Although the summer may seem to be coming to an end with the start

of school, there is still plenty of time, and several great events, taking

place at Wolf Creek National Fish Hatchery! So check out the

following and make plans to be a part of our hatchery happenings! 

Lake Cumberland Grand Prix racing teams and their sleek powerboats to be on full display during U.S. 27 ‘Parade of Boats’ on opening day June 4

Before the racing teams start their engines for the official launch of the Lake Cumberland Grand Prix 2010 Offshore Super Series (OSS) powerboat race, they will showcase their boats for all to see in a colorful “Parade of Boats” June 4 throughout Somerset, Ky., on the opening day of race weekend.

Colby Allen named 2010 Rogers Scholar

Colby Allen of Russell County has been named a 2010 Rogers Scholar in the largest class of participants selected by The Center for Rural Development in the history of the 13-year-old youth leadership program.

From Earth Day to Arbor Day, April is jam packed with events, information and MORE, all designed to foster better connections between people and the environment. Because of this, and a commitment to protecting and conserving the natural world, Wolf Creek National Fish Hatchery and the Russell County Soil Conservation District have partnered by working with Russell County Judge-Executive Mickey Garner to sign a proclamation declaring April to be National Environmental Education Month in Russell County. Whether you spend a weekend camping with your family or take time to garden, fish or canoe, you’re encouraged to get outdoors, enjoy the weather and spend time connecting with nature.

School will soon be coming to a close, 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 a trout-tastic day of outdoor play, there’s still time to make your plans! Whether you have an hour to spare or all day, our staff will work to ensure you and your group enjoy a wonderful day of fun-filled activities that will better connect your students to the natural 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

As the Lake Cumberland region gets ready to host the biggest event in speed boat racing, volunteers are needed to pitch in and help with nearly every aspect of the event—from keeping boats out of the way during race time on the water to helping with parking and traffic—when OSS racing series returns to South Central Kentucky for the 2010 Lake Cumberland Grand Prix.

As our region’s economy begins to recover, small businesses and entrepreneurs will be the fuel that powers further growth and expansion well into the future.

This June, one lucky ticket holder will win a free “Houseboat Holiday” on Lake Cumberland in a regional fundraising campaign to benefit The Center for Rural Development’s three summer youth programs and their participants—Southern and Eastern Kentucky’s next generation of leaders.

With the celebrations of both Earth Day on Thursday, April 22^nd, 2010 and Arbor Day on Friday, April 30^th, 2010, it’s a great time to celebrate our wonderful natural world by getting outdoors and being connected with nature, and Wolf Creek National Fish Hatchery is the perfect place to do just that! Yes, whether it’s enjoying a day of fishing with friends and/or family at hatchery creek or making plans for a field trip for you and your students, the entire staff at Wolf Creek welcomes you for a visit seven days a week as our Visitor/Environmental Education Center is open 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. CST daily. Beginning May 1^st, 2010, we will be open 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. CST as well seven days per week too, giving you and yours more time to visit.

With spring just around the corner, now is a great time think ahead to getting outdoors and better connected with the natural world around you! In fact, whether you’re a teacher or a parent, Wolf Creek National Fish Hatchery will be offering a wonderful weekend environmental education workshop!

Saturday, March 20^th through Sunday, March 21^st, 2010 is sure to be a day of nature related fun as Wolf Creek National Fish Hatchery, in partnership with the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service and Barren River Lake State Resort Park, present an Outdoor Exploration Weekend! – Awesome Outdoor Adventure Sampler, Leave No Trace AND Outdoor Inquiries event.

On Saturday, March 20^th:  Join Danielle Hutchins, a life long environmental educator and Extension Agent for 4-H Youth Development in Nelson County, Kentucky, as she leads you through a variety filled day of awesome and fun EE activities! Learn about animal’s defenses as you take on the role of a skunk doing target practice, take an interactive hike that helps you take a closer look at the world around you, practice your animal ears, and learn some awesome teambuilding activities as you enjoy a day of learning that can fit programs for most age groups! All programming including a CD of the interactive hiking cards and a teambuilding starter kit, materials, lunch and snacks are provided!

After a fun-filled day of learning with Danielle on Saturday, take a break and then meet Barren River Lake Recreation Supervisor and Kentucky State Advocate for Leave No Trace Lisa Deavers for a late afternoon program centered on the principles of outdoor recreation with minimum impact to the natural world. Come join your fellow workshop attendees for dinner too as this is provided as part of the program. The Leave No Trace Program will begin at 5 p.m. CST at the Visitor/Environmental Education Center on Saturday, March 20^th.

On Sunday, March 21^st:  Join Wolf Creek NFH Environmental Education/Outreach Specialist Amanda Patrick for a day focused on outdoor exploration through a First Hand Learning, Inc Outdoor Inquiries Workshop. Learn how to better facilitate your students learning in investigating the outdoor world around them. All programming, materials (book and toolkit), lunch and snacks are provided!

