National Park Service Unveils New Website For Children

WASHINGTON, DC – The Kids Zone, a new addition to the National Park Service’s website, http://www.nps.gov, contains more than 50 interactive activities designed to connect children with the people, places, and events commemorated in the country’s 391 National Park Service sites.

Starting August 25, children visiting the website can learn about Mitsy, a nine-year-old Border Collie who performs an important job at the Statue of Liberty or little Lula McLean’s rag doll which is a witness to history at Appomattox Courthouse or how Thomas Edison changed their lives.

“The Kids Zone, launched on the 92nd anniversary of the National Park Service, introduces the next generation of park stewards to the fascinating stories told in national parks,” said National Park Service Director Mary A. Bomar. “The website will enable young people to actively explore parks without leaving home but, hopefully, will also inspire them to visit these special places in person.”

The website includes information on the 325 in-park Junior Ranger programs where young visitors complete booklets on park resources and earn certificates, patches, or badges. In 2007, more than 440,000 children participated in Junior Ranger programs nationwide.

Other features on the website include stories by children who live in national parks, biographies of dogs who work in national parks, and an expanded WebRangers page. Children can continue to earn a WebRanger patch after completing exercises that include decoding a secret message from George Washington, helping endangered turtles get to the sea, setting up a ranger station, tracking animals, and learning how to survive in the desert.

The Kids Zone “hot button” on http://www.nps.gov, the National Park Service homepage, will provide a direct link to the expanded children’s website starting on August 25, 2008.

Kids Wildlife Art Exhibit Comes to N.C. Museum of Art

RALEIGH, N.C.  – An exhibition that is truly wild is coming to the N.C. Museum of Art.

The one-time exhibit “Kids Wildlife Art Competition” will open on Tuesday, Aug. 19 and close on Nov. 23. It features artwork by winners and selected honorable mention recipients from a juried contest for youth, held earlier this year by Wildlife in North Carolina magazine and the Museum of Art.

Children, kindergarten through eighth grade, were eligible to enter an image of a wild animal native to the state. A total of 3,365 did just that, with a variety of reptiles, birds, insects and mammals depicted in drawings, paintings and mosaics.

Winning art will be featured in a 2009 calendar, which will be available for sale in September in the Museum of Art store and online at www.ncwildstore.com.

Admission to the N.C. Museum of Art is free. Visit www.ncartmuseum.org for more information and directions.

Wildlife in North Carolina is the award-winning monthly magazine published by the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission. To view a sample issue online and for more information, click here.

Alabama Conservation Department Schedules Youth Dove Hunts

The Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources announces registration for the Eighth Annual Youth Dove Hunts begins Aug. 20 for the North Zone and Sept. 24 for the South Zone. To date, over 13,000 young hunters have participated in these annual hunts.

In cooperation with landowners, local volunteers, businesses and organizations, 54 dove hunts are scheduled in 28 counties throughout the state. To participate, youth hunters must be age 15 or younger and accompanied by an adult at least 25 years old (or a parent) who holds a valid state hunting license and a Harvest Information Program (HIP) stamp. All hunters are encouraged to wear eye protection and earplugs.

Registration is necessary for all youth dove hunts. Before each hunt, there will be a short welcome session with reminders on hunting safety. According to Conservation officials, dove hunting is a perfect way to introduce youngsters to the tradition of bird hunting and spend quality time with family members. “We encourage bird hunters to pass on the tradition to young people today so that future generations can also learn the enjoyment of the outdoors and dove hunting,” said Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division Director Corky Pugh.

North Zone hunts begin Sept. 6 and South Zone hunts begin Oct. 4. South Zone counties include Baldwin, Barbour, Coffee, Covington, Dale, Escambia, Geneva, Henry, Houston and Mobile counties. The remaining counties are in the north zone. To register, contact the appropriate number listed below. Hunt schedules, contact information, and schedule changes or updates may be found on the Department’s Web site at http://www.outdooralabama.com/hunting/youth-hunts/youthdove.cfm.

The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources promotes wise stewardship, management and enjoyment of Alabama’s natural resources through five divisions: Marine Police, Marine Resources, State Parks, State Lands, and Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries.

