Friends of Tamarac
2011 Accomplishments
- 2011 marked another busy year as Friends continued their efforts to promote respect for our environment through educational programs for youth and the community while in partnership with the Tamarac Wildlife Refuge.
- Sponsored the Fall Festival "Become a Nature Detective" which included a wealth of family activities with attendance of over 600.
- Hosted the first “Toast to Tamarac” fundraising event which included wine tasting, appetizers, a silent auction and games of chance. Over 230 attended.
- Hosted a special “Evening in Tamarac” dinner at the refuge in an effort to build some stronger friendships and educate attendees on plans for the future.
- Once again quarterly newsletters were developed and the mailing list was expanded in an effort to make more connections in the communities touched by Tamarac.
- Sponsored bus transportation for several area kindergarten, third grade and middle school field experiences on the refuge. Friends provided over $5000 for these bus trips to Tamarac.
- Continued environmental education programs by receiving the second phase of the Connecting Children and Nature grant for an additional $5,000. Twenty-four video cameras and five GPS units were purchased for the Environmental Education program as part of this grant. IMAC and a mini computer were also purchased.
- WIFI was installed for easier internet access by Friends, volunteers, and summer workers.
- The photo contest had a record number of entries-161. Additional display boards were built. A photo display and award ceremony was located at the Washington Square Mall during National Wildlife Refuge Week.
- Board member, Denis Mudderman, received the national award for volunteer of the year from the National Wildlife Refuge Association for 7,000 hours of volunteer service at Tamarac and an additional 3000 hours at Brazorea Refuge in Texas for a combined total of 10,000 volunteer hours.
- Co-sponsored the 2011 Detroit Lakes Festival of Birds.
- Reached out to the community through a display booth at the Picnic in the Park in Detroit Lakes.
- Continued to help refuge with interpretive programs such as the photo safari, night hike, butterfly workshop, and history tour.
- Friends contributed much of the 7,374 volunteer hours at Tamarac. One thousand seventy four of these were for environmental education.
- Hosted a Christmas Open House.
- Participated in the annual spring clean-up day.
- Hosted the annual volunteer picnic.
- Hosted a Christmas Open House.
- Participated in the annual spring clean-up day.
- Hosted the annual volunteer picnic.
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Tamarac Interpretive Association
2006/2007 Accomplishments
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