For the past two summers the Wallkill River National Wildlife Refuge has been hosting a summer STEM storytime at the Owen's station facility. This program is in collaboration with the Sussex County Library System and has been a huge success with local families.

As Youth Services Coordinator Deborah Fagnan describes it, "The STEM storytime program began in 2023 in an attempt to take kids outside with fun STEM activities that are developed around the wildlife surrounding the Wallkill River National Wildlife Refuge."

Refuge volunteer Donna Provost pioneered this program and explained "My goal is to get kids off of their electronics and into nature. I want to create something the kids will find interesting and make them curious about nature so they'll want to spend more time outdoors."

Over the past two years Donna and Deb have developed this wonderful opportunity for kids to dive into science activities.

When Donna describes the impact of the program, she says "The kids enjoy the books and the crafts. When they're finished with their craft, they get a scavenger sheet with a crayon and we walk around the pond. When they see an animal, bug, or bird on their scavenger sheet they check it off. They get very excited. If they don't see all of the animals at the refuge, they take the sheet home and continue to look for the rest of the animals there." The families who participate have a continuum of engagement whether they return to the refuge or explore their own backyard.

For families that are thinking about joining the program next year, Deb shared "The program revolves around reading fiction and/or nonfiction picture books, a STEM craft, a treasure hunt and a walk around the pond investigating the enormous amount of wildlife with a concentration on that week's theme. Ideally it is recommended for children ages 3-12, but all children and their families are invited." Registration is required through the Sussex County Library's Event Calendar

"The highlight of the program is excited the kids get to find all of the animals on their scavenger sheet even if they have to do it at home," Donna explained. "To me that means they're going to be spending time outdoors looking at nature and not in front of an electronic device. That's a win!"

We look forward to future years of collaboration with the Sussex County Library System and hope that all families who are interested feel welcome and included in our refuge programs.