State Recreation Areas Offer Summer Nature Camps for Kids of South Dakota

PIERRE, S.D. – Angostura and Rocky Point Recreation Areas are hosting nature day camps for kids ages 7-12 on Aug. 20 and 21, respectively. The camps are great opportunities for kids to explore the surrounding recreation areas and focus on the outdoors. The camps run from 9:30 a.m. to noon.

Angostura Recreation Area near Hot Springs will host the camp on Aug. 20. The theme of the day camp is “Animal Tracking for Kids.” This nature day camp takes participants on a guided hike into a prairie setting and woody ravines to discover various signs of wildlife. Bring a sense of exploration and some excitable questions because the trek will leave you with lasting impressions of nature.

“Wildlife species exist in many forms at Angostura Recreation Area,” said Willy Collignon, park manager. “However, many species are not seen, due to their habitat preference or lifestyle. Come on out and learn how to locate and identify what some of these creatures leave behind.”

Reservations are required and can be made by calling Angostura Recreation Area at (605) 745-6996 or by email at Angostura@state.sd.us.

Angostura Recreation Area is located 10 miles southeast of Hot Springs off US 18/385. For more information on their programming schedule throughout the summer season, please visit Angostura Recreation Area on the web at www.SDparks.info or call (605) 745-6996.

The theme of the Aug. 21 day camp at Rocky Point Recreation Area near Belle Fourche is “Astronomy is for the Stars.” “Participants will hear statistics, history, and mythology for constellations and name stars within them,” said Brad Nelson, Rocky Point park manager. “The kids will have chance to look at the stars through the telescope after dark, so we are hoping for a clear night!”

Reservations for this camp can be made by calling Rocky Point Recreation Area at (605)641-0023 or by email at RockyPoint@state.sd.us.

Rocky Point Recreation Area is located 8 miles east of Belle Fourche off SD 212. For more information on their programming schedule throughout the summer season, please visit Rocky Point Recreation Area on the web at www.SDparks.info or call (605)641-0023.

While the camps are geared for kids ages 7-12, younger children may attend if accompanied by an adult. Kids are reminded to wear clothing appropriate for the weather and shoes comfortable for walking. Sandals are not appropriate. No snacks or refreshments will be provided, but kids are welcome to bring their own. There is no fee for the camp; however a park entrance license is required.

Craig and Meeker Youth Cast & Blast Clinics

The Colorado Division of Wildlife Hunter Outreach program is sponsoring two very special Youth Cast & Blast Clinics in northwest Colorado. The first clinic will be in Meeker on Saturday, Aug. 9 and the second clinic will be held in Craig on Sunday, Aug. 10. Youth Cast & Blast clinics are designed for young people (10 to 17) who want to learn to fly fish and to shoot a shotgun.
 
Space is limited to the first 32 young people for each event who pay the $10 registration fee, which covers the cost of beverages and lunch. The Northwest Colorado Outfitters Association has graciously volunteered to prepare the food for participants at each event.
 
Participants at the Meeker Cast & Blast need to have transportation to and from the Oak Ridge State Wildlife Area for the event, which runs from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. For Craig participants, transportation will be provided from Moffat County High School for the all day event. Craig participants will leave the high school at 7:45 a.m. and will return at approximately 5:30 p.m.
 
Participants spend the day with Division of Wildlife staff while learning and practicing shooting and fishing techniques. No prior experience or equipment required as shotguns and fishing equipment are provided. Participants over the age of 16 will need a fishing license to participate, but completion of hunter education is not required for this class.
 
For more information or to sign up, call the Meeker DOW office (970) 878-6090.

DNR Encourages Holiday Travelers To Get Their ‘Bay Game’ On

 ANNAPOLIS, MD — Independence Day is drawing near and for many Marylanders, the Fourth of July holiday weekend means the beach, family barbeques, fireworks, and – to the dismay of children everywhere – long car rides. To direct restless energy during summer travel, parents are invited to pick up a free copy of the 2008 Maryland Bay Game, available at public libraries and visitor’s centers across the state.

“The Bay Game is a great summer tradition for Maryland kids and families,” said Governor Martin O’Malley. “It’s educational, fun and interactive, making it the perfect preface to the outdoor activities of the long holiday weekend.”

