The Kansas Wetlands Education Center (KWEC) is your one-stop shop for every visit to Cheyenne Bottoms, a wetlands of international importance. KWEC is located at Cheyenne Bottoms along K-156 highway approximately 70 miles southeast of Hays or 10 miles northeast of Great Bend, KS. The 11,000 square foot museum operated by Fort Hays State University in the Werth College of Science Technology and Mathematics is home to the Koch Wetlands Exhibit gallery with newly renovated interactive exhibits, a classroom with live animal exhibits, an auditorium, and the Wetlands Gift Store. Admission is free! Van tours, a nature trail, a pollinator garden, and many nature-themed public programs offered throughout the year provide a glimpse of what Kansas wetlands are and what you can find in them. KWEC records approximately 24,000 total contacts annually. Ask to watch the new 15-minute informational video about Cheyenne Bottoms in the Duane Shook Auditorium! Staff at the KWEC will answer your questions about the wetlands and give advice for how you can experience Cheyenne Bottoms.

The Kansas Wetlands Education Center is dedicated to educating the public about wetland communities, their importance, and the need for conservation and restoration, with emphasis on Cheyenne Bottoms and Quivira National Wildlife Refuge in central Kansas. We accomplish this through interactive exhibits and interpretation, interpretive educational programs, outreach, and fostering partnerships with cooperating stakeholders.

Needs Project

Live animals are invaluable assets to environmental education programs. The Kansas Wetlands Education Center houses more than 30 species of live program animals, ranging from native fish, amphibian, and reptile species to several bird and mammal ambassador species. Animals are on exhibit to KWEC visitors and are used during onsite and outreach environmental education programs. KWEC staff conduct more than 700 programs annually. Care for the animals includes daily feeding and cleaning. Various towels and bedding are soiled and must be washed. The current washer and dryer set at KWEC is over 10 years old, used almost daily, and needs to be replaced. The washer and dryer are also used to clean rags, mop/broom heads, and towels used in cleaning and maintaining the facility. KWEC has very limited space, and requires a stackable washer and dryer set to fit into a utility closet. This gift will help us to maintain clean and proper facilities for our animal ambassadors.

Total Estimated Project Cost: $1600

LG Electronics 4.5 cu. Ft. Ultra Large Capacity White Front Load Washing Machine ($799) and LG Electronics 7.4 cu. Ft. Smart White Electric Vented Dryer ($799).

Please Note:

- A processing fee will be deducted from your gift when using a credit/debit card. If considering a gift of $1,000 or more, please contact Janna Wilkinson at the FHSU Foundation to determine the best way to give at jlwilkinson@fhsu.edu or 785.628.4129.

- Funds raised will be used at the discretion of a faculty advisor or fund manager.