The Kansas Wetlands Education Center, located at 592 K-156, Ellinwood, announced the following programs and activities for the month of July.

Summer Drop-In Nature Crafts

KWEC is offering Drop-in Nature Craft workshops this summer, each Monday in July. These come-and-go style activities will be held from 1-4 p.m. No registration is required for these free programs. A short science lesson that fits the theme of the craft will help kids gain appreciation for the natural world.

Monday, July 6 – Craft a whimsical bird ornament using decoupage techniques to showcase delicate patterns and natural elegance.

Monday, July 13 – Create a unique hammered flower card that transforms petals and leaves into soft, natural watercolor‑like impressions.

Monday, July 20 – Make a stylish snake‑skin coaster that captures the intricate texture and pattern of reptile scales.

Monday, July 27 – Design reusable beeswax wraps that offer an eco‑friendly, nature‑inspired alternative to plastic food storage.

Summer Discovery Day Camps

Registration is still open for KWEC’s Summer Discovery Day Camps. Each Tuesday and Thursday during the month of July, KWEC will host a different themed camp for students who have completed 1st - 6th grades. Pre-registration is required. While some camps are currently taking a waitlist, there are several camps with spots still available. Call 1-877-243-9268 to sign up today!

Camps will be held each day from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and have a $10/session fee. Campers will need to bring their own lunch, but snacks are provided.

Tuesday, July 7 – Wetlands Wrigglers

Registration is full; a waitlist is available.

It is always a camp favorite to put on waders and explore the biodiversity of Cheyenne Bottoms. This is the camp where we will search for aquatic invertebrates. We’ll also catch terrestrial inverts with nets and construct critter catchers. Build a pollinator puddler to assist your backyard bees and butterflies and use mealworms to create an artistic masterpiece.

Thursday, July 9 – Critter Codes

How do animals talk to each other? In this camp, we’ll decode some of the mysteries of animal communication. Campers will use all of their senses to find out the different methods animals can use to communicate. Interpretive dance, a lovely scent, speaking bird squawk, and more. We’ll also make our own animal communicators to take home.

Tuesday, July 14 – Herp Haven

Registration is full; a waitlist is available.

In this camp, we’ll become herpetologists, or people who study reptiles and amphibians. Campers will go herping (safely look for reptiles and amphibians) and learn about some amazing adaptations herpetofauna have such turtle shells, frog slime, snake venom and so much more! Make and take home a toad abode for the toads in your backyard!

Thursday, July 16 – Mudflat Masters

Registration is full; a waitlist is available.

Do you have what it takes to survive in the wilds of Cheyenne Bottoms? This camp will test your navigation abilities, hone your knot tying skills, and ensure your campfires start quickly, safely, and efficiently. Campers will learn the importance of boater safety and put this knowledge to practice by canoeing at Vet’s Lake. Wilderness first aid will also be covered.

Tuesday, July 21 – Marsh Makers

Den, Drey, Warren, Gall, Nest – in this engineering focused camp, campers will explore the unique habitats and shelters animals construct. Campers will build a bee hotel and a 3D printed critter to take home. A team-building activity and service project enhancing the Cheyenne Bottoms habitat will help round out the day.

Thursday, July 23 – Weather Wonders

Campers will be meteorologists for the day. How do storms form or lightning work? We’ll conduct experiments to find out. Campers will also make a weather safety kit list, learn how wildlife survives extreme weather, and make a tornado to take home.

Tuesday, July 28 – Bottoms BioLab

Registration is full; a waitlist is available.

Calling all Mad Scientists! If you love explosions, mysteries, and solving problems, this camp is for you. Campers will dissect owl pellets, use microscopes, and test bird feet adaptations. Grown-ups are invited to a live chemistry show performed by the campers at 2:30 p.m.

Thursday, July 30 – Hoots and Howls

When the sun goes down, a whole world of nocturnal critters comes to life. In this camp, we’ll explore the creatures of the night found around Cheyenne Bottoms and beyond. We’ll test our hearing and night vision with an echolocation activity, a flashlight game, some glow-in-the-dark art, and an eye shine activity.

Summer 2026 KWEC Explorer Guide

Stop by KWEC before Aug. 14 and grab the 2026 KWEC Summer Explorer Guide.

With activities like Mate Match, Creature Couplet, Trail Tracker, Print Profiler, Dung Detective, Critter Connection, Wing Watcher, Merlin Match, Marsh Monitor, Ecology Episode, Silk Structures, Melody Marsh Mission, and Plumage Pairing - this guide will keep you exploring Cheyenne Bottoms and the Kansas Wetlands Education Center all summer long.

Complete the guide and turn in the ticket by Aug. 14 for a sticker sheet and to be entered into the prize drawing.

KWEC Summer Library Programs - Over and Under the Wetlands

This summer, KWEC is participating in the 2026 Summer Reading Program - Unearth a Story, as area libraries.

In KWEC’s program, “Over and Under the Wetlands,” participants will unearth the hidden wonders of our local Cheyenne Bottoms wetlands in this hands-on, nature-themed library adventure. Together we’ll enjoy an interactive reading of Over and Under the Wetlands, complete with immersive sounds that bring the habitat to life. After the story, kids can explore wetland animal skulls up close, join in lively wetland-themed games, and create a special resist-art card that helps them unearth what lies beneath the marsh surface. To top it all off, everyone will have the chance to meet one of KWEC’s live snake ambassadors and discover how reptiles fit into this rich ecosystem.

Contact your local library for more information and program location.

• Larned: Jordaan Memorial Library - 1 p.m. - Monday, June 29
• Macksville: Macksville City Library - 3 p.m. - Monday, June 29
• Stafford: Nora E. Larabee Memorial Library - 11 a.m. (younger kids) and 1 p.m. (grades 4-5) - Tuesday, June 30
• Sylvan Grove: Sylvan Grove Public Library - 10 a.m. - Wednesday, July 1
• Great Bend: Great Bend Public Library - 10:30 a.m. - Wednesday, July 8