|  | | Dear Friends, | In the recently conducted “Urban Outdoor Access Analysis”, The Trust for Public Land and REI concluded that urban access to parks and nature is not created equal. In America’s 3,000 largest cities, two-thirds of people lack easy-access to public lands. Happily, both Vancouver and Portland are among the top 50 cities providing easy-to-access outdoor opportunities, and the Ridgefield NWR is a key component of that access!
As the year comes to a close, we are reflecting on our accomplishments over the past year, and our gratitude for supporters like you who make this work possible. Here’s a quick glimpse of what we’ve done with your help:
Education & Outreach Highlights:
- We held 54 events with over 5,300participants, including the popular Second Sundays series at the Cathlapotle Plankhouse
- We engaged 7,875 participants in expert-led walks and presentations, & delivered environmental and cultural education programming to 2,123 students
- We hosted the 19th Annual BirdFest & Bluegrass Festival, with over 2,000visitors taking part in nature walks, Sandhill crane tours, and a traditional salmon bake at the Plankhouse
Habitat Restoration Highlights: 
- We recruited, trained, & supervised over423 volunteers, contributing over 1,945volunteer hours
- We completed a total of 64 acres of invasive species removal & control, surveyed 150acres for invasives, completed 40 acres of tube clearing & plantation maintenance, and removed 1.5 miles of barbed wire fencing at Ridgefield NWR
- Volunteers set-up 130 Purple Martin gourds throughout the Refuge Complex, then monitored nesting progress throughout the summer season and banded 528 newly-hatched birds
The new year brings several exciting projects, including a Western pond turtle habitat restoration project at Pierce NWR, an oak release project on the Carty Unit, and a camas planting project near the Plankhouse. We will, of course, be continuing on with the many popular program activities we support every day.
In order to continue and expand this vital work, however, we need your support. Please consider making a financial contribution to the Friends during this giving season.
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| | Checks can be mailed to: Friends of the Ridgefield NWR, PO Box 1022, Ridgefield, WA 98642 Please also consider joining or renewing your membership. Memberships make excellent gifts, too! Thank you for your consideration. As a community of Friends, together we are investing in the future of public lands and the people and wildlife that depend on them. We hope to see you at the Refuge soon!
With gratitude,
Alix Danielsen
Friends Executive Director |
| Join us to celebrate the accomplishments of the last year at our Annual Member and Volunteer Meeting. This year's event will be held at Ilani Casino on Saturday, January 26th from 11am to 1pm. There will be brunch, board elections, and the year in review. Please RSVP by January 20th here.
Not already a member, or need to renew? Memberships can be renewed and begun online in just a few clicks! Start here. |
| | PO Box 1022 Ridgefield, WA 98642 |
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