Another successful fall festival event “Healthy Habitat” had about 375 in attendance. It had events carried out at the cabin site, Visitors Center and at the Discovery Center.
We hosted the seventh annual “Toast to Tamarac” fundraising event which included wine tasting, appetizers, games, and, a silent auction with over 200 in attendance.
The Aquatic Invasive Species team of 9 inspected 138 boats and trailers while striving to better educate 288 fishermen on the dangers of spreading AIS.
Friends assisted staff with water quality monitoring on refuge lakes.
Assisted staff with completing a variety of wildlife surveys including loon, tern, and grebe surveys as well as drumming grouse counts.
We participated in two on-line giving programs, Give to the Max and Giving Hearts.
Additional funds were raised through a Dilly Bar Sales event and a Quilt Raffle.
The Discovery Center continues to grow in its use for outdoor educational experiences, volunteer training and conservation meetings.
The Friends generated funding to continue to reach the goal of eliminating the Discovery Center loan.
After a full two day mentoring session (resiliently conducted during a blizzard) a five year strategic plan was developed.
Renovated and updated the membership and donor database.
Strategically developed a plan for hiring the first employee of the organization.
Friends sponsored another successful photo contest with 120 entries (54 from youth), A photo display was exhibited in the Washington Square Mall during National Wildlife Refuge Week and awards were presented.
Quarterly newsletters were developed and sent to an expanded mailing list to continue making connections in the communities touched by Tamarac.
Webpage and Facebook representation were continued to increase connections with the public.
Friends co-sponsored the 2017 Detroit Lakes Festival of Birds.
Friends continued to support the refuge education programs, interpretive programs, and the citizen science program.
