Please add contact@ridgefieldfriends.org to your address book or safe senders list. You are receiving this email because you are either a member or signed up for our mailing list.  Image credit: Barbara Burgess, 2024, 1st Place, Landscape Category, Pro Photo Supply Refuge Photo Contest The Friends of Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge The latest updates & news | October 2026 The Ridgefield NWR Admin Office is open weekdays, as staff availability allows: 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM Office phone number: 360-887-4106 Community Nature Center Hours:  Hours and times for the Community Nature Center and the Office will vary over the next few months as we transition to offering this new experience at the Refuge. The staff of the Refuge and the Friends appreciate your patience. Learn More: Official Refuge Website BirdFest & Bluegrass - Ridgefield First SaturdayOctober 3, 2026 The festival to celebrate our beautiful Wildlife Refuge and our amazing community is finally here! Whether you're ready to tap your toes to bluegrass music, take a guided hike, make some crafts, vote in an art contest, learn from Refuge partners, or shop from a wide variety of vendors, there is something for everyone in Ridgefield on Saturday, October 3! Parking details and maps, schedule downloads, and links to all our partners can be found in one place. Expanded details can be found on our websites. Click the button below to plan your day. See you there! For the first time ever, our Photo Contest Winner Calendars will be available for purchase at BirdFest & Bluegrass! Just $20 - find them at our Davis Park booth, or head to the Carty Unit to pick one up and view the winning image gallery! While supplies last. Or order online, today!   The 2026 Red-winged Blackbird commemorative buttons are $5.00 at the businesses below now and at the Friends info booth in Davis Park during BirdFest & Bluegrass! While supplies last. Last Chance to submit to the Refuge Art Contest! Contest entries will be on view for voting at BirdFest & Bluegrass, Saturday, October 3, 2026! Drop-Off: October 2, 2026 This contest, a partnership between The Friends of Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge and the Ridgefield Art Association, is open to bird-loving visual artists of all ages and skill levels. We invite submissions of bird-themed artwork, particularly featuring species found within the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge. We welcome the following age categories:
 To enter, each participant must fill out all items on the entry form. Volunteer with the FriendsWe are looking for folks to assist during events, like BirdFest & Bluegrass, on October 3!  We need members and supporters willing to put on a metaphorical Friends volunteer hat, and help us spread the word about memberships, sponsorships, business perks, and all the work the Friends are doing on the Refuge! Storytime at the Refuge (click to view or download PDF) October 1 October 15 November 12 10:30-11:00 AMPut on your adventure boots and join your Ridgefield Community Library pals at the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge for Storytime! The shiny new Community Nature Center will welcome curious wanderers from 10AM to 12PM, with a library-led storytime from 10:30-11:00. The trails are also always calling for some daytime exploring fun! No need to sign up, just drop on by! Free Community WorkshopMason Bees Unwrapped: The Art & Science of Cocoon Harvesting November 14, 10:00 - 11:30 AM Discover the world of native Mason bees with Master Gardener and Master Melittologist Anne Bulger! Learn about their unique life cycle, peek inside nesting tubes, and watch a live demo on harvesting and cleaning cocoons to protect these pollinators from winter pests and diseases. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced host, you'll leave with practical tips to help native bees. Birding Enthusiasts Check out what bird species are being seen on the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge - both past and current archives - on our website. A Bee StoryBuild a Bee Garden, One Season at a Time October may seem like an odd time to think about bees. The buzz of summer is quieting, flowers are fading, and many of the native bees we...keep reading... -Anne Bulger, Friends of RNWR Board Member, & OSU Master Melittology Lead Instructor for the RNWR Complex Image of Yellow Monkeyflower Stay Involved:Join the Friends - Become a MemberAll members will receive a digital member card, a free optional tote bag, a sticker, and other perks. Members over $60 also gain access to the Soar into Wellness Program, & Members giving over $1000 are also included in a special website highlight!  Support While You Shop Get the whole family geared up and support Refuge conservation with every purchase. If you're looking for gorgeous nature and wildlife photography on jigsaw puzzles, we have you covered! More coming this fall!  When you link your Fred Meyer Rewards Card to the Friends, you help us earn donations from Fred Meyer Community Rewards. It's easy! Search Friends of Ridgefield NWR, #PK822  Friends Amazon Wishlist- Support our work and the Refuge's initiatives! Whether it's habitat restoration or BirdFest & Bluegrass, we'll feature items essential to efforts toward achieving conservation and community outreach goals. Friends Board MeetingsJoin the Friends of Ridgefield NWR Board for their monthly meeting. Meetings start at 5:00 PM every second Monday of the month and will be either virtual or in-person with a virtual option. Please contact us to find out how to join in! Board Meeting Dates 2026:
*moved due to a federal holiday or Board decision  Become a Business Alliance MemberAs a member of the Friends of the RNWR Business Alliance, you invest in one of our urban metropolitan area’s most unique and diverse natural and cultural resources. Find out more. Sponsors:Business Alliance Members:     In-Kind Support:   BirdFest & Bluegrass:           Granting Organizations & Partners            More Ways to HelpWant more updates on Refuge events & happenings? Follow the Friends on social media or our website by clicking the logos below! Stay connected when you're off the Refuge. Friends of Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge | PO BOX 1022 | Ridgefield, WA 98642 |
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Stay updated on Refuge events, news, and wildlife sightings!
Shop for items that the Friends and the Refuge Complex need to help with everything from habitat restoration to events like BirdFest & Bluegrass, and help support wildlife in little and big ways.
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Sign up for the Community Rewards program by linking your Fred Meyer Rewards Card to Friends of Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge (PK822). For more information, please visit the link below.
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