The Tom Ridge Environmental Center at Presque Isle in Erie will host the 2008 Wild Resource Festival sponsored by the Wild Resource Conservation Program on September 13.

The festival is designed to provide children, families and wildlife enthusiasts, young and old, with a chance to talk to the state’s leading scientists and get a front-row seat to view Pennsylvanian’s non-game animals and plants.

Numerous fun activities are planned including a chance to have the “buggers” from the Carnegie Museum of Natural History identify your mystery insect, watch bird banders at work, or take a behind-the-scenes tour of the research labs at the Tom Ridge Center.

A special performance by Sam Hyman is scheduled from 12:00 p.m-2:00 p.m. Educational programs will also be available throughout the day from groups like the American Chestnut Foundation, The S.O.N.S. of Lake Erie, the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, and many more. There will even be a visit from the Erie Zoo to show off some of their critters!

The Festival will run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.. This is the first time the Wild Resource Conservation Program will be holding its annual festival in northwest Pennsylvania.

Registration is not required. For more information, contact Deb Miller by sending email to: debmiller@state.pa.us . For a full list of activities and exhibitors, visit the Wild Resource Festival website.

8/29/2008