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Connecting Power of Community with Passion for Nature

Thanks to Everyone Who Came Out for Our Annual Meeting!

We were so excited to partner with 5440 for our annual meeting and the big reveal of our Restoration Bock Beer!  Thanks to everyone who joined us and had a taste of a beer that will help support the Refuge Stewards. We are looking forward to working with 5440 and and other community partners in 2018, as well as finding new ways to engage our community on and off the Refuge.  Please help us with our strategic planning work by taking 10 minutes to answer a few questions about how we are doing.  Take the survey here.
 
Congratulations Mesha!

We are excited to announce that Mesha Wood has been appointed to a new Park Ranger position stationed at Steigerwald Lake!  We have been without a full-time permanent Fish and Wildlife staff person at Steigerwald since Jim Clapp, the former Refuge Manager, retired in 2014. Mesha has a number of years under her belt working with FWS, but has been stationed out of the Ridgefield and Tualatin offices. She brings a solid background in natural history interpretation and her knowledge of design concepts and techniques has given her System wide exposure as an NCTC instructor on the subject matter.  She has significant experience in volunteer coordination and recreation management, and has been a great resource for Ridgefield NWR as a part time Park Ranger for the Portland/Vancouver Urban Refuge Program.  Mesha and our Volunteer Coordinator Jared will be working closely together to increase our visitor services and maintenance of the Gorge Refuges.  Mesha has been an incredible asset in her previous positions within the Complex and we are so happy to have her working full time at Steigerwald!

 
So Many Exciting Events to Look Forward to!

Come out this Saturday, March 3rd for Wild in the City:Refuge Open House at the Three Rivers Community Library, 800 NE Tenney Rd Bldg C, Vancouver. Staff and volunteers will engage people of all ages in learning about local wildlife, on-going conservation projects, volunteering, and upcoming events in the area. Hands-on activities, informational booths and light refreshments will be provided from 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM

This is a great time for birding!  Join leader Ken Pitts for easy and interesting ways to learn about the amazing world of our feathered friends during 2 Bird Walks - March 3rd at 8 am, and April 7th at 7am. Space is limited - please sign up on Eventbrite. 

We are kicking off a Fireside Chat Series at 5440 on March 22nd at 6 pm.  In this first event, Wilson Cady will give the history of the Washougal area and the importance of Steigerwald for Wildlife. 

Volunteer Naturalist Training-  Are you interested in connecting the community with nature out at Steigerwald Lake or Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge?  Our free Volunteer Naturalist Training is a great place to start!  It will be each Saturday in April from 10 am -3 pm and topics will range from Oak habitat to wetland environments and everything that lives there.  Locations vary between Ridgefield and Steigerwald. Contact jared_strawderman@fws.gov for more information or to sign up.

And the 2nd Annual Eco-Blitz is coming!  Get ready for another all-day extravaganza documenting speicies on the Refuge with expert-guided walks!  This free and family-friendly event will be especially important this year as we think ahead to the Steigerwald Floodplain Project expected to begin construction next year.  Save the Date- Sunday, May 6th! 

Photo courtesy of Brette Greenwood-Wing
Deadline for Youth Photo Contest Entries is May 1st!
 
The contest, open to kids age 10-18, and sponsored by Pro Photo Supply, is in its 8th year!  We are looking for creativity and diversity in subject matter this year.  To help inspire kids, we are hosting several Youth Photography Walks: Saturday, March 10th at 9 am; Friday, March 16th at 5:30 pm;  Thursday, April 5th at 5:30 pm; and Saturday, April 28th at 9 am. Walk leader, Ken Pitts, offers techniques on taking incredible photos from macro to action shots. He has been birding at Steigerwald for the past 5 years and has seen and photographed 154 of the 200 species of birds seen on the Refuge.  Sign up on Eventbrite. 

For all the details on the contest, including how to submit photos, please visit the ProPhoto Supply Contest Page. 

Photo by Riley Kankelberg, Honorable Mention 2016 Youth Photo Contest
Copyright © 2018 Columbia Gorge Refuge Stewards, All rights reserved.


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