KDWPT’S PAM MARTIN HONORED WITH KACEE ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AWARD

Martin conducted over 260 environmental education programs at the Kansas Wetland

Education Center last year alone

GREAT BEND ­– The Kansas Association for Conservation and Environmental Education (KACEE) has announced the recipients of the 2014 Excellence in Conservation and Environmental Education Awards. Among the winners was Pam Martin, an environmental educator with the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWPT) stationed at the Kansas Wetland Education Center near Great Bend. Nominated by peers, awardees exhibit outstanding innovation, leadership and achievement, as well as collaboration and cooperation within and beyond the environmental education field.

“KACEE is pleased to honor these deserving individuals and organizations, who are so dedicated to environmental education in Kansas,” said KACEE President Jeff Severin, director of sustainability at the University of Kansas.

Martin was a recipient of the Rising Star Award. This award recognizes individuals who are new to the conservation and environmental education field in Kansas, but are already making an impact. The nomination for Martin states:

It is hard to label Pam as an ”up-and-coming” environmental educator as she has already done so much in the field; she seems much more like a seasoned veteran. In her five years of environmental education, Pam Martin has established an incredible program at the Kansas Wetlands Education Center that rivals any environmental education program in the region. Martin has worked at KWEC since the Center opened in 2009. For the first year and a half, Martin was the only educator on staff and was responsible for establishing the core foundations of the KWEC’s educational programs. Her passion and commitment to education is evidenced in the sheer volume of programs she does– In 2013 Martin conducted 264 environmental education programs. Martin provides education programming to area elementary students, as well as family programs, programs through the Great Bend Recreation Commission, Scouts programs, and festivals. One of her most impressive accomplishments is the relationship she has established with the USD 428-Great Bend school district. As a result of her efforts in working with the district administrators and the various science committees, Pam has been able to schedule programs with every K-6 classroom in the district. Martin’s work is helping to inspire and educate our next generation about the important role of wetlands in our state and KACEE is extremely proud to honor her with the Rising Star Award for Excellence in Conservation and Environmental Education.

Awardees will be recognized at an Awards Celebration hosted by KACEE on Friday, April 4, at Sunset Zoo in Manhattan. The event is sponsored by KACEE, the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism and Sunset Zoo. Ticket information is available atwww.kacee.org or by calling (785) 532-1902.

WILDLIFE, PARKS AND TOURISM COMMISSION MEETING AUG. 23 AT GREAT BEND

feral hogs (Photo credit: amy_b)

Duck, goose season dates to highlight public hearing
GREAT BEND — The Kansas Wildlife, Parks and Tourism Commission will conduct a public meeting and hearing on Thursday, Aug. 23, at the Kansas Wetlands Education Center, 592 NE K156 Highway, northeast of Great Bend. The afternoon session will begin at 1:30 p.m. and recess at 5 p.m., and the evening session will begin at 7 p.m.

The afternoon session will begin with time for public comments on non-agenda items, followed by a general discussion period on the following topics:

• Secretary’s remarks;
• agency and state fiscal status;
• 2013 Legislature;
• feral swine control efforts in Kansas;
• Tourism Division briefing;
• waterfowl management briefing;
• Cheyenne Bottoms signage project; and
• big game permanent regulations.

The afternoon will also include a workshop session, in preparation for potential future regulatory action, covering preliminary recommendations on the following regulations:

• fishing regulations;
• spring turkey regulations;
• park fees;
• alcohol on Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism property;
• scoring methods for poaching penalty;
• senior hunt-fish licenses/pass pricing; and
• agritourism regulations.

The commission will recess at 5 p.m., then reconvene at 7 p.m. at the same location for a public hearing on the following regulations:

• KAR 115-14 series on falconry;
• KAR 115-18-1 — wildlife rehabilitation permit, application, reporting and general provisions, new regulation; and
• late migratory bird seasons.

Time will be set aside in both the afternoon and evening sessions for public comment on topics that are not on the agenda. If necessary, the commission will recess on Aug. 23 and reconvene at the same location at 9 a.m., Aug. 24, to complete unfinished business.

Live video and audio streaming of this meeting will be broadcast through the KDWPT website,ksoutdoors.com.

If notified in advance, the department will have an interpreter available for the hearing impaired. To request an interpreter, call the Kansas Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing at 1-800-432-0698. Any individual with a disability may request other accommodations by contacting the Kansas Wildlife, Parks and Tourism Commission secretary at 620-672-5911.

The next commission meeting is scheduled for Oct. 18 at Flint Oak, 2639 Quail Road, near Fall River.

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WETLANDS EDUCATION CENTER TO REVIEW CONSERVATION PRODUCTS

Home energy efficiency, conservation products reviewed
GREAT BEND — On Sunday, March 18, the Kansas Wetlands Education Center (KWEC), northeast of Great Bend on Highway 156, will conduct an energy-saving seminar by eco-consultant Rebecca Ford. In this fast-paced presentation, participants will receive a comprehensive and practical set of instructions that can cut personal energy expenses.

In addition to specific practices, Ford will cover some of the good and not-so-good products and gadgets that enhance (or hinder) efficient use of energy, water purity and conservation, toxic-free living, waste reduction, recycling, and air quality.

This program is offered free of charge thanks to a grant from the Golden Belt Community Foundation. Refreshments will be served. For more information, phone the KWEC at 620-786-7456 or email ergiesing@fhsu.edu.

