Join us on Friday, July 20th, 2018, at Lucy's Garden in Ridgefield for our Annual Fundraiser! (click to view larger or download) Our Annual Fundraiser is right around the corner! We hope you’ll join us on July 20th as we celebrate the past year and look ahead at our plans for the year ahead. Details and ticket sales for the event are below. We look forward to celebrating with you! WHEN – Friday, July 20th, 6pm – 9pm WHAT – Dinner, drinks, silent and live auction, and a short program (*Dress code – Comfortable! This event takes place outside in a garden, with some areas of uneven surface; please plan accordingly!) TICKETS – Individual tickets are $80 (includes one free drink); Table Sponsorships available for $1,000 (for 10 seats); a portion of ticket price is tax-deductible.
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2018 Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge Photo Contest! Back, and better than ever! Submit your favorite nature images taken within the boundaries of the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge to the 12th Annual 2018 photography competition. This year we are switching things up! We are looking for categories of photos, and adults can only win 1st or 2nd place in each category. Youth prizes stay the same. We look forward to seeing your entries! Submit by: September 3, 2018. ADULT CATEGORY PRIZES: 1st Place in each category: $200 Pro Photo Supply Gift Card
2nd Place in each category: $100 Pro Photo Supply Gift Card Categories: - Birds – Birds and waterfowl in their natural habitat
- Wildlife – Any wildlife other than birds – mammals, amphibians, fish, insects, reptiles, and invertebrates in their natural habitat
- Plant Life – Trees, grasses, flowers, fungi, mushrooms, and other flora in their natural habitat
- Landscape & Structures – The Refuge contains a mosaic of scenic views, including iconic structures such as the Cathlapotle Plankhouse
YOUTH PRIZES:
Gift Cards from Pro Photo Supply
1st Place: $100 Gift Card
2nd Place: $75 Gift Card
3rd Place: $50 Gift Card Photo Credit: Raul Moreno 2nd Place 2017 Photo Contest Winner |
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Helping Wildlife Succeed The Mission of the National Wildlife Refuge System is to administer a national network of lands and waters for the conservation, management, and where appropriate, restoration of the fish, wildlife, and plant resources and their habitats within the United States for the benefit of present and future generations of Americans. In 1964, a few of us might remember, there was a massive earthquake in Alaska which altered the landscape of an area where the Dusky subspecies of the Canada Goose nested. To help mitigate the impact on the Dusky (Canada) Goose population, Ridgefield, along with other Willamette Valley Refuges, was established to provide reliable and healthy wintering grounds. Each winter from November to mid-April... Keep Reading... -Susan Setterberg, Volunteer & Board President |
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Ridgefield Refuge Complex News & Events  Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge Have a Fun and Safe Summer on the Refuge!  1. Water: Make sure to bring water with you whether you are planning a long or a short visit. It is going to be a hot summer and there is no access to drinking water on the Refuge. 2. Restroom facilities: There are restrooms at the trailheads of both the Carty and River ‘S’ Units, and one stop right before the Kiwa Trail on the River ‘S’ Auto Tour Route, but there are no other facilities available to the public. 3. Bring a Snack: Just like with water, we want you to stay healthy and happy. Plan to bring a snack on longer walks, but keep in mind there are no picnic areas on the Refuge. 4. Trash Receptacles: There are no trash cans available so please pack out anything you bring in with you. We really appreciate it, and the wildlife does too! 5. Appropriate Shoes: If you plan to walk anywhere on the Refuge, we recommend wearing shoes that protect your feet. While Refuge staff strive to keep grasses, poison oak and stinging nettle back from the trails, they are always around, as well as fallen branches, rocks and more. 6. Fire: Fireworks and burning are strictly prohibited on the Refuge, please protect our wildlife. 7. Ticks: Ticks are crafty- even on open trails they can find their way onto humans, so make sure to check yourself after a visit to the Refuge. 8. Heat: If the temperatures become too extreme, the Cathlapotle Plankhouse may be closed during it's regular open hours on the weekend. Keep up to date on sudden closures by checking the Friends Facebook page here. You do not need to have a Facebook account to check.
Thank you for visiting the Refuge and supporting conservation. If you have any questions regarding activities and regulations on the Refuge, call the office Monday through Friday 7:30am to 3:30 pm at 360-887-4106. |
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Cathlapotle Plankhouse  Oaksplore the Plankhouse and Refuge this July! July 8, 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM Oaksploration at Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge
On the Carty Unit, 28908 N Main, Ridgefield, WA 98642
Refuge entrance fee applies 10:00 AM: “Early” Bird Walk with Refuge Naturalist 12:30 PM: Presentation: Oak Restoration Update- Deputy Director of Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, Eric Anderson provides a walk and talk update on the planned Oak Restoration of the Carty Unit. Meet at the Big Oak. 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM: Plankhouse Tours and Activities- Explore hands-on displays inside the Plankhouse and family-friendly activities throughout the day. 2:00 PM: Naturalist Guided Walk- Discover the relationship that the people of Cathlapotle had with oaks, and how they managed their landscape. (click flyer to view larger or download) Community Partnership Award from PSU The USFWS was honored as an Outstanding Community Partner at the annual Indigenous Nations Studies Community Awards Banquet at Portland State University for work in supporting Urban Native Culture, and connecting people to place. The Friends are proud to a part of this recognition. We have been collaborating with the USFWS and the PSU iTEK (indigenous Traditional Ecological Knowledge) Program over the past two years, working to revitalize and invigorate the presence of culturally significant native plants around the Plankhouse and the Oaks to Wetlands Trail. This partnership has blossomed in unexpected ways and you will need to stay tuned as we will be officially welcoming our new PSU iTEK intern this later this month!
