Conservation Education

More Kids in the Woods

"Our most important resource in this country is not forests, vital as they are. It is not water, although life itself would cease to exist without it. It is people. The challenges of climate change and looming water shortages will not be resolved in a few years. It will take generations. Today's children—and theirs—will need to be able to take the baton and continue the race. For that, they will need a full understanding of why forests are so valuable, along with a strong land ethic. It is our job to give them both."

— Forest Service Chief Gail Kimbell

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Connecting Kids to the Great Outdoors
— Kids Gone Wild 2008

Kids Gone Wild is a series of free summer programs designed to give kids the opportunity to learn and have fun in the outdoors. Programs take place at the Big Lake Visitor Center and at a few other locations in the Springerville area. Kids Gone Wild is a partnership effort between the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests and other agencies, organizations and numerous volunteers.

 

August Schedule for Big Lake Visitor Center Programs

The visitor center is open from June 5 to August 30 on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 9 am until 4 pm. Kids programs are at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Date	Morning Program 10am	Afternoon Program 2pm
Friday August 01	Mexican Grey Wolf	"Fashion a Fish"
Saturday August 02	Trees all you ever wanted to know!	Trees all you ever wanted to know!
Thursday August07	Mountain Man Demo	Mountain Man Demo
Friday August 08	Camp fire safety/Wildland Firefighters	Smokey Bears Birthday Party!
An evening program for the whole family, 7 p.m. "Music on the Mountain"
Saturday August 09	Man Tracking	Man Tracking
Thursday August 14	Aliens in Big Lake (crayfish)	Aliens in Big Lake (crayfish)
Friday August 15	Frogs	Forest Transformers (Butterflies)
Saturday August 16	Primitive Outdoor skills	Aliens in Big Lake (crayfish)
Thursday August 21	Frogs	Forest Transformers (Butterflies)
Friday August 22	Mexican Grey Wolf	TBA
Saturday August 23	Tree ID/Making Paper	Tree ID/Making Paper
Thursday August 28	Hiking	TBA
Friday August 29	Frogs	Forest Transformers (Butterflies)
Saturday August 30	Aliens in Big Lake (crayfish)	Aliens in Big Lake (crayfish)

Additional Kids Gone Wild Programs

There are four other programs at different locations. These programs are also free, however, pre-registration of kids is required because the number of participants is limited. Children participating in these programs must be accompanied by an adult.

Fishing at River Reservoir on June 17th

Archery at Sipe Wildlife Area on July 8th

Fishing and Rappelling at X-Diamond Ranch in South Fork on July 17th

Archeological Hike at Casa Malpais Archeological Site on August 12th

To register for these programs or for more information about the Kids Gone Wild program, please call the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests at (928) 333-4301.

2008 Kids Gone Wild Flyer

You Can Volunteer to Connect Kids to the Woods!

Seeking volunteers to help staff the Big Lake Visitor Center, and volunteers to present conservation education programs at the Big Lake Visitor Center. Interested? Come and share your knowledge! Get in touch with Iris and Kartha for more information:

Help Staff Big Lake Visitor Center

Kartha Ray

Springerville Ranger District

(928) 333-4372

 

Help Present Programs

Iris Estes

Apache-Sitgreaves Supervisor's Office

(928) 333-4301

USDA Forest Service - Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests
Last Modified:  Friday, 01 August 2008 at 19:12:53 EDT