Education at the Wolf Lake State Fish Hatchery Visitor

Topics concerning muskellunge and fisheries research, diseases, stocking and management.
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Hamilton Reef
Posts: 1156
Joined: Thu Apr 28, 2005 9:43 am
Location: Montague, MI on White River

Education at the Wolf Lake State Fish Hatchery Visitor

Post by Hamilton Reef » Mon Jun 06, 2011 10:32 am

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 6, 2011

Contacts: Shana Ramsey 269-668-2876 or Mary Dettloff 517-335-3014

Learn About Fish, Butterflies and Mammals at Wolf Lake State Fish Hatchery Visitor Center This Summer

The Wolf Lake State Fish Hatchery Visitor Center, located just eight miles west of Kalamazoo, has dozens of programs on tap for June, July and August. Families and individuals of all ages can enjoy learning about mammals and reptiles, take guided hikes, learn how to identify different species of fish, try a scavenger hunt, learn how to fish, and much more.

Each Friday is “Fun Friday,” with special programs beginning at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Topics include: Michigan Mammals, Radical Reptiles, Finding Frogs and Tracking Toads, Get Your Geocache On!, Insect Safari, Who’s On Your Line Anyway (fish identification), Marvelous Monarchs, and a handful of other fun nature programs.

The second Friday of each month (June 10, July 8 and Aug. 12) at 8:30 p.m., join the staff for a Night Hike, and learn all about creatures and critters that come out after dark.

Saturdays are Summer Fishing Days, where children ages 3 to 16 can practice catch-and-release fishing on the on-site show pond. Registration is required. A long observation platform makes it easy to see the Chinook salmon, steelhead trout, northern pike, northern muskellunge, walleye, largemouth bass and variety of other sunfish.

Every day, visitors can learn about a variety of fish species, their life cycles and habitats and how the DNR works to protect and conserve Michigan's lakes, rivers and streams to maintain a world class fishery. Tours of the hatchery are available Monday through Saturday at 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. and on Sundays in the afternoon only. Groups of 10 or more require advance registration.

The Visitor Center’s summer hours are Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday noon to 6 p.m. There is no admission charge and all events and programs are free.
The Wolf Lake Fish Hatchery Visitor Center is located in Mattawan at Hatchery Road and M-43, six miles west of US-131. To schedule a group tour, or register for a Saturday children’s fishing program, call the visitor center at 269-668-2876.

For more information, visit www.michigan.gov/dnrvisitorcenters. Click on “Wolf Lake State Fish Hatchery Visitor Center” and then “Wolf Lake Current Events Calendar” for specific information on summer programs.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is committed to the conservation, protection, management, use and enjoyment of the state’s natural and cultural resources for current and future generations. For more information, go to www.michigan.gov/dnr.

Hamilton Reef
Posts: 1156
Joined: Thu Apr 28, 2005 9:43 am
Location: Montague, MI on White River

Post by Hamilton Reef » Tue Nov 22, 2011 12:20 pm

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Nov. 22, 2011
Contacts: Shana Ramsey, 269-668-2876 or Mary Dettloff, 517-335-3014

Wolf Lake State Fish Hatchery Visitor Center Announces Winter Hours

The Wolf Lake State Fish Hatchery Visitor Center, located just eight miles west of Kalamazoo, will be closed from Thanksgiving through New Year’s, and will be reopening for the weekends during January, February and March.

“During the closure, we’ll be performing regularly scheduled maintenance,” said Shana Ramsey, DNR interpreter at the visitor center. “In January, February and March, when it is often difficult for school groups to come to us, our staff focuses on going to them through outreach programs at area schools. So the visitor center will be closed to the general public during the week, but open on weekends for a fun lineup of winter programs, including ice fishing, snowshoe walks, snowshoe making, winter bird walks and, of course, tours of the hatchery.”

During the first three months of 2012, the visitor center will be open with the following schedule:

Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. Hatchery tours will be available at 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 1, 2 and 3 p.m. on Saturday and in the afternoon only on Sunday.
A variety of winter programs will be offered. Please check the schedule on Visitor Center’s website.

The visitor center will hold one more special program before the end of the year -- Feeder Birds 101 -- at 10 a.m. Dec. 3. Learn about the common and uncommon birds that visit southwest Michigan feeders throughout the winter months with the Audubon Society of Kalamazoo. Participants will learn how to attract and identify a large variety of species.

The Wolf Lake Fish Hatchery Visitor Center is located in Mattawan at Hatchery Road and M-43, six miles west of US-131. For detailed information on winter programs and to view the current events calendar, visit www.michigan.gov/wolflakevc or call the visitor center at 269-668-2876.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is committed to the conservation, protection, management, use and enjoyment of the state’s natural and cultural resources for current and future generations. For more information, go to www.michigan.gov/dnr.

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