Most of learn about and remember something more easily if we see it, and especially if we can touch it.

That’s the theory behind the one-day educational program at Sternberg Museum of Natural History in Hays Tuesday.

“It always sticks with kids a lot better when they get to see real animals and not just pictures on TV,” believes museum director Reese Barrick.  ” They can take what they learned back home to parents and spread the message about what is happening to some our wildlife.”

And that’s exactly what Barrick hopes the students did.

The program focused on Threatened and Endangered American Animal Icons.   Participants got to see a peregrine falcon and a golden eagle, a very small American alligator and even a gray wolf.

Some threatened species are now repopulating and the elementary school students from throughout Ellis County also learned about conservation efforts.

The program was free for participating schools.  About 1,100  students attended.

See more tonight on Street Beat Eagle Community TV Channel 14.