Wildlife Festival pictures

The campfire (with sing along music) provides opportunity to roast a marshmallow and the Hospitality tent was busy with lunch activities including the Birthday cake celebrating 45th year the refuge has existed. Also in Hospitality Tent was silent auction items donated generously by local supporters of the refuge.

Petting the horses at end of the ride or posing for pictures with Major and Mika are always popular activities.

The Friends gift shop and Face Painting activity are always busy during the festival.

Puddles was seen all around the Festival sight and was found to be very interesting by Duke and Spike, two of the horses pulling a wagon for rides. Word has it that Puddles did not take a wagon ride this year.

The Raptor Center presentation was overflowing as usual.

The last Horse drawn wagon ride of the Festival happened just after a very brief rainfall (just sprinkles really). It didn't dampen anyones spirits but did provide for beautiful rainbow over the refuge at the end of the day.

Horse drawn wagon ride was as popular as ever. Over 600 people took rides this year. Major and Mika did the work pulling on this wagon as Mel drives the team. Friends volunteer interpretors ride along and answer questions and talk of refuge history, events and activities, and the mission of the refuge staff to ensure the future of the refuge.

Geocaching was a new activity for this years festival. Kind of a high tech scavenger hunt the participants were able to borrow a GPS unit and go around within walking distance to find caches. This activity is not allowed on federal lands on normal basis so special thanks go to Anne Sittauer, refuge manager to approve this one day event only.

Fall Colors in Late September

Fall colors along trails and roadways of the Sherburne Nationals Wildlife Refuge

TO SEE THESE BIRDS (and many more) JOIN BARB KULL AND DOUG STUCKI AS THEY LEAD THE FALL BIRD TOUR SEPTEMBER 4, 8 AM STARTING AT THE OLD SCHOOLHOUSE









Visit the Friends of Sherburne Website Events page for details

http://www.exploresherburne.org/

Regional Friends Conference April 16 - 18, 2010

Representatives of Friends of Sherburne, along with Anne Sittauer and Nancy Haugen, attended the Region 3 Friends Conference in LaCrosse, Wisconsin recently. Many presentations focused on Friends activities, funding and teaching methods, Fish and Wildlife Service updates, NWRA speakers . Great opportunities to network with other Friend groups and those in the agencies we all work with. Early morning birding opportunities led by local guides made for complete weekend.

Sue Hix presenting along with Ron Jenson of Friends of Tamarack NWR

Many booths set up to review on other Friends groups gives good chance to share ideas on our many activities

Teaching methods for environmental education takes on many forms. Here are several outdoor sessions presenting new and useful approach to common topics.

Your Friends representatives looking well educated at the end of the conference.

**http://www.exploresherburne.org/

Animal Tracks seen in School House

The Natures Circle Group meeting on April 11 studied animal tracks. Many plaster casts of actual tracks were presented for study and discussion. Next meeting is May 2 and is on Feng Shui in Nature.

Do you know what animal creates the track in the photo?

**http://www.exploresherburne.org/

Snowshoe Adventure February 27, 2010

Two groups of around 40 snowshoers attended the Snowshoe Adventure held by the Friends of Sherburne. We traveled along some well packed trails and in some open fields, looking at signs of wildlife, plant communities, discussing the refuge and just enjoying the nice day.

Obvious beaver cuttings were seen along one pond, tracks identified ranged from mice to coyote and turkey. A Bald Eagle greeted the morning group while the afternoon tour witnessed a Trumpeter Swan leisurely swimming in the St. Francis River.

Thanks to Princeton School district for use of additional snowshoes to complement the supply at the Sherburne Refuge. Options were varied for style of snowshoe and type of binding. Many attending had not been on snowshoes and/or had not seen the refuge before this event. Options in length of hike and length of time outside were appreciated.

Since this is a new activity the Friends offer, we are looking for comments on how to improve the experience. If you attended on February 27, what would you like to see different for next year? We are considering offering an event like this each month of January and February in 2011. Would you like to have more opportunities to experience the refuge this way?

Thanks to Bill Krumholz for the pictures above.

RoverView1
http://www.exploresherburne.org/

February 6 Winterfest Event had record turnout of 1250 people. This included US Senator Amy Klobuchar, MN Senator Lisa Fobbe, and US Fish and Wildlife Region 3 Director Tom Melius. The Senator toured the many activities including Snowshoe Hike and Bird Seed Cone making along with attending the afternoon Raptor presentation on Owls.

A beautiful winters day with occasional winds kept all in attendance moving to get to each activity. The serving of the cake celebrating the Refuges 45th Birthday was received well with lunch and silent auction in the Hospitality Tent.

Photos courtesy of Ken Brennan
Post by: Rover View1

http://www.exploresherburne.org/

Friends Annual Meeting January 12, 2010

The 2010 Annual Meeting of Friends was held at the Old Schoolhouse January 12 at 7 pm. Well attended meeting included financial and activities report from 2009, as well as expected budget for 2010. The transition for Sherburne Friends group from that of efforts to help finance the building of Discovery Center (pre-financial fall) to that of focus on "Discovery Center without Walls" (post financial fall) to better encourage environmental education was covered by Susan Hix. The significant efforts in reaching out to communities and schools in the area have seen results. Very ambitious and exciting plans to develop educational programs and integrate them locally are well supported by the election of 5 new board members during this meeting.
Volunteers are welcome to join in the rewarding and learning process of meeting our future goals in support of the Sherburne Wildlife Refuge mission.

President Lee Johnson discussed the variety of activities carried out by Friends members and the list of regional supporters, both individual and corporate.

Sue Hix described the change in emphasis this past year to harness our Friends group strengths in reaching out to Schools, Businesses and Chambers of Commerce in the area.

Refuge Manager Anne Sittauer addresses the group, expressing thanks for the many ways the Friends activities contribute to the Sherburne Wildlife Refuge mission.

Rover View1

http://www.exploresherburne.org/

Women's Nature's Circles

The first Sunday of each month has brought together a group of women interested in exploring more about the refuge and nature in general. This activity is open to all interested women and meets at the schoolhouse. Check out the flyer at Whats Happening at the Refuge Now page on the Friends of Sherburne website (exploresherburne.org) for more information.
The pictures below are from the January 3, 2010 meeting which included a snowshoe adventure. Temperatures near zero didn't cool the spirits of this group!

RoverView1
http://www.exploresherburne.org/