial scholarship available. Instructors: Danielle Ricklefs, Great Bend-Brit Spaugh Zoo Education Coordinator, Jean Aycock, Education Director, Pam Martin, KDWPT Educator from the Kansas Wetlands Education Center & Tara Appel Enrollment: Min. 5 Max. 20 Ages:  8-12 years old Fee: $15.00 Preregistration is required.  Register by calling the Great Bend Recreation Commission at 620-793-3755.

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    Location: Kansas Wetlands Education Center, 592 NE K-156 Highway, Great Bend, KS
    Time: 9:00 AM

    11 Jul Mighty Ducks--Summer Kids Programs (Age 4-7)

    Mighty Ducks Discover the amazing variety of ducks, the many ways they survive in water and conduct an experiment with milk that demonstrates how water “runs off a duck’s back”. Participants will also make a duck mask. Preregister by July 5. Designed for children ages four through 12, one-hour programs will be offered at no charge, with age breakdowns of 4 to 7, from 10:30-11:30 a.m., and 8 to 12, from 2-3 p.m. Programs include lots of hands-on activities, with trips outside if  possible. Please dress children in old clothes and shoes and bring sunscreen, insect repellant and water. Each program will include activities, games and/or craft. Children age seven and younger must be accompanied by an adult. Registration deadline is one week before class. To register for a program, or for more information, call 1-877-243-9268. There is a maximum limit of 20 per class and a minimum of 6. Although there is no program charge, donations for supplies are appreciated.

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    Location: Kansas Wetlands Education Center, 592 NE K-156 Highway, Great Bend, KS
    Time: 10:30 AM

    11 Jul Mighty Ducks--Summer Kids Programs (Age 8-12)

    Mighty Ducks Discover the amazing variety of ducks, the many ways they survive in water and conduct an experiment with milk that demonstrates how water “runs off a duck’s back”. Participants will also make a duck mask. Preregister by July 5. Designed for children ages four through 12, one-hour programs will be offered at no charge, with age breakdowns of 4 to 7, from 10:30-11:30 a.m., and 8 to 12, from 2-3 p.m. Programs include lots of hands-on activities, with trips outside if  possible. Please dress children in old clothes and shoes and bring sunscreen, insect repellant and water. Each program will include activities, games and/or craft. Children age seven and younger must be accompanied by an adult. Registration deadline is one week before class. To register for a program, or for more information, call 1-877-243-9268. There is a maximum limit of 20 per class and a minimum of 6. Although there is no program charge, donations for supplies are appreciated.

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    Location: Kansas Wetlands Education Center, 592 NE K-156 Highway, Great Bend, KS
    Time: 2:00 PM

    12 Jul Aquatic Day Camp--Great Bend Rec Program

    Discover a whole new world under the water’s surface, as we find fantastic small creatures that live in Cheyenne Bottom’s watery depths. A world where flatworms can grow two heads and two tails.  Students will collect specimens, vertebrates and invertebrates, identify them and learn interesting facts about their findings.  Students will also enjoy other activities and snacks in this fun-filled camp.  Parents:  children will be taking part in outdoor activities and will be walking in mud and shallow water.  Please have your child wear old shoes, socks, shorts and t-shirt for the morning session.  They will be getting these clothes wet and muddy! Participants will be required to bring a full change of clothes in a plastic bag to change into after the outdoor activities.  Participants will also be required to bring a lunch and beverage in a cooler (with ice if needed) with their name on it.  We will be providing snacks and beverages for your child in the morning and afternoon.  Partial scholarship available. Instructors:  Pam Martin, KWEC/KDWPT Educator & Denise Zink Enrollment:  Min. 15  Max. 25 Ages:  6-12 years old Fee:  $15.00 Preregistration is required.  To register call the Great Bend Recreation Commission at 620-793-3755.

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    Location: Kansas Wetlands Education Center, 592 NE K-156 Highway, Great Bend, KS
    Time: 9:00 AM

    13 Jul NABA Butterfly Count

    The common buckeye is one of the species Butterfly Quest participants may see during the count.

    The North American Butterfly Association (NABA) formed in 1992 is, by far, the largest group of people in North America (Canada, United States, and Mexico) interested in butterflies. We are a membership-based not-for-profit organization working to increase public enjoyment and conservation of butterflies. We are working to save butterfly species throughout North America. Every year, citizen scientists around Canada, the U.S., and Mexico participate in Butterfly Counts to help the NABA monitor butterfly populations.  Counts involve groups of people going out into the field to identify and count as many butterflies as they can within a 15 mile diameter area.  The Cheyenne Bottoms butterfly count has been held in July since 2011. The 2013 count will be held on Saturday, July 13 from 9:00am to noon. Participants do not need to have experience in identifying butterflies; they just need to be enthusiastic about learning about butterflies.  The group will meet at the Kansas Wetlands Education Center, and there will be a short program to help you learn some of the common butterflies that can be seen around Cheyenne Bottoms.  Then, the group will divide up and go out into the field to identify as many butterflies as can be found.  Most of the surveys will be done by car.  Beginners will be teamed up with more experienced butterfly counters.  The NABA requires a $3 fee to participate in the count to assist with data processing. Call the KWEC for more information or to sign up to participate in this year's count.

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    Location: Kansas Wetlands Education Center, 592 NE K-156 Highway, Great Bend, KS
    Time: 9:00 AM

    18 Jul Home Sweet Home--Summer Kids Programs (Age 4-7)

    Home Sweet Home Animals call a lot of interesting places home. Explore animal homes with a hike to learn where and how animals make their homes, then make a toad abode to take home for your yard/garden toads. Preregister by July 12. Designed for children ages four through 12, one-hour programs will be offered at no charge, with age breakdowns of 4 to 7, from 10:30-11:30 a.m., and 8 to 12, from 2-3 p.m. Programs include lots of hands-on activities, with trips outside if  possible. Please dress children in old clothes and shoes and bring sunscreen, insect repellant and water. Each program will include activities, games and/or craft. Children age seven and younger must be accompanied by an adult. Registration deadline is one week before class. To register for a program, or for more information, call 1-877-243-9268. There is a maximum limit of 20 per class and a minimum of 6. Although there is no program charge, donations for supplies are appreciated.

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    Location: Kansas Wetlands Education Center, 592 NE K-156 Highway, Great Bend, KS
    Time: 10:30 AM

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