CRAIGEND – On July 9, a group of children learned about the different kinds of animals that live in the Lakeland region during a science camp that took place at the Craigend Community Hall.
The camp was a partnership between the Craigend Recreation and Agricultural Society and the Bonnyville-based LICA (Lakeland Industry and Community Association). Kids who attended the camp participated in two workshops, “Wildlife Discovery” and “Creepy Crawlies.”
Jodie Genest, the community outreach coordinator with LICA, explained that the Wildlife Discovery workshop is delivered to kids in the Lakeland area. During the session, the science camp attendees are shown a collection of pelts, skulls, tracks and scat for each animal.
“We introduce them to animals that live within our watershed,” Genest said.
For the Creepy Crawlies presentation, kids learn about insects and their role in the environment.
After this workshop, participants went outside into the afternoon sunshine to explore the area around the Craigend Community Hall and identify and catch insects and other creatures living in the nearby grass and bushes. Participants were provided with containers to preserve their finds and take them home.
Events like this get children interested in the environment around them.
“It educates them on the roles that these animals play in our area, and it’s just a healthy way to get them outside and interacting with the nature around them,” said Genest.
Gwen Beniuk, a member of the board of directors for the Craigend Recreation and Agricultural Society, said the organization wanted to put on an event that local kids would be interested in.
“We used to do summer programming for the kids, but now that the County has so much going on, we’ve kind of got away from it,” Beniuk explained, adding the session was an easy way to give kids an opportunity to take part in something.