The total cost for both days is $80.00 if attending both days, $40.00 if only attending Saturday or $45.00 if only attending Sunday. Saturday’s fee includes both daytime and afternoon programs. Registration fee covers programming, materials and lunch and snacks for both days.  If attending Saturday, fee will also include dinner. Event times for each day are as follows:  9 a.m. – 3 p.m. CST (Saturday and Sunday) and 5 p.m. CST (Saturday evening program). For more information and/or to register, please contact Environmental Education/Outreach Specialist Amanda G. Patrick at 270-343-3797 or via email:  Amanda_Patrick@fws.gov

On Saturday, March 27^th, 2010, visitors to Wolf Creek National Fish Hatchery (NFH) may find themselves in the dark, all to raise awareness of the importance of energy conservation and the potential impacts of climate change to our fish and wildlife species. As part of the global Earth Hour 2009 campaign, Wolf Creek NFH will turn off all non-essential lights for one hour, beginning at 12 noon – 1 p.m. CST. All visitor facilities will remain open. Staff will be available to answer questions.

Business, families, schools and more are also encouraged to join Wolf Creek NFH in Earth Hour 2010. To do so, simply turn off your lights and other electronics for one hour. Visit www.fws.gov/home/climatechange to find out additional information on how you can continue to help as well.

National Fish Hatcheries and Fisheries Resource Offices across the Southeastern U.S. will be participating in Earth Hour 2010 as well, with the goal of creating a unique and memorable opportunity to connect with visitors in order to raise awareness of climate change, the impacts it will have to our fish and wildlife species, and how the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service is preparing to address the challenge – as well as to collectively conserve energy and reduce global greenhouse emissions.  

Since 2007, Earth Hour has gained worldwide support for positive action against global warming. It all began with 2.2 million people in one city using their light switches to have their say. By March 2009, hundreds of millions of people in over 4,000 cities in 88 countries officially switched off to vote for Earth. To learn more about Earth Hour, please visit http://www.earthhour.org/Homepage.aspx. The World Wildlife Fund sponsors the campaign. 

    
For more information, along with tips and ideas on how to conserve energy and help make a difference in improving and protecting our natural resources, please contact Environmental Education/Outreach Specialist Amanda G. Patrick at 270-343-3797 or via email at:  Amanda_Patrick@fws.gov

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. The Service manages the 95-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System, which encompasses 547 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small wetlands and other special management areas. It also operates 69 national fish hatcheries, 63 Fish and Wildlife Management offices and 81 ecological services field stations. The agency enforces federal wildlife laws, administers the Endangered Species Act, manages migratory bird populations, restores nationally significant fisheries, conserves and restores wildlife habitat such as wetlands, and helps foreign governments with their conservation efforts. It also oversees the Federal Assistance program, which distributes hundreds of millions of dollars in excise taxes on fishing and hunting equipment to state fish and wildlife agencies.

Things have changed through the years, and with busy schedules and numerous activities filling up one’s schedule, families are challenged more than ever to seek out ways to eat better, exercise more and spend time together. This in mind, couldn’t we all use a hand helping our kids eat better and move more? If you are nodding in agreement, come learn practical tools that really work in a fun and friendly atmosphere! Make plans to mark off April 5^th, 12^th, 19^th, and 26^th, 2010 as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Wolf Creek National Fish Hatchery, and the Friends of Wolf Creek National Fish Hatchery, Inc, in partnership with the Russell County UK Cooperative Extension Service, offers an engaging four week parent session offered through the We Can! Program. We Can!, which stands for Ways to Enhance Children’s Activity and Nutrition, offers this training, aimed specifically at parents of children ages 7 through 13, free of charge. Meetings will be held at the Russell County UK Cooperative Extension Service office each of the 4 Monday’s listed above, from 5 p.m. – 6 p.m. CST, and all participants will enjoy a bevy of fun activities, including cooking demos for quick snacks and meals that kids will eat; a chance to talk to other parents; a copy of the We Can! Parents Handbook; along with creative ideas for getting your family active and loving it!  All in attendance at each of the four sessions will receive a “Healthy Eating” Cookbook and will be entered for a chance to win a $50 gift card too. 

Pre-registration is required for planning purposes and can be done so by contacting Julie Beckmann at the Russell County UK Cooperative Extension Office at 270-866-4477.

For more information on the We Can! Program, “a national program designed for families and communities to help children maintain a healthy weight” administered through the Department of Health and Human Services and the National Institute of Health, please visit the following website:  http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/obesity/wecan/

Wolf Creek National Fish Hatchery is one of 14 hatcheries in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Southeast Fisheries Program. For information on the We Can! Parent/Leader Program or the hatchery, including 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

Jamestown, KY – With warmer weather soon to be right around the corner, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Wolf Creek National Fish Hatchery, is pleased to announce a wonderful array of events as part of the 2010 Wolf Creek NFH Workshop/Event Series.