What's New
2008 O.K. Kids Events
Kids are back in school, but there are still a few O.K. Kids events this fall, so don't miss out! The rains over the weekend of September 13-14 disappointed a lot of kids (small and big) who were anticipating some outdoor fun, but at least one rained-out event is taking another chance on an autumn weekend.
If you were planning to attend El Dorado State Lake's O.K. Kids Day last Saturday, mark October 4th on your calendar as a second chance--the event has been rescheduled to that Saturday. They are doing their best to ensure the same great line-up of activities and demonstrations, so cross your fingers and hope for a beautiful fall day of fishing, archery, wildlife displays and more!
Likewise, the Cornstock Festival in Garnett was rained out, and along with it the Fall Fish Trot for Kids. Event organizers have rescheduled for Saturday, October 18--good news for everyone who was anticipating this popular event. The Fish Trot begins at 8:00 a.m. and the Cornstock Festival will feature many other fun activities. Organizers are pleased to note that the musical acts were able to reschedule, so the September rainout has not ruined any of the fun.
As the season winds down, we can conclude that this was a very successful year for O.K. Kids events across the state. A rich diversity of activities included: fish clinics, casting contests, and other fishing derby events; bike safety & rodeo; skins & skulls identification and live animal displays; archery safety and target practice; canoeing and other water sports; sack races, horseshoes, treasure hunts, and other competitions; birding and birdhouse building; and much, much more!
Many O.K. Kids events featured a free hot dog or hamburger lunch--and there were even some outdoor cooking competitions for the kids. What better way to spend a day with your family than being outdoors and guiding the kids toward a lifelong appreciation of nature? And all for free! We hope you have enjoyed at least one or two O.K. Kids events in 2008 and that you plan to participate in 2009.
If you went to any of the events, loved the experience, and want to set up another day in your region, or if you missed out because there were no events in your community, give us a call or email us: we can give you pointers on starting an O.K. Kids event yourself. Every event is unique, and anyone can get one started with local resources and the generous support of Wildscape sponsors.
2008 Events:
4/11 5th Annual Hillsdale Watershed Festival New Century
4/19 First City 'Try'athlon for Kids Leavenworth
4/19 Lovewell State Park O.K. Kids Day Lovewell SP
4/22 Earth Day 2008, Cross Timbers SP Toronto, KS
4/26 La Grande Birding Fiesta, Ernie Miller Nature Ctr Olathe
4/30 Kids' Conservation Round-Up NW KS Conserv & Env Alliance
5/3 Baldwin City O.K. Kids Fishing Derby Faulkner Lake, Baldwin City
5/3 Camp Wood YMCA Open House Camp Wood YMCA, Elmdale
5/3 CLA O.K. Kids Day Cheney SP, Cheney
5/3 Eisenhower & Pomona SPs O.K. Kids Day Eisenhower SP, Melvern Lk, Osage Co.
5/3 Garnett/Friends o/t Prairie Spirit Trl Fish Trot fr Kids Fish Pond, Garnett CC, North Park
5/3 Great Plains Nature Ctr- Outdoor Adventures GPNC, Wichita
5/3 Lawrence P & R; Fishing for Fun Mary's Lake, Lawrence
5/3 Meade State Park O.K. Kids Day Meade SP, Meade Co.
5/3 Pittsburg O.K. Kids Day Lakeside Park, Pittsburg
5/3 Prairie Dog State Park O.K. Kids Day Prairie Dog SP, Norton
5/3 O.K. Kids Day on the Trail Shawnee N Community Ctr
5/3 Tonganoxie Rec Summer Kick-Off Chieftain Park, Tonganoxie
5/3 Webster O.K. Kids Day Webster Stilling Basin
5/4 WRC/O.K. Kids Fishing Derby Island Park, Winfield
5/8 Crawford State Park O.K. Kids Day Crawford SP, Farlington
5/10 Lansing Parks & Rec Fishing Derby Lost 80 Park, Lansing
5/31 Glen Elder SP Fishing Clinic Glen Elder SP, Mitchell Co.
6/7 6th Annual Bronson Free Kids' Fishing Derby Bronson City Lake
6/7 O.K. Kids Fishing Derby Dillon Nature Center, Hutchinson
6/7 Lake Scott SP O.K. Kids Day Lake Scott SP, Scott City
6/7 Lakewood Fishing Derby Lakewood Park, Salina
6/7 Milford Lake Kids' Fishing Clinic/Derby Milford Lk, Outlet Park, Shelter #11
6/7 Turner Recreation Fishing Derby Pierson Park Beach Shelter, Kansas City
6/7-8 Wilson State Park O.K. Kids Day Wilson SP at Wilson Lake
6/10 Kids & Cops Fishing Lake Miola, Paola
6/21 Gardner Parks & Rec Bike Rodeo GEHS Parking Lot, Gardner
6/28 Watson Park O.K. Kids Day Watson Park, Wichita
7/4 Haysville Rec 4th of July Fishing Derby Riggs Park Pond, Haysville
7/19 MRC Adventure Day (NOTE: new date!) Sports Complex, Mulvane
8/16 Clinton State Park O.K. Kids Day Clinton SP, Lawrence
8/16 Olathe AquaFest Cedar Lake Park, Olathe
8/23-24 Tuttle Creek State Park O.K. Kids Day Tuttle Creek SP
9/6 Holton Parks & Rec O.K. Kids Day Prairie Lake, Holton
9/6-7 Coffey Co. O.K. Kids Day John Redmond & New Strawn Lks, Coffey Co
9/13 El Dorado St Pk (RAIN-OUT-SEE NOTE BELOW) El D SP, Blue Stem Pt area, Campground #7
9/13 Garnett/Friends o/t Prairie Spirit Trl Fish Trot fr Kids Fish Pond, Garnett CC, North Park
9/20 Edgerton Fishing Derby --NEW EVENT!-- Edgerton City Lake, Edgerton
9/24 Twin Lakes Water Festival Council Grove Lake, Morris Co.
10/4 Rescheduled: El Dorado St Pk O.K. Kids Day El D SP, Blue Stem Pt area, Campground #7