SEPTEMBER 23-29, 2009 UCW 13
WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM
Take a Walk on the
Wildlife Side
a Karen Poppele
Families hunting for fun outdoor
activities can take advantage of cooler
fall weather and North Carolina's
abundant natural wildlife resources to
explore Wildlife Expo 2009, Saturday,
Sept. 26, at the John E. Pechmann
Fishing Education Center, 7489
Raeford Road in Fayetteville, from 9
a.m.-2 p.m. The center is adjacent to
Lake Rim Park.
Admission is free, and visitors
may participate in more than 15
hands-on and interactive exhibits
and demonstrations that illustrate
the important roles of hunting and
fi shing in North Carolina's wildlife
conservation.
"The Wildlife Expo program
is designed to familiarize kids with
outdoor activities and the wildlife
in North Carolina," said Kristopher
Smith, Pechmann Center director.
"They come as a family, get "wildlife
passports" and interact with the
exhibitors."
Participants can learn about
fi rearm safety and shoot an air rifl e,
try out duck and goose calls; tie a
fi shing fl y; examine native birds of
prey, courtesy of the N.C. Falconer's
Guild; listen to the sounds of birds and
touch animal skulls and pelts in The
Sensory Safari, a 36-foot, kid-friendly
wildlife exhibit-on-wheels; shoot an
arrow at the Rockfi sh Bowhunter's
Club archery range; watch the busy
world of honeybees; learn about North
Carolina's proud hunting heritage and
much more.
"Kids will have the opportunity
to get a close look into the eyes of
a snake, listen to a frog and stare
down a hawk," Smith said. "We'll
have kayaking in one of the ponds
and safety exhibits for tree stands
and boating. Members of the North
Carolina Handicapped Sportsmen will
also be there."
And of course, there will be
fishing! For those who wish to
wet a line, a limited number of
free loaner rods and reels will be
provided on a first-come, first-
served basis. Or participants may
bring their own fishing equipment
and worms, as well as sunscreen
and portable chairs.
"Last year's fi rst expo was very
successful," said Smith. "Kids enjoyed
the passports more than fi shing
and loved the interaction with the
exhibitors. The exhibitors were really
allowed to engage with the kids. They
gave answers to the questions on
the kids' passports. Within a family,
kids had different questions on their
passports, so the answers could take a
different focus," Smith said.
After completing their
passports, kids and their families
can enjoy a free lunch, courtesy of
Powers Swain Chevrolet.
"We'll have hot dogs and drinks,"
said Smith.
All participants will also
receive a free Fish-for-Fun bag
stuffed with lots of fishing-related
goodies. And expo visitors 16 and
younger who visit all the exhibits
and complete their passports will
be entered into a drawing to be
held at 1 p.m. for prizes, including
fishing equipment, gift certificates
and the grand prize of a lifetime
sportsman's license, valued at
$500 and generously provided by
the family of John E. Pechmann.
Sponsored by the N.C. Wildlife
Resources Commission, the second
annual Wildlife Expo is one of six
free family-oriented events being
held across the state in conjunction
with National Hunting and Fishing
Day (www.nhfday.org). For more
information on times, locations and
activities for all events, visit www.
ncwildlife.org/nhfd.
For more information on Wildlife
Expo, contact Kristopher Smith at kris.
smith@ncwildlife.org, or (910) 868-5003,
