By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
Students in the Great Bend School district will have some days off to close out October. The Great Bend Rec Center wants to make sure those kids have something to do. There will be no school for USD 428 on Friday, Oct. 20, and Rec Enrichment Director Garet Fitzpatrick said that's a good day for Halloween at the Wetlands.
"Kids will be dropped off at the Activity Center at 9, then we'll head on out to the Kansas Wetlands Education Center for some spooky animals on Halloween," he said. "Bats often get a bad rap. We'll be talking about animals such as owls, snakes, bats, and spiders. We'll also do some cool activities out there."
Registration for that program is $15, and the deadline to register is Wednesday at noon. The event runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. with activities and a pizza party in the afternoon following the morning's presentation. The event is for grades 1-6.
"In the morning, the Kansas Wetlands Education Staff will be leading those programs," Fitzpatrick said. "(KWEC Program Specialist Mandy Kern) out there does an awesome job and she may have some helpers with her."
Thursday, Oct. 26 is a half day for Great Bend students. The Rec will be offering a half day of spooky crafts in the afternoon for grades 1-6. Registration is $10 with a deadline of Oct. 24 at noon.
Friday, Oct. 27 is another day of no school for USD 428. The Rec and staff from Barton Community College's STEM Department have a number of fun activities planned for students grades 1-6. That event runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. with a pizza party planned in the afternoon. Registration is due by Oct. 24 at noon and costs $15.
Anyone with questions or wishing to register can do so online at greatbendrec.com, contact The Rec at (620) 793-3755, or stop by at 1214 Stone in Great Bend.