KANSAS WETLANDS EDUCATION CENTER PLANNING DECEMBER EVENTS

Birding, star gazing, wetland van tours on the agenda
PRATT — The Kansas Wetlands Education Center — 10 miles northeast of the intersection of U.S. highways 281 and 156, northeast of Great Bend — will conduct a number of special events in the last weeks of 2010. On Thursday, Dec. 16, the Cheyenne Bottoms Christmas Bird Count (CBC) will run from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The public is invited to participate in this educational information-gathering activity. Participants will meet at the Kansas Wetlands Education Center at 8 a.m. The Nature Conservancy and the Kansas Wetlands Education Center will provide lunch. Those planning to participate should phone 620-786-7456, so planners will know how many to expect for lunch. Be sure to wear warm clothing.

On Sunday, Dec. 19, the center will host a waterfowl identification workshop at 2 p.m. Waterfowl enthusiasts of all ages, novice or experienced, are invited to come to attend this free workshop focusing on all things waterfowl. Tom Bidrowski, migratory bird specialist for the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, will present tips on identifying the numerous species of waterfowl seen in Kansas. In addition, Kansas waterfowl viewing opportunities will be covered.

On Monday, Dec. 20, the universe will unfold at the Wetlands Center with a star-gazing program at 7:30 p.m. If the weather cooperates, participants will have the opportunity to view a total lunar eclipse, constellations, planets, and clusters through telescopes. Fort Hays State University (FHSU) professors Dr. Paul Adams and Dr. Jack Maseberg, along with the FHSU Astronomy Club, will lead the evening activities. Participants will also be able to make a “Big Dipper star clock.” The program is free. Participation is limited to 30, with preregistration required. Register by calling 620-786-7456 or 877-243-9268. The registration deadline is Dec. 18. Participants should bring chairs and warm clothing.

In addition to these events, the center offers guided van tours of Cheyenne Bottoms Wildlife Area every weekend, and by special arrangements during the week. These are 30-minute and 90-minutes tours in a 12-passenger van.

The Kansas Wetlands Education Center also has many great gifts to complete visitors’ Christmas shopping lists. This includes a wide selection of nature-based merchandise, wildlife-related toys, science kits, Kansas-made products, field guides, T-shirts, and Kansas Sesquicentennial (150th Anniversary) commemorative Christmas Ornaments.

For more information on any of the events or tours, phone the center toll-free at 1-877-243-9268 or email cjwolf@fhsu.edu.

2010 KANSAS STATE ECO-MEET BRINGS HEAVY COMPETITION

Twenty-five teams, 96 students, 20 high schools display conservation knowledge
GREAT BEND — On Nov. 4, the 12th Annual State Finals ECO-Meet competition was held at the Kansas Wetlands Education Center and Camp Aldrich, northeast of Great Bend in and around Cheyenne Bottoms Wildlife Area. It was a great day for early November, with mild weather despite the typical Kansas wind. The competition proved to be an exciting, hard-fought contest, with the following results:

Overall Team Competition

• First Place — Blue Valley North High School Team A, Olivia Cowen, Sam Parker, Carrie Remillard, Austin Rice, and team coach Eric Kessler — $300 student scholarship;
• Second Place — Wakefield High School Team A, Brandi Bergmeier, Josh Keim, Matt Shandy, Spencer Mitchell, and team coaches Alby Adamson and Mark Mohler — $200 student scholarship; and
• Third Place — Wilson High School Team A, Bryant Davis, Justine Dlabal, Lacey Major, Ashley Zelenka, and team coach Melanie Falcon — $100 student scholarship.

Individual Events

• Herpetology — 1st Place, Sam Parker, Blue Valley North High School, $200 scholarship -- 2nd Place, Austin Rice, Blue Valley North High School, $100 scholarship;
• Woodlands Ecosystem —1st Place, Sam Parker, Blue Valley North High School, $200 scholarship -- 2nd Place, Ben Cortes, St. Marys-Colgan High School, $100 scholarship.

Twenty-five teams consisting of 96 students from 20 high schools across the state competed at the event. An additional 10 students qualified as individuals from three other schools in the two test events. Nine Regional qualifying competitions determined who represented each location at the state competition. Regional locations were Wilson Reservoir, Sternberg Museum in Hays, Milford Nature Center, Lakewood Discovery Center in Salina, Great Plains Nature Center in Wichita, Dillon Nature Center in Hutchinson, Prairie Park Nature Center in Lawrence, Southeast Kansas Education Service Center at Greenbush, and Ernie Miller Nature Center in Olathe. The Kansas ECO-meet committee is considering at least two new locations for 2011 regional competitions, so there is potential for continued growth of this program.

Sponsors of the Kansas ECO-Meet include the Kansas Wildscape Foundation; the Kansas Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation; Pepsi Bottling of Hays; Simpson Farm Enterprises of Ransom; Manweiler Chevrolet and Superior/Essex of Hoisington; Great Bend CVB, Barton Community College, Sara Lee Bakery Outlet Store, Doonan Peterbilt/GMC, Wal-Mart, Dillon’s, and Golden Belt Bicycle, all of Great Bend; Marelcy of Hutchinson; Owls Nest Campground of Junction City; Friends of Milford Nature Center; Mid-America Awards of Salina; Goodwin Sporting Goods of Hays; and the Education Section of the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) in Pratt.

To view the results from all regional events and the state competition or for more information about Kansas ECO-Meet, go online to www.kansasecomeet.org or contact Mike Rader at KDWP’s Pratt Operations Office, email mike.rader@ksoutdoors.com or phone 620-672-0708.