Accompanied by a group of Kent County children and counselors from Echo Hill Outdoor School, Governor O’Malley unveiled the 2008 game at the Capital for a Day celebration in Chestertown on June 17. The annual publication is filled with interesting facts and interactive games and puzzles, covering a variety of topics such as watersheds, wildlife, trees and forests, geology and agriculture.

“This year’s edition is themed Celebrating Children in Our Natural World, and is designed to inspire children to get outside and enjoy the outdoors — whether on vacation or at home,” added the Governor.

The Bay Game is one of many state efforts to help Maryland young people connect with nature – a critical connection if they are to grow into healthy, environmentally responsible adults. In April, Governor O’Malley created the Maryland Partnership for Children in Nature, a coalition of state, local, private and non-profit partners charged with promoting the well-being of youth by accelerating environmental learning and expanding opportunities for outdoor experiences.

Created in 1998 to educate children on the basics of conservation biology and the importance of Maryland’s natural resources throughout the mid-Atlantic region, Maryland’s Bay Game was the first of its kind in the nation. While the game initially focused on the drive from the Bay Bridge along Maryland Routes 50 and 404 to the beaches of Ocean City, it has since been expanded to encompass natural resources across the state. The Maryland Bay Game reaches nearly one million travelers of all ages annually through print and online editions.

A downloadable version of the 2008 Maryland Bay Game is also available online at www.dnr.maryland.gov/baygame.

Bluefield/Moultrie Hunt Unit Youth Hunts This Fall

A series of youth draw deer hunts conducted jointly by Santee Cooper and the S.C. Department of Natural Resources will be continued this fall. 

Applications will be available August 20.  The deadline for applications is 5:00 p.m. September 19.  Call the Dennis Wildlife Center in Bonneau at (843) 761-8820 or (843) 825-3388 to request an application.

Past participants are encouraged to tell their friends about their experience to spread the word about this opportunity.  Participants must be 17 years or younger and capable of safely handling a firearm.  They must also be accompanied by an adult at least 21 years old.  While the youth and adult sit together in the stand, only the youth may actually hunt.  All hunts take place in the afternoon from 2-person stands located along the edges of wildlife openings that have been planted in oats, wheat, soybeans, or peas.  The areas hunted on youth draw hunts are located within Sandy Beach and Cross Generating Station, both part of the Santee Cooper-owned Moultrie Hunt Unit. 

Last year, 108 girls and boys participated in the youth hunts at Sandy Beach and Cross, 26 of whom were fortunate enough to take home a deer.  This hunting program has steadily grown since it’s inception in 1998, when 23 youth hunters took to the field.

Wildlife Management staff based out of Bonneau, including biologists Will Carlisle and Elliott Shuler and technician Blake DuBose, work in partnership with Santee Cooper to manage the Moultrie Hunt Unit for wildlife of all descriptions, and to provide recreational opportunity for the public, especially youngsters who might be new to the outdoors.  S.C. Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and Santee Cooper staff give a hunting safety talk to all participants upon their arrival, “We want to promote safe, ethical hunting practices in a quality hunting environment in hopes of energizing young people into responsibly carrying on the hunting tradition,” says Carlisle.

Santee Cooper not only owns the land on which these hunts are held, but provides funding for the property’s management, personnel to assist with the logistics of the hunts, and t-shirts for hunt participants. 

In addition to the draw youth hunts, youths are encouraged to hunt on the 800-acre Bluefield WMA, also part of the Moultrie Hunt Unit.  Each youth must be 17 or younger, and accompanied by an adult who is at least 21.  The youth must carry a firearm and hunt.  Unlike the strictly youth draw hunts mentioned above, on Bluefield, the adult may also carry a firearm and hunt.  See the 2008-2009 “Rules & Regulations” booklet for specific season dates and limits. 

DNR protects and manages South Carolina’s natural resources by making wise and balanced decisions for the benefit of the state’s natural resources and its people.

Division of Wildlife Looking for a Few Younger Hunters

The Colorado Division of Wildlife is looking for some young hunters to participate in a special big game hunting event Oct. 3-5 in Hesperus.
 
Young hunters, ages 12-17, can gain valuable experience by participating in the annual doe deer hunt at the 7,000-acre Colorado State University Research Center.  The hunt is limited to 10 youngsters.  Rifles will be provided to those who need them. 
 
