When President Richard M . Nixon signed the Endangered Species Act on Dec . 28 , 1973 , he declared , “ Nothing is more priceless and more worthy of preservation than the rich array of animal life with which our country has been blessed . It is a many-faceted treasure , of value to scholars , scientists and nature-lovers alike , and it forms a vital part of the heritage we all share as Americans . ”

On the 34 th anniversary of the act’s signing , about 15 people gathered at the Tolland County Agriculture Center to hear a lecture on endangered species in Connecticut .

As part of a trust fund designated when the late Max Belding donated the land to what would become the Belding Wildlife Management Area , under the direction of the State Department of Environmental Protection Wildlife Division , a full-time steward was created whose purpose would be two-fold : habitat management and environmental education .

For the last three years, Wildlife Technician Jane Seymour has been the steward of the property , and she said that she holds 10 to 12 programs each yearon all different subjects that are important to the public and which relate to the preserved land that she oversees .

“ The message of the program today is that there are wildlife species in Connecticut and that some of these species are threatened . It is in everybody’s interest to maintain the natural diversity of the species that existed here . We will not have all of the species again , but it is important that people at least know about them . Every species has a role in the eco-system , and each role impacts other species , ” Seymour said .

The programs that Seymour offers are geared towards people of all ages who have an interest in wildlife management . At the lecture on endangered species , many parents brought their children who were on a winter break from school . “ I am glad for the opportunities that these lectures provide , because they offer a variety of experiences that are hands-on and allow youto see different things , ” said Dr . Harriet Farney of Tolland .

To engage the youngstudents who attended the lecture , Seymour offered a craft activity afterwards , making a tiger beetle – an endangered species – out of tongue depressors and multicolored pipe cleaners . Seymour says that as part of her position as steward , she often goes into schools and libraries to talk with students . “ All kids are inherently inquisitive about nature when it comes to wild things , ” she said .

“ I thought that the presentation was really cool because I learned what species are endangered and why not , and now I want to do something about it , ” said Jared , age 10 , of Ellington , after attending Seymour’s lecture .

Ginny Gingras of Vernon , president of the Friends of Valley Falls civic organization , said that she is pleased that kids are able to expand their knowledge base through these programs . “ It is important to connect them with themselves , as well as with the outside world , because there is so much to learn about the world , ” she said .

Gingras’ views were seconded by parent Nancy Gepfert of Vernon , who said that the programs offered by Seymour often stimulate conversation in the home with her children and among her children’s friends . “ In what I call our ‘ microwave society , ’ kids expect everything immediately , so these programs are so important to show and teach them about the real world , to which there are no easy answers , ” she said .

As steward of the Belding Wildlife Management Area , Seymour’s responsibility include making President Nixon’s declaration a reality , by educating about and ensuring the preservation of the multi-faceted treasure that forms the heritage shared by all Americans .