March 2019 Newsletter

Cathlapotle Plankhouse Updates & Events

Changes on the Landscape

Over the next few years the US Fish & Wildlife Service, Friends of RNWR, the City of Ridgefield, and other partners are engaged in multiple infrastructure and habitat improvement projects that will result in overall progress for the health of our Refuge. The Carty Unit will be undergoing some extensive changes as a result. Please keep your attention on social media, websites, and of course this newsletter for how Refuge 20/20 projects will affect our Lifeways & Landscapes Programs. We hope that you will join us on our journey and look forward to the benefits of a deeply revitalized landscape.

Docent and Education Volunteer Training

Dates have been set for this year’s Plankhouse Docent and Education Program volunteer training! We promise that the second weekend in April will be full of interesting information and fun activities about the deep history of this landscape. Come join us!

April 13^th and 14^th, 2019

Saturday and Sunday

10:00am-3:00pm*

*Please send an RSVP email with your full name and “Plankhouse Volunteer” in the subject line to ridgefieldvolunteer@fws.gov.

Spring Opening

The Cathlapotle Plankhouse opens for the season on May 4th and 5th, 2019! Stay tuned for more details on upcoming Second Sunday Series events, every second Sunday of the month through October.

Cathlapotle Plankhouse Second Sunday Series

Fittingly the theme for the 2019 Second Sunday Series is Resilience and Resurgence. As we revitalize the Refuge oak woodlands, we turn an eye towards those that have shaped this landscape Since Time Immemorial. This year we will bring you five events as part of the Second Sunday Series, embracing topics such as Ancestors and Elders, Oaksploration, and of course the annual community favorite, Traditional Technologies Day in August. As always, our series will highlight issues most closely related to the work we do here at Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge. The series will take place on the Second Sunday of the month, beginning in May and ending in September.

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.

Habitat Restoration Updates & Events

Planting, Planning, and Patiently Waiting (Join us March 2nd - Keep reading for info!)

Habitat work on the Refuge in February focused primarily on creating Columbian white-tailed deer habitat. We started with clearing blackberries and downed debris from under mature Ash trees, followed by grass seeding and shrub/tree planting. This year we used six species of native shrubs and trees to create cover and browse. There is also the additional benefit of providing pollinators a longer blooming season, and birds with flora that produce large quantities of berries. If you are interested...Keep Reading...

Now you can sign up to volunteer on our website!
Check it out by clicking here!  

Looking for ways to support habitat restoration on the Refuge? Check out our Amazon Charity Wishlist for tools and gear we need for our restoration program. Help us by making small purchases that make a big difference (FYI, you have to have an Amazon account to view the link).

General Habitat Questions? Contact Keith Rutz or contact us for more information.

Seeking Business Alliance Members

As a member of the Friends of the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge Business Alliance, you invest in one of our urban metropolitan area’s most unique and diverse natural and cultural resources. Your partnership with the Friends helps ensure the future and success of this breathtaking natural resource. Invest in your community by becoming a part of our Business Alliance today!

Friends offers three Business Alliance levels:

Business Friend – $100
Business Ally – $500
Business Sustainer – $1,000

All Business Alliance levels include:
– Your business logo, linked to your website, displayed on our website;
– Your business name and logo listed in each issue of our monthly e-newsletter;
– Advance notice of our activities and events;
– The knowledge that your commitment helps support Friends’ programs and the Refuge for enjoyment by present and future generations!

As a Business Ally, we will feature your business in a dedicated welcome profile in our newsletter.
As a Business Sustainer, you may choose to adopt a specific Friends project (e.g. a habitat project or cultural project) as a specific commitment to the organization and an opportunity for additional recognition. Contact us about current options!

Click here to find out more!