By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
Kansas became the nation's 34th state on Jan. 29, 1861. The next WILD Club program at the Kansas Wetlands Education Center will, in part, celebrate the state's 162nd birthday. Program Specialist Mandy Kern said the January program is a celebration of the state insect, the honeybee.
"On Kansas Day, we'll talk about the honeybee, but we'll also talk about other bees that are native to Kansas," she said. "We'll look at the lifecycle of a honeybee and bees, then we'll make some beeswax lip balm they can take home."
This month's event will take place on Sunday, Jan. 29, at 2 p.m. at the KWEC. December's WILD event featured falconry, and a bird-identifying app was the topic of the October program. A different nature-related topic is featured each month, free of charge.
"The WILD is for any school-age kid and their families," Kern said. "We try to do something once a month that's geared toward getting kids off of their screens and out appreciating nature."
KWEC prefers those interested in attending the program to pre-register. That can be done by calling the KWEC at (877) 243-9268, or by emailing Kern at amkern2@fhsu.edu.