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Cathlapotle Plankhouse Spring Opening and Celebration!
(click poster to learn more, view larger, or to download)
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Annual Volunteer Naturalist Training Series
Spring is almost here and that means that we are recruiting our next class of volunteer naturalists, interpreters, and educators! Join our team to connect people of all ages to their local public lands.
10am - 3pm
4 Saturdays in April
(click poster for larger and to download)
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Volunteers Wanted!
 The Ridgefield Lions club has been a tremendous supporter of the Friends of Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, offering sponsorship as well as volunteer hours and providing vendor services at BirdFest. As a thank you to them, the Friends like to offer some volunteer time to help them during their big events. Volunteer shifts run just a couple of hours, learn more about upcoming event dates where you can help out, and sign up today!
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Community Nature Center Update
 Great plans are continuing toward completion for the Office and Community Environmental Center for the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge.
The architectural and engineering firm, CTA, out of Boise is working with all of the information provided by the community, the FWS and Refuge staff to produce drawings that will reach the 35% complete goal. These plans include an office for the Refuge Staff and the Friends Staff. Current designs include two classrooms, a bookstore, an exhibit area, environmental education room and restrooms with outside access. On the west side of the Community Nature Center, facing the Refuge, there is a planned observation deck to view the Refuge.
Fitting in to the improvements on the Refuge the City of Ridgefield received a grant to replace the Main Street bridge over Gee Creek that will allow for safer auto traffic and walking access to the Refuge from downtown Ridgefield. Work on that project will begin in 2018.
Watch for updates on the Friends website!
(Image: Your future Community Nature Center location!)
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Spring Cleaning on the Refuge
March was full of cleaning and .png "Article Image") preparing the Refuge for this years events! Friends and Refuge staff worked with volunteers to clean up the Cathlapotle Plankhouse and some of our storage space, gearing up for future events and more! Check out some before and after shots here...
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From the River 'S' Contact Station
Meet your Sunday volunteer, John Krause
 John Krause started volunteering at the Contact Station on the River 'S' unit about six years ago. Having retired from an administrative education profession, he was looking for a volunteer opportunity at a place that would allow him to be close to nature, enjoy the company of people and provide flexibility so he wouldn’t miss out on the hobbies he planned to enjoy in retirement. For the last year, he has shared the Sunday duties with another volunteer and enjoys that very much. “It gives us an opportunity to engage more people during the busiest hours of the day.” Keep Reading...
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Wild in the City Open House Recap
Success!
As an experiment to educate folks about local Refuges and drum up new volunteers for the upcoming season, we took our show on the road as a Refuge Complex/Family to the Cascade Park Community Library in Vancouver. Stewards, Friends, volunteers and Service Staff filled the community room and chatted with library visitors about restoration projects, archaeology, culture, recreational opportunities, native wildlife, volunteering, and our great support groups. Keep Reading...
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Columbia Gorge Refuge Stewards Photo Contest and Photo Walk
 As the Columbia Gorge Refuge Stewards 2017 Youth Photo Contest deadline nears May 1st, they have scheduled one more Guided Photography Walk for youth to get a leg up on the competition!
Who: Youth ages 12-18
When: April 14th 5pm-7pm
Where: Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge
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Ridgefield Refuge Complex
News & Events
Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge
River 'S' Entrance Road Updates
.jpg) This winter has been a challenge with weather related Refuge closures and landslides along the entrance road. The last landslide on March 3rd creates a bit of a challenge for the Refuge. Most landslides fall from the uphill side of the entrance road onto the roadway. These are removed by Refuge maintenance staff as they occur. The recent slide was from the shoulder of the road into the creek bottom. The repair of this slide will require reconstructing the slope from the bottom up. This will be a costly engineered repair. As a precaution, barriers have been placed along a portion of the road to keep cars away from the new slide. We ask for extra driving caution along this narrow segment of road. Please drive slowly and use pullouts to yield to oncoming traffic.
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Summer Youth Employment Opportunity
The Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge is recruiting for summer Youth Conservation Corp. members. This opportunity is open for youth 15-18 interested in working on the Refuges to assist with a variety of natural resource, maintenance, and recreation projects. This is a great opportunity to learn about the Refuges and learn how the Refuge operates. Applications and eligibility requirement are available on the Refuge website. Applications are due May 15. If you have any questions about the YCC summer program, please call the Refuge office at (360) 887-4106.
New Port Kiosk and Access Trail
.JPG) Some of you may have noticed a new kiosk for the Refuge near the Port of Ridgefield. This seasonal trail and it's connection to the Carty Unit is in progress, as of right now the loop does not connect. We will keep you updated!
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
Update & Events
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Upcoming Events:
Celebrate the 17th Annual Critter Count on Saturday, April 8th!
Click poster to view larger or for more info!
Confluence Story Gathering - Portland
Confluence Story Gatherings are story-driven discussions that elevate indiginous voices in our understanding of the Columbia River system. The discussions are framed by video excerpts from interviews with native elders and leaders along the Columbia River system. Thanks to the Oregon Community Foundation!
Date:
April 15, 2017
1-3 pm
Location:
Alberta Rose Theatre, Portland, OR
More Information
Wisdom of the Elders: The Native Wisdom Film Festival
Wisdom of the Elders, a Portland cultural organization, records and preserves the history and arts — music, dance, storytelling and traditional arts — of exemplary Native Americans and shares them through a variety of multimedia productions and public events throughout the region. Continue Reading...
Date:
Saturday, April 15th, 2017
12-6pm
Location:
Whitsell Auditorium
1219 SW Park Ave, Portland, Oregon 97205
Volunteer Enrichment
Our March Volunteer Enrichment outing included a herpetology walk and talk on the Refuge! We hope to see you at the next one- Become a Volunteer Today!
Questions? Contact Sarah at Sarah_Hill@fws.gov
or call (360) 887-4106
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Habitat Restoration
Updates & Events
The rising Columbia had us scrambling for higher ground on the Refuge in March. Watching creeks and lakes fill to overflowing we are reminded of the influence the river has on our community. The cherry and Indian plum blossoms also remind us that we are moving into a new season here in the Northwest. With the arrival of spring, the Habitat Program activities turn to detection and treatment of invasive species. There will be invasive species id workshops in April at the Ridgefield and Steigerwald Refuges. Anyone interested in helping out with invasive species detection and mapping should attend one of the workshops. For folks working in the Gorge the workshop is scheduled for April 17th, at 9 AM-11 AM. The Ridgefield workshop will be on April 21st, at 9 AM-11 AM. Please email Jared if interested in attending the Gorge workshop at: Strawderman.jared@gmail.com or keith_rutz@fws.gov if interested in attending the Ridgefield workshop.
For questions or to sign up for a volunteer event give us a call at 360-877-3883 or email keith_rutz@fws.gov
(click this poster to view larger and download)
Questions? Contact Keith_Rutz@fws.gov for more information
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Online Store Now Open!
The Friends of Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge are proud to announce the opening of a new webstore! Now you can order our 50th Anniversary  Gear- the Pelican Brewing Company 50th Anniversary T-shirt, and our Photo Contest Calendar, all online!
Check out our Shop for links to the store and more info, or click HERE to go directly to the store!
Proceeds help support our unique education and restoration programs at Ridgefield National Wildlife 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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Help the Friends and the Refuge When You Shop Online
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.
You Can Also 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.
Thanks for being an EcoShopper and helping the Refuge!
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Header Photo Credit: Wiiliam Lee, 2010 Photo Contest Honorable Mention
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