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“Get Some Nature Into Your Kids”, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service advises, and Super Saturday at Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge will once again provide an opportunity to do that on Saturday May 23, rain or shine. The Friends of Hagerman and Hagerman NWR are sponsoring a full day of nature activities, fun for the whole family, as well as for individuals. With the exception of a small charge for birdhouse kits and a donation requested for food and beverages, all activities are free of charge, and all will take place at the Refuge, 6465 Refuge Road, Sherman.
Begin the day with a gourmet pancake breakfast, served from 8 a.m. – 9:30, then walk it off looking at wildflowers and birds at the Refuge. Jessie Stephens will lead off the activities with a Wildflower Talk and Walk at 9 a.m. Susan Knowles will lead Fledgling Birders, birding for kids (families also invited) at 10 a.m. Binoculars will be provided; there will be a talk and slide presentation on keys to identifying birds, than a short field trip. At 11 a.m., Kay Casey will present a program, Getting Started with Digital Photography, for anyone interested in going “digital”.
Also during the morning, Dr. Wayne Meyer will lead a birding walk and Doug Raasch will lead a one mile nature hike. Rex Walker will demonstrate fly casting at 10 a.m. and at 1 p.m., and birding-by-van trips are scheduled at various times.
Grilled hot dogs and the trimmings will be available for lunch. Those attending may also bring their own food and non-alcoholic beverages.
In the afternoon, van birding trips will continue, kids can build their own bluebird house (kit price $10), and naturalist Cliff Moore will present “Living Side by Side with Nature”, at 1 p.m. Artist and teacher Barbara Powell will lead kids in creating free nature crafts from 1:30 – 3 p.m., and at 3, Donna Cole, Texas Master Naturalist will present “Butterflies Are Beautiful”.
All activities are open to the public; there is no charge for admission or parking. Hats, sunscreen, insect repellant, camera and binoculars will add to participants’ enjoyment, and sturdy shoes are recommended for walking activities. Seating at various programs is first come first serve; register that day at the Visitor Center for hikes and van trips.
The complete schedule of events is posted at www.friendsofhagerman.com (Click on News). In case of rain, additional indoor events will be substituted for outdoor activities. Due to lake flooding and road construction on FM 1417, visitors should use Refuge Road to the Visitor Center complex. At this time motorists traveling from the south should cut through the North Texas Regional Airport to reach Refuge Road, and motorists traveling from the north can take 120/996 to Fulton, then Hagerman, then Terry Lane to Refuge Road. For more information, call the Refuge, 903 786 2826.
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