Upcoming NWR Week events: Missisquoi's Walk for the Wild
Celebrate National Wildlife Refuge Week, October 12-19, by joining our mission to support both wildlife and human well-being!
What is 'Walk for the Wild'?
Walk for the Wild is a national event to bring people together for wildlife and their local national wildlife refuge. Join a movement of people protecting thriving ecosystems and enjoying time outside. Walk for the Wild's aim is to get thousands of people moving across the US in support of our national wildlife refuges. Your participation will help preserve these vital habitats and promote a healthier, more connected world. Ready to make a difference? Lace up your shoes and let's get moving for a great cause!
Visit Our Walk for the Wild Webpage to Register: support.americaswildliferefuges.org/event/the-2024-walk-for-the-wild-missisquoi/e614186.
Select a free 5K Challenge event to participate in - you can bird or walk or canoe or kayak!
Boost Your Impact by Making an Optional Donation. Donations made September 9th - October 31st via our Walk for the Wild donation form will be matched by the Walk for the Wild Amplifier Fund and all that support stays local and goes directly to Missisquoi!
Register your friends and family and then come out to Missisquoi NWR on October 13th to enjoy the Missisquoi Wildlife Fair and complete your 5K Challenge!
10:00AM
Missisquoi Watershed Management
As part of our National Wildlife Refuge Week festivities, the Friends of Missisquoi welcome Karen Bates from the VT Department of Environmental Conservation to discuss the management of the Missisquoi River watershed. Learn about how the Agency of Natural Resources develops watershed management plans for the Missisquoi River. The strategies support enhanced stewardship of the landscape draining towards the river to reduce pollutant loading and protect the ecosystems that play an important role in enhancing flood resilience. The speaker, Karen Bates, watershed planner for the Water Investment Division has worked collaboratively with watershed partners to develop these plans over the last 20 years. This is one of a series of presentations at our Missisquoi Wildlife Fair. Visit friendsofmissisquoi.org/calendar for the schedule and details of the day's events.
11:00AM
Becoming a Friend of Northern Lake Champlain
As part of our National Wildlife Refuge Week festivities, the Friends of Missisquoi welcome Bridget Butler from the Friends of Northern Lake Champlain. The FNLC staff will share their work locally to improve water quality in the region and share simple ways you can take action at home and in your community. This is one of a series of presentations at our Missisquoi Wildlife Fair. Visit friendsofmissisquoi.org/calendar for the schedule and details of the day's events.
12:30PM
Foraging 101
Like hunting, gathering native edible plants and fungi for sustenance and health used to be a way of life. Today, most people obtain what they need from a grocery or drugstore, and few know what native plants are edible or how to use them. Luckily there are some people who still know the gathering ways of their elders and incorporate foraged foods into their diet and as natural medicines. As part of our National Wildlife Refuge Week festivities, the Friends of Missisquoi welcome Donna Toneatti to give us some basics about native plants as foods and medicines. This is one of a series of presentations at our Missisquoi Wildlife Fair. Visit friendsofmissisquoi.org/calendar for the schedule and details of the day's events.
12:00PM
Grasslands, Birds, and Pollinators
As part of our National Wildlife Refuge Week festivities, the Friends of Missisquoi welcome Kevin Tolan to discuss everything grassland! Learn about the benefits and challenges of managing Vermont's grasslands for birds and pollinators. Kevin is a graduate student at UVM and a biologist with the Vermont Center for Ecostudies in Norwich, VT. This is one of a series of presentations at our Missisquoi Wildlife Fair.
1:00pm
Managing the Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge
Do you want to learn about the Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge from the person who knows the refuge the best? As part of our National Wildlife Refuge Week festivities, Ken Sturm, the refuge manager of the Missisquoi NWR will give a presentation on the highlights of the refuge. Ken has been the manager of Missisquoi since 2011. This is one of a series of presentations at our Missisquoi Wildlife Fair.
1:30PM
Foraging Walk
Donna Toneatti will lead a walk on the refuge and discuss the foraging native plants that can be used for food and medicines. Please note: The physical taking of any plants or animals is prohibited on the Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge, so no plants will be removed on this walk. This is one of a series of presentations at our Missisquoi Wildlife Fair. Visit friendsofmissisquoi.org/calendar for the schedule and details of the day's events.
2:00PM
The State of the Lake
As part of our National Wildlife Refuge Week festivities, the Friends of Missisquoi welcome Colleen Hickey to discuss the 2024 State of the Lake. The Lake Champlain Basin Program publishes the State of the Lake Report every several years to inform citizens and resource managers about the health of the Lake. Colleen will discuss the latest important findings from the recently published report. This is one of a series of presentations at our Missisquoi Wildlife Fair.