Refuge plans tour, more for National Wildlife Day
Adding to its list of recognized days like National Public Lands Day and World Oceans Day, the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge will mark another day with activities for the public.
On Feb. 22, the Sanibel refuge will celebrate National Wildlife Day from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. with a schedule of free programs starting out at the Visitor & Education Center. The education team has an extra guided tour of the Indigo Trail, upcycled arts and crafts, and a fun children’s game planned.
It is receiving support from the “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society-Friends of the Refuge.
Conservation Educator Sara Hallas explained that the refuge in recent years has been looking into additional national and world days relating to wildlife to organize events for to raise awareness.
“It’s National Wildlife Day and it’s a wildlife refuge, so it just seemed perfect,” she said.
Originally held on Sept. 4, the holiday was moved to Feb. 22 for the first time last year. It aims to provide opportunities to learn about endangered species, preservation and conservation efforts around the world. Zoos, aviaries and marine sanctuaries have marked it by offering ways to get involved.
“We’re trying to reach out to the public and make a connection,” Hallas said.
She noted that the refuge’s education team, which has been organizing the activities for National Wildlife Day, tends to work more with children and school groups and less with the general public.
From 9:30 to 10:30 a.m., there will be a guided hike along Indigo Trail to the Wildlife Education Boardwalk. Hallas explained that while Wildlife Drive is closed on Fridays and there is already a walk on Fridays from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., the team wanted to set up an activity exploring the refuge.
“We wanted it to be something separate,” she said. “So we’re doing it earlier than the regular one (Indigo Trail walk) we do for season.”
In addition, the education team will serve as the tour guides.
“Rather than one of our resident volunteers,” Hallas said.
Those interested in participating should meet at the flagpole adjacent to the parking lot.
“We’ll take as many as we can,” she said. “If need be, we’ll break them into smaller groups.”
Hallas encouraged people to wear bug spray and sunscreen and bring water.
“Prepare for the weather,” she said.
Upcycled nature arts and crafts will be offered from 9 a.m. to noon and again from 2 to 4 p.m. in the classroom inside the Visitor & Education Center. Many of them are do-it-yourself type projects.
“We do crafts when we do programs with the kids, but we don’t get to do that that often with the public,” Hallas said, adding that the theme will center around animals found at the refuge.
“We may make some manatee or alligator bookmarks, wildlife bracelets or magnets,” she said. “And we’re using recycled materials – with these (crafts), we’re hoping that they use and reuse them.”
Also in the classroom, there will be a game of “Guess that Animal” from 12:30 to 2 p.m.
Hallas noted that the team plays it with youth in summer reading programs.
“It is a lot of fun and it’s not something that we do at the refuge on a daily basis,” she said. “It helps bring awareness to the different wildlife we have in our backyard.”
Residents and visitors are invited to stop in.
“Come out and hopefully learn something new about the animals we have at the refuge,” Hallas said. “Hopefully they leave with something, whether it’s information or a fun reusable craft.”
For more information, call 239-472-1100.
The J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge is at 1 Wildlife Drive.