BLOG
Congress Heads Home: Time To Advocate For Your Refuge
As August approaches, so does a key opportunity for Friends groups across the country to make a big impact. On August 2, Congress will begin its annual summer recess—a four-week period when lawmakers return to their home districts. This is a golden opportunity for you to engage with your elected officials directly in their local offices or, better yet, at your national wildlife refuge.
The 2024 O’Brien Prize for Refuge Friends Groups: Apply Today!
The National Wildlife Refuge Association is excited to announce the opening of the application period for our 2024 O’Brien Prize for Refuge Friends Groups. The O’Brien Prize is a prestigious award that recognizes outstanding achievement by Refuge Friends groups in support of the National Wildlife Refuge System.
Celebrate 30 Years of Refuge Heroes: Nominate for the 2024 Wildlife Refuge Awards!
It's a momentous year for the National Wildlife Refuge Association and our nation's wildlife wonders! As we mark the 30th anniversary of the Wildlife Refuge Awards this year, we proudly announce the opening of nominations for 2024. These prestigious awards honor the extraordinary individuals who dedicate their lives to protecting and conserving the National Wildlife Refuge System.
Friends of Haystack Rock Awarded The 2023 O'Brien Prize For Refuge Friends
The National Wildlife Refuge Association is thrilled to announce the winners of the prestigious 2023 O'Brien Prize for Refuge Friends. This annual honor recognizes the outstanding efforts of Refuge Friends Groups, who work tirelessly to protect and enhance the natural wonders of our national wildlife refuges.
Forging A Lasting Bond: Friends of Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge Bridge Conservation & Community
In the heart of Ohio, a labor of love is unfolding as Friends of Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge in Oak Harbor, Ohio, seamlessly connects conservation and the local community. Their unwavering commitment and enthusiasm have earned them the esteemed Molly Krival Award - Friends Group of the Year for the 2023 Wildlife Refuge Awards, presented by the National Wildlife Refuge Association.
Join the Refuge Friends Community: Get Involved with Your Local Refuge Friends Group
Welcome back to the Refuge Friends Corner! As a supporter of the National Wildlife Refuge Association, you have a fun opportunity to get involved with your local Refuge Friends group and the overall Refuge Friends community. Whether you're passionate about conservation, enjoy spending time in nature, or want to connect with like-minded individuals, joining a Refuge Friends group can be a rewarding and fulfilling experience. Are you interested in exploring ways to get involved and make a difference for the National Wildlife Refuge System locally? Read on for ideas on how to get involved with the Refuge Friends community.
Refuge Friends: The Unsung Heroes of America's National Wildlife Refuges
America's National Wildlife Refuge System is a beacon of conservation efforts, and the role of Refuge Friends groups is a shining example of what can be accomplished when people come together for a common cause. These groups of dedicated volunteers are the lifeblood of the Refuge System, providing invaluable support in the quest to preserve and manage America's precious wildlife and natural habitats.
Refuge Friends: The Heart of the National Wildlife Refuge System
But the National Wildlife Refuge System is more than just a collection of protected lands. It is also a community of dedicated individuals and organizations who are committed to supporting the mission of the Refuge System. These groups, known as "Refuge Friends," play a crucial role in the success of the National Wildlife Refuge System.
2022 Wildlife Refuge Awards— A Sneak Peek Of What's In Store!
We hope you will join us for our 2022 Wildlife Refuge Awards hosted in Washington D.C. and live-streamed on September 14th, 2022 starting at 7 pm ET. Check out a preview of the evening by watching the video!
Conservation has a ‘Friend’ in Southern California
Volunteers make the world work….better. Thanks to the Friends of Seal Beach National Wildlife Refuge (Friends) in Southern California, more people are learning about the refuge and why it’s so vital to its nearby communities. This group's countless hours of service and its long-term commitment to nature and conservation earned the Friends the National Wildlife Refuge Association’s 2022 Molly Krival— Refuge Friends Group of the Year Award.
Announcing The Winner of the 2022 O’Brien Prize For Refuge Friends
Through the generosity of some of our great Board Members, each year we present a Refuge Friends group with the O’ Brien Prize. Refuge Friends groups are the lifeblood of the National Wildlife Refuge System serving as volunteers and stewards of their local national wildlife refuge. We are pleased to announce the Refuge Friends group that will be receiving the O’Brien Prize, Friends of Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge in Vermont.
