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Wetlands Education Center
The center is located on the Wetlands & Wildlife National Scenic Byway at the eastern edge of Cheyenne Bottoms Wildlife Area and The Nature Conservancy Cheyenne Bottoms Preserve. It is staffed with naturalists. Tours and programs are available daily. There is a gift shop, coffee bar, traveler information, observation decks, and nature trails. Facilities are available for meetings and special events.
The Kansas Wetlands Education Center (KWEC) is located on land owned by the Kansas Department of Wildlife & Parks (KDWP). The KWEC is a branch museum of Fort Hays State University's Sternberg Museum of Natural History.
Plan a visit to the Kansas Wetlands Education Center at Cheyenne Bottoms. Visitors of all ages will find things to see, do, touch and experience at the Center. Nature walks, bird watching tours, and state-of-the-art exhibits will bring visitors close to the magic of the wetlands. You can also view and download the "Journey through the Wetlands" publication or request a copy from the Great Bend Convention & Visitors Bureau.
What to expect on your tour
When you step out of your car at the Kansas Wetland Education Center at Cheyeene Bottoms, you are in the midst of the largest inland marsh in the Unites States. Head for the information desk to sign up for a guided tour, get lodging and dining information, and find out what's going on in the area.
While you wait for your tour to begin, stroll through the center's exhibits. From its ancient geological formation to its current challenges, dynamic exhibits reveal Cheyenne Bottoms. Exhibits tell the story of the Central Flyway and the hundreds of thousands of migrating birds who stop here. Learn how this wetland is managed today and enjoy indoor wildlife watching through remote cameras stationed in the marsh.
It's late afternoon now and a group is gathering a group for a twilight paddle on the edges of the marsh. As the boat moves quietly through the cattails, your guide helps you see the subtle beauty of the Bottoms and points out shy muskrats and long-egged shorebirds. She explains the lifecycles that rule this ecosystem and everyone pauses to listen to the amazing sound of huge flocks of geese honking overhead in a startling pink and blue sky.
Return to the center, hit the coffee bar and head for the deck overlooking the marsh. Settle in to a deck chair and contemplate the sights and sounds of one of nature's miracles.
Wildlife watching:
For a full listing of downloads, click here.
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