REFUGE/DDWS

The “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society-Friends of the Refuge reported that over 20 board members, interns, staff and J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge friends recently boarded the big yellow bus to visit the refuge’s Wildlife on Wheels mobile outreach classroom at Varsity Lakes Middle School and the Pocket Refuge garden at East Lee County High School, both in Lehigh Acres.

“The WoW team would like to send a big thank you to all who visited Varsity Lakes to observe middle school students engaged in learning,” Urban Education Leader Melissa Maher said. “They were able to witness the WoW team teaching the eighth-grade curriculum consisting of red tide, pH scale, ocean acidification, and how humans impact these issues.”

The DDWS and refuge support the Pocket Refuge gardens with funding and staff assistance. The high school treated the visitors to fresh-picked lettuce, tomatoes and cabbage, plus chocolate chip cookies from its cafeteria. The kitchen crew incorporates the produce from the garden in its daily offerings.

In addition, the DDWS reported that the statistics are in for calendar year 2023. The WoW reached 10,168 individuals, despite challenges as the refuge continued its post-Hurricane Ian recovery.

“This is such a huge accomplishment,” Maher said. “I am proud to lead this team, and I could not do it without all their help. We are making a positive difference in the lives of our future stewards of conservation and wildlife protection.”

“The largest piece of that pie — 8,450 students in local Title I schools were able to visit and learn and become excited from WoW,” DDWS Executive Director Ann-Marie Wildman said. “Melissa and her team have established a reputation in only a couple years for taking conservation education to the next level in our community.”

To donate to support the upkeep and programming for the WoW efforts, visit https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/WebLink.aspx?name=E54182&id=12.