Come Join the fun at “Ding” Darling Days!
The Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge, one of Sanibel’s best-loved destinations, is once again celebrating “Ding Days” from October 15 to 21, 2017. Each day of the week will be devoted to a different theme, and the event kicks off with Family Fun Day on Sunday the 15th.
Family Fun Day begins at 10:45 and free events go all day until 3:00 pm. Families should come to the Refuge Visitor Center. Free throughout the day are: Refuge tram tours, introduction to archery clinics, fly-fishing demos, the butterfly house, hands-on nature crafts, hot dogs, and more!
Themes for other “Ding” days include:
Monday Let’s Go On a Hike Day
Tuesday Beach & Water Day
Wednesday Bees & Butterflies Day
Thursday Calusa Day
Friday Duck Stamp Day
Free and discounted birding, biking, kayaking, paddle-boarding, sea-life boating tours, and interpretive presentations are also offered during the week.
Saturday Conservation Art Day
Conservation Art Day winds up the annual celebration on Saturday, Oct. 21, with visits from Federal Duck Stamp and Junior Duck Stamp winners and nature art workshops. The day celebrates the 141st birthday of the refuge’s namesake, father of the Federal Duck Stamp program and Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist, Jay N. “Ding” Darling. The refuge will be serving free birthday cake to celebrate the occasion.
The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society-Friends of the Refuge (DDWS), and Tarpon Bay Explorers, the refuge’s recreation concession, co-sponsor “Ding” Darling Days with generous support from the local community and businesses. Visit www.dingdarlingdays.com for event updates, or call 239-472-1100. Be sure to enjoy all the fun activities that Ding Darling Wildlife Refuge has to offer!
