LA CROSSE (WKBT) — Families spent Saturday outdoors learning about local wildlife with a hands-on experience.
Hosted at Pettibone Park, Youth Outdoor Fest connected area kids with nature through interactive activities.
Among those in attendance was the Genoa National Fish Hatchery, which gave visitors a chance to hold a live lake sturgeon and meet turtles up-close.
Organizers emphasized the importance of connecting kids with wildlife.
“It’s a ton of local organizations getting together and we just want to get kids outside so here we have a lot of outdoor activities,” said Cristina Dahl, outreach specialist with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services. “Kids can learn about wildlife, even pet taxidermy wildlife. We also have archery, bow fishing, fishing… we just wanna get kids interested in those outdoor hobbies.”
The community has hosted the event for 16 years, with 30 vendors coming out this year to share information about wildlife conservation.
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