May 4, 2025, 3 PM - RSVP to join us to embrace your inner Jedi for a special event at the future Community Nature Center. This Annual Membership & Volunteer Appreciation Meeting is your chance to reconnect with the Friends of Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge and celebrate the incredible contributions of our dedicated members and volunteers. Immerse yourself in an afternoon filled with camaraderie, gratitude, the shared mission of preserving our natural treasures - and some snacks, an Annual Report Presentation, and the Spirit of the Wild Award. Learn more...
Osprey Sky Walker represents harmony in the forces of Refuge Nature, and accessibility for all visitors, from younglings to grand masters! GiveBig, May 6-7, 2025, and unleash your galactic generosity! Embrace your inner Jedi and join the Friends of Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge for this special giving event.
With fewer biologists, natural resources professionals, and park rangers - habitats will degrade, endangered species will go unmonitored, trails will remain unmaintained and become subject to vandalism, and visitors will lose access to environmental education and recreation opportunities. These cuts put communities, ecosystems, and outdoor recreation at risk. Friends of Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge stand in solidarity with the US Fish & Wildlife Service, our closest partner, and the reason for our work. We urge all who love our public lands to speak out by contacting your elected representatives.
View the Friends of Ridgefield 2024 End-of-Year Impact Report, a supplement to the Annual Report, to keep you up-to-date and in the know about what is going on!
Details about the Community Nature Center on the refuge's Carty Unit, starting March 2024, planned to be complete by spring of 2026. Learn what the Friends are doing to fund the project, and how a Grant from the Keller Foundation gave us a great kick-off, along with a $25,000 match to meet!
Calling all nature enthusiasts! Join other supporters in protecting our precious wildlife. We're seeking passionate individuals with skills in fundraising, board governance, or community representation. Or, if you simply have a heart for wildlife outreach and advocacy, we need you on our board! Together, we can make a difference for the creatures that call Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge home. Interested? Let's chat! Email us to explore how your talents can help preserve this natural treasure.
When Amazon removed AmazonSmile, we lost our Amazon Wishlist access. Now, we have finally started one back up!
Find current flyers and links to details about the Community Nature Center and the Construction on the refuge's Carty Unit, starting March 2024, planned to be complete by 2026.
Find the link for Self-Guided Activities, Guided Tours, and other ways to visit to Ridgefield National Wildife Refuge Complex refuges
Volunteers make it possible to offer public naturalist-led walks about a variety of topics at both Ridgefield and Steigerwald Lake NWR's. The following opportunities are listed by walk leader, topic, and location. Find birding walks, youth photography workshops, bat walks, and more!
Find the Refuge Photo Contest Winners in these stunning collections! We have Puzzles, mugs, tote bags, photo cards, and clothing! Funds support Habitat Restoration, Environmental Education, and other Refuge programs and events.