The Kansas Wetlands Education Center will be closed on New Year’s Day but the staff offered an afternoon of STEM activities on Friday, Dec. 27. Children could drop in and explore the wonders of winter trees through hands-on Science, Technology, Engineering and Math activities:

Science - Mistletoe - Decoration or Parasite? - Children learned about symbiotic relationships in nature.

Technology - Create a spinning Christmas tree to take home. The simple electronics of this project involved magnets and batteries.

Engineering - Staff helped children use a hammer, wood, nails, wheels, and axles to construct the classic truck carrying a tree.

Math - Wolf showed children how to measure the height and diameter of a tree and understand how much lumber can be harvested. 

Participants also received a STEM kit to take home so they could grow their own crystal trees over winter break.

Director Curtis Wolf said about 35 kids dropped in during the first half of the afternoon.

The Center typically offers educational activities when the schools are on a break.

On Dec. 26, children were invited to stop by to learn more about the animals behind common tracks and make a plaster track ornament to take home. This was the monthly WILD lesson, designed for school-age kids and their families.

Another regular program is Turtle Tots, a nature-based program for preschool youth ages 3-5 attending with a caregiver. The next Turtle Tots will be on Friday Jan. 31, with sessions from 9:30-10:30 a.m. and 10:30-11:30 a.m. Registration is required by Jan. 28. Call 877-243-9268.