LOWER GREAT LAKES
Fishery Resources Office

Thank You again for making this year's

a great success!

Connecting People with Nature
Flying birds, police dogs, live primates, fishing and lots of fun, educational activities were just a few of the amazing attractions for families who attended the Lower Great Lakes Fishery Resources Office 8 th Fish and Wildlife Festival in Niagara Falls, NY. Working in partnership with the Friends of the Western New York Great Lakes and the City of Niagara Falls, the event celebrated National Fishing and Boating Week. In conjunction with the wildlife festival, the Niagara River Anglers Association sponsored a youth fishing contest. Many other local partners joined together to make this event one that its 3000 attendees will always remember.

Over 30 government and non-government partners participated in the festival. Many of the interactive displays encouraged both children and adults to learn about conservation and the environment. Examples of hands-on, educational activities included an educational puzzle of fish anatomy and identification, an investigation of invertebrates living among rocks and water collected from a local creek, and a habitat display with a fish passage replica to demonstrate “good” and “bad” road-crossings. In addition, kids put together a habitat puzzle, learned where brook trout like to live and searched for hidden critters in a canoe filled with native vegetation, representing a variety of aquatic habitats. Families also learned some important conservation messages, such as the dangers of pollution and littering, and the value of being good conservation and land stewards.

Children also participated in a scavenger hunt sponsored by the Friends of the WNY Great Lakes.  After visiting displays and earning enough beads to build a bracelet to wear as a reminder of their day at the park and their role as a conservationist, every child was given the opportunity to “fish” for a prize.  No child walked away empty-handed.