PHOTOS PROVIDED
\nAn awards ceremony will be held for the Federal Duck Stamp Winner and Florida Junior Duck Stamp winner on Tuesday, Oct. 20. PHOTO PROVIDED<\/p>\n
As a tribute to Jay N. \u201cDing\u201d Darling\u2019s 150th birthday, Art in the Wild will be had at the J.N. \u201cDing\u201d Darling National Wildlife Refuge. <\/p>\n
The celebration will take place Tuesday, Oct. 21, Wednesday, Oct. 22, and Thursday, Oct. 23. <\/p>\n
\u201cDing\u201d Darling Wildlife Society Philanthropic Director Jeff Decker said Art in the Wild is held this time of the year, as Jay N. \u201cDing\u201d Darling\u2019s birthday is Oct. 21. He said when they saw that \u201cDing\u201d was turning 150 years old, and America was celebrating 250 years, they thought it was a great time to create a commemorative coin that has the United States 250th birthday on one side and \u201cDing\u201d Darling\u2019s 150th birthday on the other. <\/p>\n
Decker said they will also provide pins during the celebration. He said those who wear them will receive 20% off in the Nature Store at the Refuge during the three days of Art in the Wild. <\/p>\n
\u201cThey are going to be available at The Roost at the giveaway table. You can go up and get them,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n
Decker said on the first day, Tuesday, Oct. 21, a special small group birding and photography tour will be held from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. <\/p>\n
To participate, registration is required through Eventbrite, which can be found at https:\/\/dingdarlingsociety.org\/art-in-the-wild.<\/p>\n
Individuals can also sign up for \u201cDing\u201d on the Wing \u2014 the electronic newsletter, and enter to win prizes. Prizes will be given away hourly at 10 a.m., 11 a.m. and noon in The Roost. It is free and open to the public. <\/p>\n
From 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., he said they invited four very talented local artists to paint plein-air \u2014 painting outside \u2014 along Wildlife Drive, in a popup tent, with an easel, chair and table. Decker said they will have a sign sharing who they are. <\/p>\n
\u201cThe four artists that we have invited, they are doing a gallery wrap piece at home prior to the event that will be for sale at the Nature Store. The day of, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., they will be painting these plein air paintings,\u201d Decker said, giving individuals the opportunity to see their techniques live. \u201cWhen they get completed, they will also be for sale in the Nature Store.\u201d<\/p>\n
Each artist will have two paintings for sale at the Nature Store during the celebration. <\/p>\n
The artist include Jacqui Roch, Artist in Residence from 2022-24 and island residents Ilie Ruby, Arlene Stigum, and Antonia Crook.<\/p>\n
For the first time, he said they are allowing adults to sign up to become a junior ranger from 9 a.m. to noon. Decker said adults will be given a basic questionnaire with environmentally based common sense questions to receive their wooden badge. <\/p>\n
Stop by Ranger Toni\u2019s Nature Nook \u2013 a learning center for kids \u2014 from 10 a.m. to noon for arts and crafts. Decker said there will be shell painting and an origami workshop by one of the interns to make an origami crane. He said they are asking individuals to write a message to mother nature to be placed on a mobile display. <\/p>\n
At 2 p.m. in the Visitor & Education Center auditorium, an awards ceremony will be held for four recipients \u2014 Federal Duck Stamp Winner Jim Hautman, Florida Junior Duck Stamp winner Beckett Smith, the winner of the amateur photo contest, and the winner for the conversation cartoon contest. <\/p>\n
Decker said Hautman will sign his Duck Stamp, which is available for purchase in the Nature Store, following the award ceremony. <\/p>\n
At the awards ceremony, he said they will also have Teddy Roosevelt (Joe Wiegand) and \u201cDing\u201d Darling (Tom Milligan) reenactments.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey are going to do a little back and forth and they are going to be the ones that are presenting the awards. \u2018Ding\u2019 Darling invented the Duck Program and that is why it is a big deal,\u201d he said, adding that he also created the first Duck Stamp. <\/p>\n
In 1934 the first Federal Duck Stamp was created. For each Duck Stamp purchased, 98 cents goes back to conservation and programs. The program has raised more than $1.3 billion dollars for the federal government, which has conserved six million acres of wetlands. <\/p>\n
The programs continue on Wednesday, Oct. 21, \u201cDing\u201d Darling\u2019s 150th birthday. <\/p>\n
Giveaways will continue every hour at 10 a.m., 11 a.m., and noon in the Roost. It is free and open to the public. <\/p>\n
From 11 a.m. to noon, Teddy and \u201cDing\u201d in the Roost will be held for a live performance. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt will feel like they are stepping back in time \u2014 listening to them go back and forth,\u201d Decker said for about an hour. <\/p>\n
He said the lands that have been preserved, the national forest and refuge system was created under Roosevelt. <\/p>\n
A ribbon cutting will be held at noon for the newly renovated Indigo Trail boardwalk, which will reconnect the Visitor & Education Center to Wildlife Drive. <\/p>\n
Another performance at 1 p.m. will be held with Teddy & \u201cDing\u201d in The Roost. <\/p>\n
\u201cNo two performances are alike,\u201d Decker said. <\/p>\n
The final day of Art in the Wild will be held Thursday, Oct. 22. <\/p>\n
Giveaways will be held once an hour at 10 a.m., 11 a.m., and noon in The Roost, which is free and open to the public. <\/p>\n
The special small group birding and photography tours will take place again from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. with registration at https:\/\/dingdarlingsociety.org\/art-in-the-wild<\/a>.<\/p>\n From 10 a.m. to noon crafts will be held with shell painting and an origami workshop in The Roost. <\/p>\n Decker said they received news that the City of Sanibel will declare Oct. 21 as \u201cDing\u201d Darling Day. <\/p>\n The J.N. \u201cDing\u201d Darling National Wildlife Refuge is located at 1 Wildlife Dr., Sanibel.<\/p>\n