Volunteers Needed – Project COMPASS

We are scheduled to host the clients from Project COMPASS for fishing and a picnic on Wednesday, June 1 from 5:00 – 6:15 p.m. The event will be held at the Hiawatha Valley Marine shelter, 527 West Lake Park Drive in Winona (next to the boat ramp on West Lake Winona). We haven’t held this…

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Friends April Meeting and Other News

Refuge Friends and Volunteers, the next Friends meeting will be held on Thursday, April 28 beginning at 4:15 p.m. at the Refuge office (102 Walnut Street, Suite 205) and there will also be a call-in option. Email Mary Stefanski ([email protected]) if you would like the link to attend virtually. Click here for the meeting agenda. April…

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Bank Fishing Improvements Close Halfmoon Landing

The Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge will be closing the Halfmoon Landing located at 12067 622nd Street near Kellogg, MN on an intermittent basis for approximately one month beginning April 25, 2022. The landing will be closed while AMG Construction Company of Banning, California replaces three bank fishing platforms. No walk-in access…

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Volunteers Needed for “The Great Mississippi River Cleanup”

Celebrate Earth Day with the “The Great Mississippi River Cleanup!” The Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge and Friends of the Refuge Headwaters will host the river cleanup which is sponsored by Living Lands and Waters of East Moline, IL.  The cleanup will stage from the Latsch Island Recreational Area (beach) across the Mississippi…

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March Friends Meeting

Refuge Friends and Volunteers, the next meeting of the Friends of the Refuge Headwaters will be this Thursday, March 24th beginning at 4:15 p.m. at the Refuge Office (102 Walnut Street, Suite 205). If you would like to attend but are not comfortable meeting in person, a virtual option will be available. Please email Mary…

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Refuge Updates

Here are a few time-sensitive items to share with our friends and volunteers: If you’ve been waiting to purchase an America the Beautiful Park Pass they have finally arrived! Annual passes are $80; senior annual passes (persons 62 and older) are $20; senior life-time are $80; and disabled persons access passes are free. You can…

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Looking for a Job this Summer?

The Winona District of the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge (Refuge) will be hiring up- to four students this summer to work on a Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) crew. The YCC program will begin Monday, June 20 and end Friday, August 12, 2022. Crew members will work a 40-hour week, Monday through…

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February Friends Meeting

Refuge Friends and Volunteers, the next meeting of the Friends of the Refuge Headwaters will be held at the Refuge Office (102 Walnut Street, Suite 205) beginning at 4:15 p.m. on Thursday, February 24th. Masks will be required. If you would like to attend but are not comfortable meeting in person, a virtual option will…

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Great Backyard Bird Count

This year’s Great Backyard Bird Count is scheduled for February 18-21, 2022. This is a world-wide count that can take as little as 15 minutes and can be completed from the comfort of your own home by randomly counting (and identifying) birds at your bird feeder. Details can be found at https://www.birdcount.org/

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Friends Treasurer

We would like to welcome new Friends Treasurer Margaret (Megs) Hurkman. We want to take this opportunity to thank outgoing Treasurer Bev Spande for her years of service to the Refuge and Friends. Bev has held the President, Vice President and Treasurer positions in her 15+ years of membership/volunteerism with the Refuge. While Bev will…

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