Members of Brownie Troop 695 investigate a minifyke net as part of earning a "Watching Wildlife" badge.

Lead Technician, Patty Herman, describes characteristics of shovelnose sturgeon to interested onlookers from Brownie Troop 695.

Fifteen members of Brownie Troop 695 earned their “Watching Wildlife” badge this month with the help of Columbia National Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office (NFWCO) staff. Patty Herman and Cliff Wilson hosted the event where the girls and their parents learned about native fish and turtles, fishing gear, and boats used to monitor fish populations on the Missouri River. The troop members got to touch and learn about shovelnose sturgeon, channel catfish, a red-eared slider and a false map turtle. Not only were the girls great listeners, but they also asked great questions and had many of their own “fish tales.” The troop also got to see the different types of nets we use to catch fish and how each net targets different sized fish.  The best part of the evening, however, was the exploration of the boats. Donning child sized life jackets, they clamored up the ladders to investigate the river plate boats.  Hands down, their favorite was the Phoenix.  Not many eight year-old girls in the Midwest get an opportunity to climb around in a custom trawl boat with a 375 horsepower motor, big hydraulic winches, color depth finder screens and a sweet horn.  One father remarked “…well, if they only remember one thing, they will definitely remember how to honk a boat horn!”  To round out the event, the girls had a snack of fish-shaped crackers, gummy worms and water.  This event is just a small part of reconnecting children with nature, and the staff of Columbia NFWCO are proud participants. Cooperative participation with service organizations to provide educational events also helps promote the Service’s commitment to maintaining America’s natural resources and supports the “Public Use Goal” of the “Fisheries Program Vision for the Future.”