School will be coming to a close at the end of the month, but there’s still time to visit Wolf Creek National Fish Hatchery for a great day of hands-on learning!  So if you are an educator looking to bring a group of students out for the day, there’s still time to make your plans!  Whether you have an hour to spare or an entire day free, our staff will work to ensure you enjoy a wonderful day of fun-filled activities that will better connect your students to the aquatic world around them.  For more information, or to schedule a date, please contact Amanda Patrick, Environmental Education/Outreach Specialist, at 270-343-3797 or via email:  Amanda_Patrick@fws.gov

In addition to offering a myriad of field trip/group visit opportunities, the hatchery also has some great outreach events and trainings coming up, including the following.

Have you ever wanted to learn more about photography?  Are you

an avid fan of the outdoors as well?  If so, here is the perfect class for

you!  Join us for a beginning photography class designed for nature

enthusiasts. You do not need elaborate or expensive equipment for

this workshop; however, a working knowledge of your camera

is required.  Just bring your digital camera, a tripod (if you have one)

and a love for the outdoors.  You will receive instruction about

equipment and some basic photography techniques to help build your

skill level. We will also cover ethics of nature photography

and creating a great outdoor photograph. During a guided nature

walk, you will have a hands-on opportunity to photograph nature’s

diverse beauty along the Cumberland River. Come capture the

vibrant colors and new life of spring.  The class, which will be led by

local photographer Kim Graham, will start at 8:00am CST and will

conclude at 12noon CST.  The cost is $35.00, which includes all

instructional materials and an 8 x 10 print of your favorite shot you

took during the class.  Participants need to bring their own

camera.  Please contact Environmental Education/Outreach Specialist

Amanda Patrick at 270-343-3797 or via email at

Amanda_Patrick@fws.gov to register for the event. 

On Wednesday, May 13^th, 2009, from 9:00am CST until 3:30pm CST, the hatchery will also host a Leopold Education Project (LEP) Workshop.  The LEP curriculum, Lessons in Land Ethic, is an innovative, interdisciplinary conservation ethics curriculum targeted for grades 6-12.  The LEP increases student’s awareness of the land and informs them of how to make responsible choices for our planet, while simultaneously teaching important social, collaborative and critical thinking skills.  The LEP is unique in that it uses a classic environmental literary work, Leopold’s A Sand County Almanac, to reach students with a conservation ethics message that strives to instill an appreciation for the land community.  It’s a great learning/training opportunity for educators of all backgrounds, including teachers, 4-H leaders, Girl/Boy Scout leaders, parents, etc.  Total cost for the workshop is $65.00, and this includes a copy of A Sand County Almanac by Aldo Leopold; 2 field journals; Lessons in a Land Ethic: Teacher’s Guide and Student Activities; LEP Task Cards; and Blue Ribbon Quotes (14 laminated posters of quotes by Aldo Leopold) along with all other programming materials, snacks and lunch.  Registration for this event is required and can be made by contacting Amanda Patrick at 270-343-3797 or via email at Amanda_Patrick@fws.gov

Tuesday and Wednesday, May 19^th and 20^th, 2009, are sure to be two great days of hands-on learning as the U.S. Forest Service, Eastern Kentucky PRIDE, Sheltowee Environmental Education Coalition, Association of State Wetland Managers, East Kentucky Power Cooperative, Inc, PARC (Partners in Reptiles and Amphibian Conservation), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Wolf Creek National Fish Hatchery and the Friends of Wolf Creek National Fish Hatchery, Inc are pleased to host a two-day Wetland Construction Workshop.  The workshop will be led by U.S. Forest Service biologist and author Tom Biebighauser, a renowned consultant on wetlands.  Through this workshop, you will learn how wetland projects can be planned in forested and open areas, on vast expanses of public land, and even on school grounds to benefit plants, animals, and people.  This hands-on event is also designed for individuals interested in constructing small wetlands for environmental education and to benefit wildlife.  You’ll learn how to assess site conditions to determine the location, size, and type of wetland to be constructed, lay out proposed wetlands, select a construction technique, work with heavy equipment operators, and establish native plants.  Additionally, those on site will help construct an actual wetland on site from start to finish.  Biologists, consultants, engineers, government personnel, developers, planners, landscape architects, private land owners, stewardship groups and more are encouraged to attend.

On Tuesday, May 19^th, 2009, the workshop will start at 8:00am CST and will conclude at 4:30pm CST on Tuesday, May 19th, 2009 with an additional presentation at the Visitor/Environmental Education Center at 7:00pm CST by Mr. Biebighauser entitled, “How They Pulled the Plug, a History of Wetland Drainage^.”  On Wednesday, May 20^th, 2009, the day will start again at 8:00am CST and will finish at 4:00pm CST.   The cost for the workshop is $60.00 per person and includes a bag lunch on May 19^th and 20^th, snacks, hand-out materials, signed copy of the book Wetland Drainage, Restoration, and Repair by Thomas Biebighauser, an attractive wetland t-shirt and more!  PLEASE NOTE that space is limited to the first 30 registrants, so make plans to register now!  Please do so by contacting Amanda Patrick at 270-343-3797 or via email at Amanda_Patrick@fws.gov

For those individuals interested in learning how to fly fish, Wolf Creek is also offering a great event on Saturday, May 23^rd, 2009!  In partnership with the Kentucky Association for Environmental Education (KAEE) and the Louisville, KY based chapter of Trout Unlimited, the hatchery will serve as host for the 2^nd Annual Terrific Trout Trek!  The event, which will begin at 9:30am CST, which include a behind the scenes tour of Wolf Creek National Fish Hatchery, including the new Visitor/Environmental Education Center, followed by a homemade picnic luncheon with the hatchery manager and some hands on work with our trout production team.  Learn all about the day of a hatchery worker by feeding some hungry trout, learning how to sample count, stocking hatchery creek and more.  Cap off your day with some fantastic, hands on trout fishing along the Cumberland River from 1:00pm CST – 4:00pm CST.  Instruction will be provided by members of the Louisville based chapter of Trout Unlimited.  Please come prepared with chest waders and your Kentucky fishing license with trout permit.  All fly fishing gear provided.  The cost is $30.00 per KAEE member and $45.00 per KAEE non-member registrant.  To register, visit http://www.kaee.org/ to register online.  You may also contact Amanda Patrick at 270-343-3797 or via email at Amanda_Patrick@fws.gov for more information on registering.

Wolf Creek National Fish Hatchery is proud to sponsor educational workshops and events that help the public learn more about our incredible natural and cultural heritage.  For information on these or other programs at the hatchery, or how you can be involved as a volunteer, please contact Amanda Patrick, Environmental Education/Outreach Specialist, at 270-343-3797 or via email:  Amanda_Patrick@fws.gov