By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
With most shorebirds moving on from Cheyenne Bottoms in June, and with water levels waning as temperatures rise, it's time for some different activities at the Kansas Wetlands Education Center. Over the next two weeks, KWEC will host a trip to Kansas Trophy Experience south of Great Bend, and host the newly-minted Minnow Races at this year's After Harvest Festival in Ellinwood.
On July 11, school-aged kids and their families are welcome to participate in this month's WILD program activity. The trip takes off from KWEC at 9:30 a.m. to visit Kansas Trophy Experience south of Great Bend. The topic this month is raising pheasant chicks.
"Our WILD club is just a monthly activity," said KWEC Director Curtis Wolf. "It's open to anyone, but really designed to get kids off of screens and provide some interesting experiences out in nature."
KWEC will have limited transportation available from its facility to Kansas Trophy Experience, just south of the River Bridge in Great Bend, and drive-up participants are also welcome. Wolf requested all interested parties to call and register with KWEC prior to the tour.
KWEC's turtle races have been a big hit at Ellinwood's After Harvest Festival in recent years. But with conditions less than ideal for grabbing turtles this summer, Wolf is mixing things up after the After Harvest Festival Parade on July 16.
"With the water levels down, it's going to be a little harder to set those traps," Wolf said. "We're going to shift gears, and instead of turtle races, I think we're going to be doing minnow races."
This year's festivities will take place after the parade in the Ellinwood City Park next to the splash pad.
Wolf also reminds area residents to take advantage of the Summer Sunflower app. Through Aug. 14, the app provides free admission to many of the state's top museums, zoos, and historic landmarks. Visit sunflowersummer.org for more information.