2012 List of Accomplishments

  • Developed and initiated a Capital Campaign for a Discovery Center on the refuge.
  • Sponsored the Fall Festival “Swans: A Tamarac Legacy” which was held outdoors by pioneer cabins  in partnership with the Becker County Museum and a wealth of informational stations for attendees of all ages with attendance of over 600.
  • Hosted the second annual “Toast to Tamarac” fundraising event which included wine tasting, appetizers, live music, a silent auction and games of chance with attendance of over 200.
  • Participated in a We Fest Clean-up fundraiser.
  • The Nature of Learning grant was completed.  A large touch screen computer was purchased through this which will be available when the visitor center reopens.
  • Supported the Tamarac Environmental Education program for local schools with funding for bus transportation to the refuge, supplies, and volunteer hours.  Tamarac hosted more than 30 field days and 1400 students, 700 of these students visit 3 times each year totaling 15 outside contact hours at Tamarac for each student per year.
  • Created a Tamarac NWR specific Citizen Science Program through Project Noah.  Available on the refuge as an organized activity for home schooled children, youth groups and adults.   There are now five equipment kits that support this program.
  • Created a Naturalist Committee to support refuge interpretive and environmental education programs, biological surveys, and outreach programs.
  • Sponsored the Tamarac Photo Contest which had 152 entries.  A photo display was exhibited in the Washington Square Mall during National Wildlife Refuge Week.
  • Quarterly newsletters were developed and sent to an expanded mailing list to continue making connections in the communities touched by Tamarac.
  • Co-sponsored the 2012 Detroit Lakes Festival of Birds.  Served both an evening meal and a breakfast to participants of sessions held at Tamarac.
  • Reached out to the community though a display booth at the Picnic in the Park in Detroit Lakes.
  • Continued to help refuge with interpretive programs including plant hikes, photo safari, history tour and citizen science program.
  • Friends contributed over 9,000 volunteer hours at Tamarac, many were for the environmental education program
  • Participated in spring clean-up and assisted the refuge with the move to temporary quarters.
  • Monitored lakes for aquatic invasive species compliance.
  • Partnered with Prairie Wetlands Learning Center for volunteer environmental education training.

Friends of Tamarac is a 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Organization