Friends Of Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge

THE MISSION OF THE FRIENDS OF OTTAWA NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE IS TO INCREASE AWARENESS AND THE CAPABILITY OF THE OTTAWA NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE BY ENGAGING OTHERS AND ADVOCATING FOR CONSERVATION INITIATIVES.

PUBLIC USE PROJECTS: FONWR CREATES A VISIBLE IMPACT ON OTTAWA NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE BY CREATING AND IMPROVING PUBLIC USE AREAS FOR THE REFUGE'S 360,000+ ANNUAL VISITORS. FUNDS THIS YEAR CREATED AN ADA COMPLIANT PAVILION AT THE NEHLS MEMORIAL NATURE PRESERVE ON CATAWBA ISLAND, PROVIDED LAWN AND GARDEN MAINTENANCE AT WEST HARBOR LANDING, PURCHASED AN INTERPRETIVE TRAILER TO CONNECT WITH AUDIENCES ON THE REFUGE AND IN THE COMMUNITY, FUNDED A 15 PASSENGER ELECTRIC SHUTTLE AND LED 25 TOURS THROUGH THE REFUGE, AND CREATED A MURAL AT THE TRAILHEAD PARKING LOT. ADDITIONALLY, GRANTS FUNDED THE CONSTRUCTION OF A 1400' ADA COMPLIANT BOARDWALK AND CRUSHED GRAVEL TRAIL AT THE FOX NATURE PRESERVE AND SIGN AND BROCHURE CREATION TO OFFICIALLY LAUNCH THE PORTAGE RIVER WATER TRAIL STRETCHING FROM PEMBERVILLE TO LAKE ERIE.

YOUTH PROGRAMS: IT IS A PRIORITY OF FONWR TO CONNECT YOUTH WITH ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES ON THE REFUGE. -- INTERNSHIPS: FONWR OFFERS INTERNSHIPS FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS OR RECENT GRADUATES PURSUING DEGREES IN CONSERVATION FIELDS. INTERNS ASSIST WITH VISITOR SERVICES, BIOLOGY, LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND MAINTENANCE PROGRAMS. THIS YEAR FONWR PROVIDED 7 INTERNSHIPS FOR A TOTAL OF 3,196 HOURS OF WORK AND FUNDED TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES FOR INTERNS. --CAREER PATHWAYS: TOGETHER WITH THE UNITED STATES FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE, FONWR DEVELOPED A COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT TO CREATE THE CAREER PATHWAYS PROGRAM TO ALLOW INTERNS OPPORTUNITY FOR ADVANCEMENT AND SELECTED OUR FIRST LEVEL 2 AND LEVEL 3 PARTICIPANTS. -- ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION: FONWR OFFERS ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES ON THE REFUGE. THIS YEAR FONWR HOSTED AN ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION TEACHER'S WORKSHOP MADE POSSIBLE BY AN OHIO ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION FUND (OHIO EPA) GRANT DISBURSED IN 2021.

HABITAT RESTORATION AND MANAGEMENT: RESTORATION AND MAINTENANCE WORK IS COMPLETED BY FONWR AS RESOURCES ALLOW TO SUSTAIN THE GLOBALLY IMPORTANT STOPOVER HABITATS AT OTTAWA NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE. TOGETHER WITH THE PARTNERS FOR FISH AND WILDLIFE PROGRAM, FONWR CREATED A COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT TO RESTORE WETLAND HABITAT ON PRIVATE LANDS. IN 2022, FUNDS WERE USED TO TREAT 846 ACRES FOR INVASIVE SPECIES. FONWR ALSO SERVED AS THE FISCAL SPONSOR FOR AN H2OHIO PROJECT WORKING WITH THE UNITED STATES FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE AND THE OHIO DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES TO RECONNECT 155 ACRES OF COASTAL WETLAND HABITAT TO LAKE ERIE HYDROLOGY AT CEDAR POINT NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE. IN 2022 FONWR ALSO PURCHASED AN 11.9 ACRE ADDITION TO THE REFUGE'S TURKEY RUN UNIT. ADDITIONALLY FONWR FUNDED BIRD FRIENDLY FACILITY MARKETING MATERIALS.

FONWR SUPPORTS THE MISSION OF THE OTTAWA NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE BY HELPING TO PROTECT 10,600 ACRES FOR WILDLIFE AND FOSTERING ITS USE BY 360,000 VISITORS ANNUALLY. THROUGH MARKETING AND OUTREACH, FONWR SHARES INFORMATION ONLINE ABOUT THE REFUGE AND FRIENDS GROUP THROUGH EMAIL UPDATES, SOCIAL MEDIA, AND THE WWW.FRIENDSOFOTTAWANWR.ORG WEBSITE WHICH ALSO FEATURES THE ROOKERY NATURE STORE ONLINE. PRINTED QUARTERLY NEWSLETTERS AND ANNUAL REPORTS SHARE NEWS ABOUT REFUGE PROJECTS, ACCOMPLISHMENTS, AND PROGRAM UPDATES TO KEEP VISITORS CONNECTED. OUTREACH EVENTS SUCH AS THE DISCOVER OTTAWA DAY 5K, CHILI COOK-OFF, CARS FOR CRITTERS, KIDS FISHING DAYS, YOUTH WATERFOWL HUNT WORKSHOP, AND PUDDLES KIDS CLUB BRING NEW USER GROUPS TO THE REFUGE GROUNDS TO DIVERSIFY VISITATION AND DEEPEN COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT.