SIBLEY — St. Catherine Creek Wildlife Refuge Manager Bob Strader has seen a lot of change since taking over at the refuge in June 2008.

After moving into a new office in September 2009, several more projects have been completed that will help provide visitors with more information and activities.

Saturday, Oct. 9, was the official dedication of the new refuge office, and several recent additions to the refuge were also recognized.

An extension to the refuge’s Magnolia Trail officially opened up, which includes a segment called the Animal Olympics.

“There are various signs along the Animal Olympics that give some information about certain animals and an activity to do,” Strader said.

“Adults come out here just to walk, but kids can get bored just walking after a while, so this gives them something to do too.”

The new extension to the trail is approximately a mile and a half long. Structural additions were also added to the trail, including benches, a photo blind and an amphitheatre.

“The amphitheatre is strategically placed between a parking area and the rookery,” Strader said.

“When we’re giving tours to kids in first through third grade, they’ll start to get tired at about that point. The amphitheatre will allow them to rest and observe, and maybe hear a lecture. It’s basically an outdoor classroom.”

In addition, the fishing pond behind the new office was officially dedicated, although there still isn’t enough water to house fish yet.

“It’s basically a place where kids and handicapped people will have easy access to. We hope to start putting fish in it within a year,” Strader said.

Strader’s son, Alex Strader, who is a landscape architecture student at LSU, designed a butterfly garden to be put in front of the refuge office. The Adams County Master Gardeners followed Alex Strader’s design and planted the garden Sept. 25.

“The garden’s good for not just butterflies, but humming birds and bees as well,” Strader said.

A new touch-screen information panel was also donated to the refuge office by a grant from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services. Visitors to the refuge can use it to get information on various species by using the touch screen.

In the future, the refuge will also be fitted with several more touch panels, including one that will provide an interactive map to visitors.

“People will be able to hit ‘deer check station’ and the location will light up on the map. That way, you won’t have to look all over a regular map to find what you’re looking for,” Strader said.

Strader is pleased with the progress at the refuge since he took over as manager.

“We’ve come a long way from that office down the road,” he joked.