Onsite field trips are back at the refuge
After long months of restrictions against student class field trips to the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge, staff celebrated their return earlier this month with a visit from Skyline Elementary in Cape Coral. Supervisory Refuge Ranger Toni Westland, who led the group tour and activities, reported: “What a joy it was seeing young smiling faces brighten up once more as they experienced the refuge in person.” More schools are scheduled in the coming weeks. During the hiatus, the refuge was still able to educate students with visits from its Wildlife on Wheels mobile classroom, thanks to the “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society-Friends of the Refuge and donor support. The WoW continues its steady travel schedule to underserved schools that are unable to visit the refuge due to distance and other factors.