We started off in April with the Kenai Peninsula Sportsman Show and went right through Wildlife Refuge week in October. We put an outreach emphasis on the Kenai-Soldotna area this year to build support for the Kenai Refuge.
HIDDEN LAKE CAMPGROUND ALASKA PROFESSIONAL
With the help of a grant from the National Fish & Wildlife Foundation, we were able to buy identifying vests, a new pop-up display, a tablecloth, and a screen to show images all of which gave us a much more professional look. It is always fun to talk to the public about the work Refuges and Friends do, and we had new tools to do that with this year. The Shorebird Festival which is co-sponsored by Friends brought in nearly 70 new members. Sportsman Show, River Festival, and even the 75th Anniversary of the Battle of Attu – we were there talking up Friends. From Fairbanks to Homer and Anchorage to Soldotna we staffed outreach tables at 9 events spreading the word about Refuges and Friends and always gaining at least a couple of new members. It was a great year for Outreach with membership skyrocketing and new folks stepping up to help out at events. I look forward to another “friends” activity and the memories I made at Dolly Varden cabin are precious.” All are cute and cozy and make winter activities fun.Īnd we had fun! Rose Lahti of Anchorage on her very first Friends event said “The best outdoor experiences are with like-minded souls and there are no strangers when it comes to sharing what we enjoy doing, just “friends”. The Kenai Refuge cabins have opened up the refuge to use in winter.
Stay tuned for more Discovery Trips and Volunteer Projects on the Kenai. Kenai is the drive to refuge for Kenai/Soldotna, Homer, Anchorage and the Valley. Yes, we talked into the night about future fun and good work we can do on the Kenai and other refuges.
Sandy Kerns from Soldotna, said “A hidden lake, snowshoeing abilities, how much weight can we pull in a sled across a frozen lake, babbling water in an open creek, how good food tastes prepared camp style, new friends, and that planning service projects for Alaska Wildlife Refuges makes one feel connected to the land and community.” Five Friends from Anchorage, Soldotna, Homer and Indiana including intrepid leader Tim Shipman made the trek in. However, the cozy cabin was already reserved for Friends, so we weren’t going to waste that opportunity. The February 1 – 3, weekend didn’t turn out quite as planned because the community ice fishing event we were there to help with was canceled because of the shutdown. Snow fell soft and deep as we snowshoed back across Dolly Varden Lake after an awesome Friends’ Discovery Trip to the Kenai Refuge’s Dolly Varden public use cabin. By the “Dolly Varden Cabin Gang,” Poppy, Sandy, Ellen, Rose and Tim
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