 Preserve America is a national initiative in cooperation with the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation; the U.S. Departments of Defense, Interior, Agriculture, Commerce, Housing and Urban Development, Transportation, and Education; the National Endowment for the Humanities; the President's Committee on the Arts and Humanities; and the President's Council on Environmental Quality. |
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Habitat Restoration Updates & Events Summer is here full throttle!  The Ridgefield NWR Habitat Program is throttle wide-open from June through September meaning we could use all the helpful volunteers we can get. Every Wednesday (except July 4th) and Saturday from 9 AM-12:30 PM volunteers will search out and remove Ricefield Bulrush. We will meet on the River S Unit by the Hunt Gate parking area and work the wetlands along the Auto Tour Route.... We will also need a few folks with their own kayaks, canoes, or paddle boards for shoreline surveys in late July and August along Lake River and some of our sloughs. You will need some plant id skills and of course a good understanding of water safety. There will be some time required to go over plants and mapping so this is more than a one-day event... Keep Reading... (click flyer to view larger or download)
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Help the Friends and the Refuge When You Shop When you link your Fred Meyer Rewards Card to the Friends, you help us earn donations from Fred Meyer Community Rewards. It doesn't change your regular personal shopping and fuel rewards, but it does make a meaningful contribution to our work on the Refuge. It's easy to sign up. Just go to www.fredmeyer.com/communityrewards. You can search for us by our name, Friends of Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, or by our non-profit number, 89824. Then, every time you shop and use your Rewards Card, you are helping the Friends earn a donation to support the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge. If you do not have a Rewards Card, they are available at the Customer Service desk of any Fred Meyer store. Shop and Give Online at AmazonSmile.com  Log on to smile.amazon.com, shop as you usually would and .5% of your purchase will be donated directly to the Friends. Use the special link, smile.amazon.com, with your existing user name and password. To set up your AmazonSmile account, click this link: http://smile.amazon.com/ch/91-2018749. When prompted to select a charity, choose the Friends of Ridgefield Wildlife Refuge. Begin shopping as you normally would and the Friends will receive 0.5% of eligible purchases. Or Shop Online and Give through Giving Assistant  Giving Assistant makes it easy to donate to Friends of the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge! Simply shop online, earn cash back, and donate as much as 30% of your purchase price—Giving Assistant facilitates the whole process. Now, you can help change the world for free while saving money at over 3,000 popular online retailers like Home Depot, ULTA, and Macy’s! Start HERE! Thanks for being an EcoShopper and helping the Refuge! |
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Follow the Friends on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram! Want regular updates on Refuge events and happenings? Follow the Friends on your favorite social media by clicking the logos below to stay connected even when you are off the Refuge. |
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Header Photo Credit: Javier Urquizu 2007 Photo Contest Honorable
Mention |
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| Benefits of Membership: Discounts at Local Businesses for New and Renewing Members: Would you like to enjoy a cup of coffee from Ridgefield's Seasons after a morning hike on the Refuge? Lunch at Vinnie's Pizza in-between the River 'S' and Carty Units? Dinner and drinks at the Historic Sportsman's Restaurant and Lounge after a busy day of wildlife viewing (5% off with member card!)? Or maybe you would like to get a discount on some supplies at Shorty's or Backyard Bird Shop? How about a night out at Ilani, or a beautiful yard courtesy of Shorty's Nursery? |
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Types of Volunteer Opportunities: Habitat Restoration Volunteers get to see the most beautiful places on the Refuge while helping to ensure that native wildlife have food and shelter. Summer work is focused on maintaining winter plantings and controlling invasive plants that threaten to take over habitat. Crews meet on most Wednesday and Saturday mornings. Refuge and Trail Greeters Over 120,000 visitors flock to the Refuge annually to enjoy nature through participation in wildlife observation, photography, environmental education, cultural interpretation, hunting, and fishing. Volunteers help to make their experiences meaningful. Share your enthusiasm for nature and make the Refuge a welcoming place for people walking our trails, stopping at the Visitor Contact Station and driving the AutoTour. Cathlapotle Plankhouse The Cathlapotle Plankhouse draws thousands of visitors to the Refuge each year. Help share the legacy of the Indigenous people who have tended to this place since time immemorial as a Plankhouse Docent or Cultural Educator. Field trips take place during the weekdays. Docents staff the house on weekends from April - September. Education Help us inspire the next generation. Kids of all ages need hands-on learning and inspiration in the great outdoors as part of a well-rounded education. We need your help to make their visit to the Refuge fun and memorable. Field trips take place during the weekdays starting in April.
Don’t forget to glance at the Refuge calendar, your one-stop shop for fun activities and volunteer opportunities! |
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Ridgefield First Saturday: Red, White & Blue Historical Fun July 7th, 2018 9am - 3:00pm Gain a new understanding of old Ridgefield on this day full of play and discovery. Red, white & blue costume contest, games, icy kid & adult treats, a heritage-based scavenger hunt, convening with town elders, wine & beer garden and live music. |
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Yellow-headed Blackbird Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus Have you been lucky enough to glimpse this striking yellow bird between the cattails this spring and summer? Within the crowds of Red-winged blackbirds, you can sometimes spot the Yellow-headed blackbird’s golden head and black body (with a white patch on the wings) in freshwater wetlands and nearby fields. Like many refuge natives, these birds enjoy insects in the summer and seeds the rest of the year. They are adept at catching insects... Keep Reading... Photo By: Virginia Scott |
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Business Members
Granting Organizations & Partners
BirdFest & Bluegrass
In-Kind Support |
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