Games, tours to be part of refuge’s Conservation Carnival
The J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge will celebrate its 34th annual “Ding” Darling Day jointly with Earth Day on April 22 at Lakes Park in Fort Myers. The refuge and “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society-Friends of the Refuge have planned a full day of Conservation Carnival and nature activities from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
More than 20 local conservation non-profits will participate to engage attendees with information and carnival games. Gamers can earn a free mini ice cream cone, plus other gifts and prizes. The refuge will host a dunk tank, where attendees can try their luck at sinking surprise “celebrity dunkees.” All of the activities are free, but Lakes Park charges a $1 per hour or $5 per day parking fee.
“The games will all have an educational component, plus the day brings a number of tours and nature art activities,” Supervisory Refuge Ranger Toni Westland, who chairs the event’s committee, said. “We will have our Wildlife on Wheels (WoW) mobile nature experience open all day for touring, plus there will be Earth Day crafts and lots of opportunities to enjoy the outdoors, such as a slow-birding walk, archery, and rock climbing.”
Artist-in-Residence Jacqui Roch will paint plein-air throughout the day and lead a Sketch & Stroll journaling activity. Attendees can also shop for nature-themed items at the Refuge Nature Store table, where all purchases will support conservation.
Subject to change, the schedule of free activities will include:
– 10 a.m.: Check in and receive information at the Welcome Table in Main Pavilion.
– 10 a.m. to 2 p.m: Nature-themed carnival games, WoW mobile nature experience, live music, food truck, face painting, rock climbing, dunk tank, Hover-Ball Archery, live painting by Roch, Wildlife Olympics, and Shell Art. Plus, play games to win a coupon for a free mini ice cream cone.
– 10:30 a.m.: Ranger-led Slow Birding; maximum of 20 participants. Coined by Bridget Butler, “slow birding” is a fresh, slowed-down approach to traditional birding that welcomes deeper observation, listening, and connection to the birds and their environment.
– 11 a.m.: Ranger-led Kids Nature Walk; maximum of 20 participants.
– 11:30 a.m.: Ranger-led Slow Birding; maximum of 20 participants.
– 12:30 p.m.: Sketch & Stroll. Nature journaling with Roch; maximum of 20 participants.
The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and DDWS co-sponsor “Ding” Darling Day with support from the local community and businesses. For information on sponsorship opportunities, contact April Boehnen at aprilb@dingdarlingsociety.org.
The refuge’s Visitor & Education Center on Sanibel will be closed on April 22, but Wildlife Drive, Tarpon Bay Explorers, and the Bailey Tract will be open.
For more information, visit dingdarlingday.com.