Sense of Wonder Discovery Wetland is used as an outdoor classroom to help kids discover nature

Genoa National Fish Hatchery will introduce its new Wonders of Nature Outdoor Education Program in the summer of 2008. The program will feature a variety of new opportunities that will enhance the environmental education and outdoor recreation activities currently in place at the hatchery. The hatchery annually hosts several activities such as a Kid’s Fishing Day event in which participants (ages 6-12) learn about the biology, ecology, and physiology of fishes, fishing as a recreational sport, and boating safety on the Mississippi River to encourage responsible use of natural resources, introduce kids to a healthy lifetime sport, and increase appreciation for conservation. The hatchery features a self-guided tour of the grounds, which has some of the best bird watching in the United States, and is open for guided educational tours throughout the year.

A closer look at the needs of children today has revealed that connecting with nature is part of a child’s healthy growth and development; current research even shows that without repeated exposure to nature, children fall behind in psychological and physical development, even to the detriment of emotional health. To increase children’s chances of connecting with nature in ways that not only meet school curriculum for science and health, Genoa has set aside 30 acres of a working wetland for discovery, exploration, nature observation, and conservation education. The Sense of Wonder Discovery Wetland promises to be a safe haven for migrating birds, amphibians, turtles, fishes, wetland plants, and nature lovers.

Genoa National Fish Hatchery is to receive more than $95,000 in 2008 to enhance their visitor facilities at the Genoa, Wis. site through part of the National Fish Hatchery System Volunteer Act of 2006, which local Representative Ron Kind (3^rd District of Wisconsin) was instrumental in moving to the President’s desk.  Construction of a boardwalk with observation decks leading into the discovery area is scheduled to begin in July, 2008. The boardwalk will lead explorers through a working wetland. Throughout the tour, there will be plenty of opportunities to stop and enter the wetland (off-trail) if explorers choose to do so. The boardwalk will be handicap accessible to make exploring the marsh easy for everyone. One main observation deck, and two satellite observation decks will be constructed around the oxbow river channel that runs through the wetland. Each deck will feature seating, and plenty of space for explorers to watch for wildlife. The main observation deck will double as the main stage for the outdoor classroom. Seating areas and the floor of the main deck will provide a flat, dry area for lectures and data collection, and the marsh will provide a place for kids to learn sampling techniques, species identification skills, recreation, and conservation education for classes of all ages.

In conjunction with the wetland boardwalk, a Handicap-Accessible Fishing Dock will be a permanent addition to one of Genoa National Fish Hatchery’s earthen ponds. The Pond will be open to persons with disabilities hoping to catch “the big one”. Hatchery staff will keep the pond stocked with rainbow trout, yellow perch, black crappie, bluegills, smallmouth and largemouth bass, and walleye. Fishing will be open to persons with accessibility needs, and the dock promises to enjoy a lot of use because of its visibility from Highway 35, which runs right through the hatchery grounds. For those wishing to tour the hatchery the parking lot for the self-guided tour is adjacent to the planned Fishing Dock, and the tour ends nearby. Future plans to increase visitor’s services include construction of a picnic pavilion, where families can enjoy a picnic lunch.

Genoa National Fish Hatchery encourages educational and responsible recreational use of these public lands, not only for the future of fish and wildlife conservation, but for the simple enjoyment and pleasure of the people and communities surrounding it. Keep an eye open on our website for planned all-day youth camps and other educational and recreational opportunities throughout the year!

http://www.fws.gov/midwest/genoa/