Refuge Updates

Youth Conservation Corps Crew Applications Open – The Winona District will be hiring three high school aged students (15-18) to participate in the Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) program again this year. Applications (attached) will be accepted through April 14, 2023. The announcement is also attached. The crew works for eight weeks, June 20 – August 11, on a variety of outdoor tasks. This includes maintaining the boat landings (mowing, painting, picking up trash), biological monitoring (plant and animal surveys), invasive species control (pulling plants), general maintenance (replacing signs, installing benches), and every Friday is reserved for a fun educational day.

Refuge Centennial Photo Contest – The Friends of the Refuge Headwaters are sponsoring a photo contest to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the Refuge (flyer attached). The contest is open to amateur photographers and includes a special youth (ages 16 and under) category. The deadline for entries is October 27, 2023. Cash prizes will be awarded for the winning entries which will then become part of a traveling exhibit during 2024. The public will vote for their favorite entry throughout the year and a Best of Show will be awarded.

Friends Meeting – The next Friends Meeting will be held on Thursday, March 30 beginning at 4:15 p.m. at the Refuge office, 102 Walnut Street, Suite 205, Winona.

 

Opportunities from Trempealeau NWR:

Family Nature Walk  

Come join Nora Woodworth, Happy Dancing Turtle staff member for some outdoor fun! Families will have the opportunity to explore the refuge as they hike through Pine Creek Dike.

When: Saturday April 8, 2023, 10:00am

Where: Event participants will meet at the Observation Deck.

*This is a free event in partnership with Happy Dancing Turtle. To reserve a spot please contact, Nora Woodworth at driftless@happydancingturtle.org or by calling 218-587-2303.

World Migratory Bird Day  

Each year the Refuge celebrates WMBD to encourage support for migratory bird conservation. The theme for this year’s installment of the annual celebration is “Water Sustaining Bird Life”. Join us for a few hours or for the whole celebration! This is an event for the whole family!

When: Saturday May 13, 2023, festival runs from 7:00 am – 12:30 pm

Where: Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge

*Save the date! More detailed information about the WMBD festival to come!

2023 Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge Photo Contest

The Friends of Trempealeau will be hosting a photo contest to recognize nature photographers and showcase the beauty of the refuge. The contest runs the length of the calendar year, multiple categories available, entry deadline: December 1, 2023.

Refuge Centennial Photo Contest – Call for Entries

The Friends of the Refuge Headwaters (FORH) are encouraging all amateur photographers to get outside and capture the beauty of the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge (Refuge) for a Centennial photo contest. The Refuge, which was established in 1924 through the efforts of Will Dilg, founder of the Izaak Walton League of… Continue Reading

Friends February Meeting

The next regular meeting of the Friends of the Refuge Headwaters will be Thursday, MARCH 2, beginning at 4:15 p.m. at the Refuge office (102 Walnut Street, Suite 205). Click here for a PDF of the agenda. There are some fun events coming up if you want to be part of the planning process! (The meeting… Continue Reading

Ice Fishing for Kids

The annual Kid’s Ice Fishing Event co-sponsored by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Friends of the Refuge Headwaters is scheduled for Saturday, January 28, 2023 from 10:00 a.m. to noon at the McNally Boat Landing on Prairie Island Drive, Winona, MN. This year’s event is also supported by the Eldon Skurdahl Memorial and… Continue Reading

Kids Ice Fishing Event Planning

We will be bringing back the Kid’s Ice Fishing event at McNally Landing on Saturday, January 28, 2023. We will hold a planning meeting on Thursday, January 12 beginning at 4:15 p.m. at the Refuge office (102 Walnut Street, Suite 205, Winona). Anyone interested in helping with the event is welcome to attend the meeting,… Continue Reading

Volunteers Needed for Invasive Buckthorn Removal

Volunteers are needed Wednesday Jan 4 and Wednesday Jan 11 to help with invasive buckthorn removal at McNally Landing. Biologist Froehly will be cutting buckthorn from 9am to 3pm each day, though volunteers can choose to help for half a day, or even a couple hours—any time is helpful! Volunteers will be pulling cut buckthorn… Continue Reading

Questions? Email forhwinona@gmail.com

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