Prospective hunters must have a hunter safety card.
 
“This is a great environment for kids who have never hunted or for those with limited hunting experience,” said Drayton Harrison, district wildlife manager in the Durango area. “It’s a controlled environment, every kid is accompanied by a guide and they’ll have a great chance for success. There are a lot of deer at the research center.”
 
The event starts on Oct. 3 with shooting practice and instruction from DOW staff. The youngsters then hunt during the next two days.
 
A hunter education course is scheduled for Durango on Aug. 27.
 
The deadline to apply for the hunt is July 31. For an application and for more information, contact Harrison at 375-6754.

First Graders Explore and Learn in the Great Outdoors

Some 102 students from Warroad Elementary School spent their last day of first grade in an outdoor classroom learning about the environment at Red Lake Wildlife Management Area (WMA). Each took part in five separate learning sessions throughout the day, thanks to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Wildlife Section.

One station was a tour of the historic Norris Camp, a preserved Civilian Conservation Corp (CCC) camp from the 1930s. The 6- and 7-year-old students participated in an interactive history lesson when they were asked to pretend they were new CCC enrollees arriving at the camp during the Great Depression.

According to teacher Mary Mohrbacher, “First graders love to pretend, so that really helped them get into it and follow along better.”

Three of the learning sessions involved nature hikes or tours. The students learned about current forestry practices as they walked through jack pine clear-cut and regeneration areas, and were able to observe and learn about much of the nature and wildlife that abound throughout the forest. At the pond, the kids caught a variety of critters, including insects and leeches, and received a lesson about the various wetland invertebrates they found.

There was also a session on outdoor safety that explained how to avoid getting lost, what to do if you get lost and how to provide basic emergency first aid.

“One of our main objectives for the day was to let the kids explore the outdoors with a little guidance about what they were finding,” said Gretchen Mehmel, DNR Wildlife Section area supervisor. “We hope this small taste of the outdoor world will inspire them to get outdoors themselves throughout the summer.”

Norris Camp is located near Roosevelt, about 30 miles southeast of Warroad.

Division of Fish and Wildlife Announces Sussex County Results from 22nd Annual Youth Fishing Tournament

The first big heat wave of summer 2008 did not discourage 88 young anglers and their families who came to Ingrams Pond in Millsboro on June 7 for the 22nd Annual Youth Fishing Tournament.

When the day was done, Hayden Smith, age 15, of Millsboro, took the title of overall Sussex County winner with 4.07 pounds of fish caught. The biggest fish of the day was a largemouth bass weighing 1.68 pounds and caught by 8-year-old Tristen Russell. All of the fish caught in the tournament were weighed and released.

The other winners, by age group and total weight of fish caught, were:

Ages 4 to 7
            First place – Kevin Reddy, age 6, of Millsboro, 1.2 pounds
            Second place – Julia Ballard, age 5, of Millsboro, 1.15 pounds
            Third place – Jessica Ballard, age 4, of Millsboro, 1.10 pounds

Ages 8 to 11
            First place – Kevin Bailey, age 8, of Georgetown, 3.96 pounds
            Second place – Hunter Lied, age 9, of Millsboro, 1.89 pounds
            Third place – Tristen Russell, age 8, of Laurel, 1.83 pounds

Ages 12 to 15
            First place – Brian Keech, age 14, of Rehoboth Beach, 3.99 pounds
            Second place – Joe Garvilla, age 14, of Georgetown, 1.44 pounds
            Third place – Kali Griffith, age 13, of Frankford, 1.17 pounds

The winners received fishing poles and tackle boxes as well as trophies, and all the participants received prizes donated by area tackle shops. The county winners will be presented their trophies at the DNREC Awards ceremony on Governors Day, Thursday, July 24 at the 2008 Delaware State Fair in Harrington.         

The Youth Fishing Tournament was established to introduce youth to the sport of fishing and to teach the catch-and-release approach to conservation. The free tournament, held annually in June, is open to youth ages 4 to 15.

For more information on the Youth Fishing Tournament, please call 302-739-9913 or visit www.fw.delaware.gov/Info/YouthFishing.htm.

Please note, Kent and New Castle tournament results have been issued separately.

Next Page »