Earth Day At The Refuge Next Saturday

 

Trash-talking, plarn, and Bagzilla? These are just a few highlights of the adult and children’s activities at JN “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge on Earth Day Saturday, April 21.
The refuge will celebrate the 42nd anniversary of Earth Day in partnership with “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society- Friends of the Refuge (DDWS) and Tarpon Bay Explorers (TBE). “We are gearing our activities for all ages,” said Ranger Becky Wolff, refuge education specialist. “We’ll bring back our disposable bag-costumed Bagzilla character, and teach people how to make yarn out of plastic bags to weave into their own sturdy, reusable shopping bags.” The schedule for earth-friendly free fun is: Note: *Regular tram tour fees apply. 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wildlife Drive is open free to bikers and hikers 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Free bike rentals from Tarpon Bay Explorers’ site (returns by 6 p.m.) 10 a.m. – The first 200 visitors to the refuge will receive a free reusable shopping bag, courtesy of DDWS. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Ongoing Earth crafts in the Education Center Education Lab
• Make your own Mother Earth ornament • Create a pop-bottle butterfly or jellyfish
• Learn from a pollinator and mind your own beeswax (candle that is) • Create your own bracelet out of plarn (plastic bag yarn)
• Meet and greet refuge educator Bagzilla, costumed in a year’s worth of an average person’s disposable bag consumption 10 to 11 a.m. Guided native plant walk along Indigo Trail *10 to 11:30 a.m. Narrated refuge tram tour 11:30 a.m. to noon. Let’s Talk Trash – Marine timeline competition for kids. How long does it take that trash to biodegrade in a marine environment? (Education Center auditorium) *11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Narrated refuge tram tour Lunch on your own *1 to 2:30 p.m. Narrated refuge tram tour 1:30 to 2 p.m. Climate Change 101 – Learn the basics of climate change and what you can do to help. (Education Center auditorium) 2:30 to 3 p.m. Make your own plarn. Plastic bag overload? Learn how to make plarn (plastic bag yarn) and weave reusable shopping bags that are 10 times stronger than other plastic bags. (Education Center auditorium) *2:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Narrated refuge tram tour *4 to 5:30 p.m. Narrated refuge tram tour For more information on Earth Day at the Refuge, call 472-1100 or visit www. dingdarlingsociety.org.