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‘Ding’ Darling Day’s Conservation Carnival at Lakes Park celebrates Earth Day April 22
April 22, 2023 @ 10:00 am - 2:00 pm EDT
The J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge celebrates its 34th annual “Ding” Darling Day jointly with Earth Day at Lakes Park in Fort Myers Sunday, April 22. The refuge and “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society-Friends of the Refuge (DDWS) have planned a full day of Conservation Carnival and nature activities from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
More than 20 local conservation non-profits will be participating to engage visitors with information and carnival games. Gamers can earn a free mini ice cream cone, plus other gifts and prizes. The refuge hosts a Dunk Tank, where festival-goers can try their luck at sinking surprise “celebrity dunkees.” All activities are free, but Lakes Park charges a $1 per hour, $5 per day parking fee.
“The games will all have an educational component, plus the day brings a number of tours and nature art activities,” said Supervisory Refuge Ranger Toni Westland, who chairs the event’s committee. “We will have our WoW Wildlife on Wheels mobile nature experience open all day for touring, plus there will be Earth Day crafts and lots of opportunities to enjoy the outdoors, such as a slow-birding walk, archery, and rock climbing.”
Artist-in-residence Jacqui Roch will be painting plein-air throughout the day and leading a Sketch & Stroll journaling activity. The Dawg Pound truck will be on-site for food purchases.
A schedule of the day’s activities follows below. Attendees can shop for unique nature-themed items at the Refuge Nature Store table, where all purchases support conservation. For more information about the event, visit dingdarlingday.com.
Note: The “Ding” Darling Visitor & Education Center on Sanibel Island will be closed all day April 22, but Wildlife Drive, Tarpon Bay Explorers, and Bailey Tract will remain open.
The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society-Friends of the Refuge (DDWS) cosponsor “Ding” Darling Day with generous support from the local community and businesses. To become a sponsor, contact April Boehnen at aprilb@dingdarlingsociety.org.
