Jennifer Rader in charge of OK Kids Days, new WildLifer program
LAWRENCE — The Kansas Wildscape Foundation recently named Jennifer Rader as their new Youth Programs coordinator. Rader will be responsible for Wildscape’s existing OK Kids program — one-day events held at qualifying city and state parks throughout Kansas — and Wildscape’s new program, the Kansas WildLifer Challenge.

Growing up near Wilson, Rader brings experience to Wildscape from assisting with OK Kids events held at Wilson State Park for six years, along with involvement in several projects for the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP). Rader is a graduate of Fort Hays State University, where she received a B.A. in biology.

“As we seek to bring more children into the outdoors with our new WildLifer Challenge program, we identified a strong need for a position that would deeply involve planning and execution of our youth programs," said Wildscape executive director Charlie Black. "Jennifer's previous experience with OK Kids, KDWP, and Kansas Eco-Meet competitions made her a perfect match for Wildscape. We couldn’t be happier to have her aboard.”

Kansas Wildscape Foundation was founded in 1991, in coordination with KDWP, to identify projects involving all aspects of outdoor recreation and education in Kansas and to fund those projects, in whole or in part, with tax-deductible donations. The foundation was instrumental in funding the $5 million restoration of 2,300 acres of wetlands at Milford Reservoir, and is currently raising money to build 150 rental cabins at state parks throughout Kansas, 40 of which are already in use. The Foundation’s Outdoor Kansas for Kids program (OK Kids), now in its 10th year, will assist sites statewide involving more than 13,000 children in outdoor recreation this summer. The WildLifer Challenge program will launch this summer. For more information, go online to www.kansaswildscape.org, email Black at charlieblack@sunflower.com, or phone 785-843-9453.
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