Bay City State Recreation Area will celebrate Michigan's "No Child Left Inside" Day on Saturday, April 18, with a special day of events planned for the 13th Annual Wetland Wake-Up Day. The day is designed to help children and their families understand the importance of wetlands to Michigan, and will show them ways they can help conserve and enjoy Michigan's wetlands wildlife.

The day also will alert families to the upcoming International Migratory Bird Day with a Migratory Bird Kite Clinic and Fly-Up planned. Activities are planned from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Free "make and take" workshops will be offered throughout the day which focus on wetland animals, such as bluebirds, bats, frogs, hummingbirds, butterflies and snakes. Participants in each 60-minute workshop will learn about the featured animal's conservation story, its habitat requirements and ideas on how to share with it their backyard space. They will also construct simple habitat improvement projects to take home, including butterfly feeders, toad houses, bluebird nest boxes, hummingbird feeders and bat houses.

Guided wetland and wildflower hikes will be offered in the morning and afternoon. Bird banding demonstrations will be conducted by the Saginaw Audubon Society. Families will be able to see live reptiles and amphibians and learn about their conservation needs from a herpetologist from Central Michigan University. Children can participate in a free kite clinic to learn about thousands of migratory birds staging in and around Saginaw Bay. The Wetland Wonders Puppet Theater and wildlife art projects also will be offered during the day. Families are encouraged to bring their digital cameras for a special Wildlife Photo Safari.

This year's event also will feature a special overview of the Marsh Monitoring Program, a wetlands wildlife conservation program. Families who want to become involved will have the chance to learn more about becoming a volunteer marsh monitor for the Saginaw Bay Region.

Admission to these events is free; however, a Michigan State Park Motor Vehicle Permit is required to enter the recreation area. Permits are $6 for a resident daily or $24 for a resident annual. Out-of-state residents can purchase an $8 daily or $29 annual permit. The annual permits allow entrance to any Michigan state park or recreation area during 2009.

For more information on this program or any upcoming programs at the Saginaw Bay Visitor Center at the Bay City State Recreation Area, call (989) 667-0717, or visit the recreation area's Web site at www.michigan.gov/baycity.