Participants in the "Day With Wildlife" event for Columbia, Missouri Inner-city Youth, pose for a group photo at Stephens Lake Park. - Photo by Paul McKenzie

Paul McKenzie, Columbia, Missouri, Ecological Services Field Office hosted a “Day With Wildlife” as part of the office’s diversity outreach to inner-city youth, August 11. 

The event was attended by 16 youths ages 4-13 and included two youth pastors from United Community Cathedral Church of Columbia.  Most of the participants had little previous experience with outdoor activities and enthusiastically welcomed the opportunity to view different types of wildlife in their natural habitats. 

The event included a nature hike, wading in a local stream, bird bingo, and a contest to see who could identify the largest number of backyard wildlife from a poster. 

Wildlife viewed during the hike and stream wade included multiple species of birds, amphibians, damselflies, crayfish, fish, and one snake.

The event was an overwhelming success and all participants requested that the class be provided by the instructor on a regular basis.  An expanded version of the event is planned for the summer of 2007.