Meet The National Wildlife Refuge Association Board— Cheryl Hart
The National Wildlife Refuge Association Board of Directors provides expertise, support, and a strategic vision for the organization. They are conservation experts, business leaders, volunteers, and advocates dedicated to our mission to protect, promote, and enhance the National Wildlife Refuge System for the benefit of all Americans. Cheryl Hart is a Refuge Friends aficionado and currently serves on the National Wildlife Refuge’s Board and as the organization’s chair of the Friends Committee. Cheryl is also active in her local Refuge Friends group, Friends of Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge in Oregon, and is on the board of NWRA’s partner Coalition of Refuge Friends and Advocates.
Refuge & Hatchery Friends Photo Contest April 2022 Winner— D.C. Booth Historic National Fish Hatchery & Archives
The April Photo Contest winner was a photo by Les Heiserman of a Canada Goose and six goslings. Les captured the amazing image at the D.C Booth Historic National Fish Hatchery & Archives in Spearfish, South Dakota. Nancy Cole, Booth Society Friends Gift Shop Manager, and Assistant Director submitted this winning photo. The pair of geese have been nesting on the island for at least the last 9 years. Visitors to the Hatchery eagerly await their arrival.
Refuge & Hatchery Friends Photo Contest March 2022 Winner— Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge
For March the winning photo taken by Bob Glennon is of a bison and a fiery red sunset at Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge, East Lake, North Carolina.
Bob shared with us captivating photos of the early bloomers at Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge in northeastern North Carolina. These early bloomers will produce the berries the black bears that reside on the refuge. Bob, also captured a great photo of the black bear.
An Opportunity For Your Refuge Friends Group! 2022 O'Brien Prize Request For Proposals Announced
The National Wildlife Refuge Association is excited to announce the third installment of the O’Brien Prize, an annual award for our Friends groups. The prize is named after Donal O’Brien III, a past Board Chair and longtime enthusiast of the National Wildlife Refuge System. Don is a generous supporter of the great work we do for national wildlife refuges and is very impressed by the dedication and effectiveness of Refuge Friends groups.
Refuge & Hatchery Friends Photo Contest February 2022 Winner— Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge
For February the winning photo taken by Dale Bales, is of a bison and a fiery red sunset at Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge, Prairie City, Iowa. Linda Frazier has other photos of the Refuge.
Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge in Prairie City, Iowa was established in 1990 with the purpose to protect, restore and reconstruct and manage native ecosystems of tallgrass prairie, oak savanna, and sedge meadow.
Refuge & Hatchery Friends Photography Contest
The National Wildlife Refuge Association is partnering with Coalition of Refuge Friends and Advocates to host a monthly photo contest for Refuge and Hatchery Friends groups across the country. The Friends Photo Contest started as an idea by the Coalition of Refuge Friends and Advocates Facebook group last year and has quickly grown in engagement, you can read more about the contest here.
Refuge & Hatchery Friends Photo Contest Winner— Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge
You may have heard about the first winner of the Friends Photo Contest and the refuge’s fantastic fungi in the Winter 2022 Edition of The Link. Nicole Souza’s stunning photos of fungi at Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge caught our attention, so Assabet River NWR was featured for the month of December.
2021 O'Brien Prize For Refuge Friends Groups Update
The 2021 recipient of the O’Brien Prize is the Friends of the Willamette Valley National Wildlife Refuge Complex (FWVNWRC), Oregon for their Bilingual Trail Video Project. They are producing a series of 14 short trail videos in English and Spanish showcasing the plants, animals, and habitats found within the William L. Finley National Wildlife Refuge, the Ankeny National Wildlife Refuge, and the Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge. Each of the national wildlife refuges that the Refuge Friends group support are a part of the Willamette Valley National Wildlife Refuge Complex in Oregon. They have created a YouTube channel, posted videos of the first three trails, photographed and taken video footage for four additional trails, and identified seven additional trails for future videos. You can view all of the Friends Trail Videos on their YouTube Channel and one video of the series is shown below in both English and Spanish.
An Opportunity For Your Friend Group: The 2021 O’Brien Prize
The National Wildlife Refuge Association has an opportunity for you!! Through the generosity of some of our great Board Members, we are announcing our 2021 O’Brien Prize, an annual award for Refuge Friends groups. The prize is named after Donal O’Brien III, a past Board Chair and longtime enthusiast of the National Wildlife Refuge System. Don is a generous supporter of the great work we do for national wildlife refuges and is very impressed by the dedication and effectiveness of Refuge Friends groups.