October 18, 2005

Middle-schoolers invited to wetlands education program

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Middle-school-age students will have the opportunity to learn about the importance of wetlands during an educational program at a local nature preserve.

Adventures in Wetlands: A Family Exploration will be held 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday Nov. 19 at the Lilly Nature Center at the Celery Bog in West Lafayette.

Michelle Priddy, coordinator of the program and a graduate student in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction in the College of Education, said the event will include both indoor and outdoor educational activities, including removing invasive species such as honeysuckle and black locust from the Celery Bog.

"The wetlands provide so much to our environment," she said. "They offer aesthetic quality, help with flood control, water purification, erosion and give us a source of food. Wetlands really are the nursery where life starts, and that's why it's important for both students and parents to learn as much as they can about wetlands."

Priddy is coordinating this event as part of her master's degree program and plans to work with schools to do environmental education.

"It's important that children of this age learn about wetlands and the environment when they are in their formative years," she said. "If they understand now why it matters, they are more likely to make decisions as adults that are environmentally sound."

The program is free. Students should be accompanied by at least one parent or guardian and bring a sack lunch. Since the activity will mainly be outdoors, it is also advised that participants dress warmly.

To register, contact Priddy at (765) 474-7276 or mpriddy@purdue.edu. The registration deadline is Nov. 1, and there is a limit of 25 participants.

Writer: Kim Medaris, (765) 494-6998, kmedaris@purdue.edu

Source: Michelle Priddy, (765) 474-7276, mpriddy@purdue.edu

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu

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