In partnership with the Mid-Atlantic Center for Children's Health and the Environment, George Washington University, University of Pennsylvania and the Center for Disease Control, the John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge hosted participants in the 6th annual Conference on Children's Health and the Environment during the week of September 18th, 2008.  Refuge Manager Gary Stolz and Northeast Region External Affairs Specialist Jen Lapis presented programs on the National Wildlife Refuge System as well as the Service's initiative to reconnect children and families with nature by using refuges as outdoor classrooms for healthier lifestyles. Gary offered a personal "behind the scenes" tour of the refuge to several participants at the conference.

Nearly one hundred physicians and other health care professionals from the Northeast, Canada, Mexico and Ghana attended the conference, one goal being, to educate and promote awareness among health care professionals on environmental health issues that affect children. Objectives of the conference included: recognizing the clinical impact of environmental toxicants on the health of children; describing a variety of approaches to management and interventions regarding environmental health problems in children; identifying resources available to investigate and manage environmental health problems in children; and recognizing the impact of particular settings and environments on the health of children.