As the ongoing sequester threatens to close down visitor programs at refuges around the country, it’s important to consider what we could be losing.
The Winona Daily News recently published a profile on Ranger Ed at the Winona district of the Upper Mississippi Natural Wildlife and Fish Refuge in Minnesota.

[Ed] Lagace took his job with [...]

Sheila McCartan, Visitor Services Manager and Park Ranger for the Pacific Region’s Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge was honored with the 2012 Sense of Wonder Award. The Rachel Carson ‘Sense of Wonder’ Recognition Program recognizes outstanding contributions in the field of interpretation and environmental education within the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Ms. McCartan was recognized [...]

The Cooperative Alliance for Refuge Enhancement (CARE) is a national coalition of 22 wildlife, sporting, conservation, and scientific organizations. Together, these organizations represent a national constituency numbering more than 15 million Americans. Working together, and with the support of more than 230 refuge Friends groups, CARE educates Congress, the Administration and the public about the [...]

A little inspiration for all the environmental educators out there in our National Wildlife Refuge System. This was taken at the Upper Souris NWR 75th anniversary celebration in North Dakota. This cute little girl was playing the Migration Game and learning more about migratory birds and what she can do to protect them. A conservationist [...]

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service reports that a growing number of refuges are trying a new variation on the traditional National Audubon Christmas Bird Count — the Christmas/Winter Bird Count for Kids, aimed at youngsters age 8 to 18.
Refuges holding bird counts for kids include Deep Fork National Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma, John [...]

Tylar Greene is a senior at George Washington University studying journalism and geography, and she was also a city-girl-turned-conservation-intern at Umbagog National Wildlife Refuge in New Hampshire/Maine.
In this video, Tylar explains how she overcame her fear of new things during her internship experience at the refuge, and she relates how supportive the refuge staff [...]

As this blog mentioned last week, National Public Lands Day is on September 25 and there are many volunteer activities that are planned for that day (see the NPLD activities database).
And now the National Public Lands Day site has announced a photo contest called “Volunteers in Action.”

Participate in our Tenth Annual “Volunteers in Action” Photo [...]

In an August 31 entry in the Fish and Wildlife Journal, Kristin Reakoff of the Alaska Region of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service reported on the annual Henshaw Creek Weir Science Camp, held for students in grades 6-12 who live in villages near Kanuti National Wildlife Refuge in central Alaska.
The article highlighted the valuable [...]

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently ran a report on the many national wildlife refuges that have partnerships with local schools and use refuges as outlets for environmental education.
DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge in Iowa is one of those refuges:

When DeSoto Refuge began its program in 2006, refuge staff aimed it primarily at students [...]

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, in cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Wildlife Refuge System and the National Conservation Training Center, and National Wildlife Refuge Association, is accepting applications from organizations interested in applying for a Nature of Learning grant. The Nature of Learning is the FWS National Wildlife Refuge [...]

The Times in Oregon recently featured a wonderful article on Jenna Mendenhall, a recent graduate of Oregon State University and an AmeriCorps member who is now working as the environmental education coordinator at the Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge, which is south of Portland.
According to The Times:

At OSU, Mendenhall volunteered for a different wildlife refuge, [...]

KNDO/KNDU in Washington state is reporting that the McNary National Wildlife Refuge will have the public grand opening of its new headquarters and Environmental Education Center on October 10 from 8:30am to 2:00pm — which will coincide with the start of National Wildlife Refuge Week.
From KNDO/KNDU (visit the website for a short video report):

Project leader [...]