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…

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…

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…

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…

The next regularly scheduled monthly meeting of the Friends of the Refuge Headwaters is Thursday, July 28. The meeting will be held at the Hiawatha Valley Marine Shelter on Lake West Winona near the boat ramp on Dacota Street. The meeting begins at 4:15pm and ends around 5:30. Click here for the agenda.

Friend and Volunteer Sue O’Brien led a great paddling event last week and will be offering another one on Thursday, August 4 beginning at 9:30am from the Verchota Landing on the Prairie Island Dike. Registration is required by contacting Leslie Watson. Click here for details. Ranger Katie from the LaCrosse District will be offering a…

You are invited to join the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge (Refuge) and Friends of the Refuge Headwaters (FORH) on a paddle through the backwaters of the Refuge near Winona, MN. Join fellow paddlers on Thursday, August 4, 2022 at 9:30 a.m. at the Verchota Landing for a two-hour adventure. This paddle…

You are invited to join the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge (Refuge) and Friends of the Refuge Headwaters (FORH) on a paddle through the backwaters of the Mississippi River near Winona, MN.  Join fellow paddlers on Thursday, July 14 at 9:30 a.m. at the McNally Landing for a two-hour adventure.  This paddle is recommended…

We would like to extend a big THANK YOU to Kwik Trip for donating 50 boxed lunches for our June 1, Project COMPASS (Community Education Adult Disability Program) fishing event and picnic that took place on Lake Winona. A thank you is also extended to all the volunteers from the Friends of the Refuge Headwaters…