It’s a Bike/Hike!

Thursday, October 20, 2022 | 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. TREMPEALEAU REFUGE Join Wendy Schneider (retired high school teacher and Minnesota Master Naturalist) and Steve Winter (Wildlife Biologist for the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge) for a fun bike ride and hike through the refuge.  We will see beautiful fall colors and identify migrating…

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Refuge Updates

Friends Meeting: Tomorrow, Thursday, September 22, 4:15 p.m. at the Hiawatha Valley Marines Shelter on West Lake Winona (Dacota Street). Click here for the agenda. Swan Watch Bus Tour: The swan watch bus tour is scheduled for Tuesday, November 15 departing from the Huff Street Visitor Center in Winona at 9:00 a.m. and returning at 2:30…

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2022 Swan Watch

The Friends of the Refuge Headwaters will offer a bus tour to view the fall migration and changing colors of the Upper Mississippi River from 9:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, November 15, 2022. This will be the first offering of the tour since 2019 so reserve your seats early! Participants will have the opportunity to…

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Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge Recognizes Volunteers

The Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife & Fish Refuge (Refuge) Winona offices recently recognized Tim Connolly of Pickwick, MN as the 2022 Volunteer of the Year. Tim volunteers his time helping with fishing events, picking up trash, and completing European buckthorn removal around the Refuge boat landings over the winter. While volunteer opportunities were limited…

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Friends September Meeting

The next Friends of the Refuge Headwaters meeting will take place at the Hiawatha Valley Marines Shelter on West Lake Winona on Thursday, September 22 beginning at 4:15 p.m. Click here for the agenda. See you there!

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Refuge Updates

Volunteers Needed: Our next (and final for the year) Project COMPASS fishing event will be on Wednesday, September 7 at the Huff Street fishing dock (by the Winona Visitor Center). The event takes place from 5:00 – 6:15 p.m., please arrive around 4:30 to help with setup. This is a fishing-only event, no food is served…

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Friends August Meeting

The next Friends of the Refuge Headwaters meeting will be held on Thursday, August 25 beginning at 4:15 p.m. at the Hiawatha Valley Marines Shelter on West Lake Winona (Dacota Street). Click here for the tentative agenda. And as a reminder, the Friends will be the special recipients of the Jazz Jam “tip jar” at…

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August Jazz Jam Supports Friends of the Refuge Headwaters

Whether you paddle, hike, fish, or love birds, the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge in Winona’s backyard is a world-class wildlife area that also offers fantastic recreation opportunities. This month’s Jazz Jam at Island City Brewing Company on Sunday, August 21, 2022, from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. will support the Friends of…

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Amphibians and Reptiles Presentation by Allen Blake Sheldon

Friends of Trempealeau Refuge are hosting a presentation of Allen Blake Sheldon. This free program will be on Thursday, August 11th starting at 6:30pm at the Outdoor Wonders Learning Center, Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge. Trempealeau resident Sheldon will be introducing his recently released book Amphibians and Reptiles of Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan. Adults and students…

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