Thu. Sep 19th, 2024

Dusty’s Wildlife Rangers at UK Wetland Centres

 Children of all ages can join Dusty Duck, pick up their very own log book and become real-life wildlife rangers at WWT Wetland Centres across the UK this summer holiday.  A full day of discovery and adventure awaits families with a wide variety of wildlife ranger activities being held at our nine UK centres including:

  • Wetland camp survival – learn outdoor survival skills with our expert wetland rangers, with everything from den building to whittling and starting fires without matches
  • Ranger training – track animals and learn how to be a ranger by going on an expert-led mini safari on our wild reserves
  • Wildlife recording – follow the 4 essential W’s (what, where, when and who) of wildlife recording like a professional ranger
  • Tribal Tracks – join our tribe at our wetland tepees.  Make natural headdresses and follow footprints and other clues to track a mystery animal
  • Geocache trails – find secret locations around our reserve
  • Make your own wildlife movie – become a nature documentary maker and film your own wildlife movie and enter it into our competition
  • Canoe safaris – paddle through beautiful waterways and come face to face with kingfishers, water voles, dragonflies and other wetland wonders
  • Mini raft building – make your own raft from wetland materials and see how long it will float
  • Pond exploring – discover what lies beneath the waters of a pond? Grab a net and find out!
  • …and lots, lots more

Children can write about, draw and record their findings and experiences in their log books, just like our rangers do, as a permanent reminder of their wild day out.

Activities vary between centres

wwt.org.uk/wildliferangers for details of all the Dusty’s Wildlife Rangers activities taking place at each of our Wetland Centres and do something a little bit different this summer holiday.

Scott Petrek, one of WWT’s real life wildlife rangers said:

“I love being a wildlife ranger for WWT and helping to care for and protect our amazing wetland animals.  We thought families would welcome the chance to experience what it’s like to be a ranger through a series of fun-packed, mini adventures, including activities that I do as part of my day to day job.  Hopefully, we’ll also inspire some of our younger visitors to become the wildlife rangers of the future, helping to create a world where healthy wetland nature thrives and enriches lives.”

By Penny McCarthy

Penny McCarthy is a seasoned entrepreneur and co-founder of Parents News UK, a pioneering publication launched in 1993 to serve the needs of busy parents in Southwest London. Alongside her husband, Fergus McCarthy, Penny played a crucial role in the rapid expansion of the printed edition, which grew from a local startup to a widely circulated monthly publication with a reach of 192,000 copies across Kent, South London, and beyond. Under Penny’s leadership, Parents News quickly became a trusted resource for families, providing valuable information on education, entertainment, sports, and family-friendly events. Her vision helped the publication extend its influence with franchises in Northern Ireland and Cornwall, catering to a growing demand for accessible, family-oriented content. In 1997, recognising the importance of digital media, Penny spearheaded the launch of Parents News UK Online. The website initially mirrored the content of the printed editions and has since evolved into a comprehensive online resource for parents, achieving significant popularity with up to 700 daily hits. In 2017, the publication transitioned fully to an online platform, continuing to inform and engage families across the UK. Today, Penny remains deeply involved in the ongoing success of Parents News UK, focusing on innovative advertising opportunities and future growth plans. Her dedication to supporting families through accessible and practical content has made Parents News a cherished name in households across the country.

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