Refuge Notebook
Article
April 11, 2008
Join Refuge Staff for Exciting Spring Events
By Candace Ward
The enthusiastic staff at Kenai National Wildlife Refuge is busy preparing for a lively spring. Mark your calendar for events that pique your interest and join us for rewarding experiences.
April 17 - “Be Bear Aware” Home School Program: Education Specialist Michelle Ostrowski and Conservation Intern Eve Smallwood have created a new program for home schoolers on bear natural history and ways to prevent bear/human conflicts. To participate, contact Michelle at 260-2839.
April 19 & 20 - Kenai Peninsula Home Show: Stop by the bear safety booth staffed by many agencies (Including Kenai NWR) who are working together to prevent bear/human conflicts. Learn simple, yet practical ways to be bear aware and to “bear proof” your home and yard. Sign up to win a variety of door prizes including a heavy duty bear resistant trash receptacle.
April 25 - 27 - Kenai Peninsula Sport, Recreation & Trade Show: Visit the Kenai NWR booth organized by Park Ranger Jetta Fonkert, and hosted by many Refuge staff. This year’s booth shares ways we can prevent the spread of invasive plants that crowd out wild plants that both wildlife and people need to survive. Come by the booth for free invasive plant guides and to enter a free drawing for wildflower and wild berry prizes.
April 30 - May 16 - Spring Environmental Education Field Trips – There are still slots left for K – 3rd classroom teachers interested in getting their students outside for fun, wildlife oriented field trips. Programs include Animals & Their Senses (K), Amazing Animals (1st); Habitat is Where It’s At (2nd); and Plants, Animals & Their Environment (3rd). To make a reservation, contact Michelle Ostrowski at 260-2839.
May 7 & 8, 6-10 PM - Basic Hunter Safety – For many years, Refuge Manager Robin West and other Refuge staff have worked with the Alaska Department of Fish & Game to provide Basic Hunter Safety classes. To register for the May 7 & 8 class at the Kenai NWR EE Center, contact the Alaska Department of Fish & Game at 262-9368.
May 9 - Clean Up/Green Up Event - Each spring Refuge staff and volunteers join together to clean up Refuge lands from the accumulated build up of winter trash. Not only do these efforts provide a sense of satisfaction to those participating, but they also create a more beautiful Kenai Peninsula for our summer visitors. To lend a hand, contact Art Tovar, Facilities Manager, at 260 – 2832. If you would like to have your class or youth group help spruce-up the Refuge, contact Michelle Ostrowski, at 260-2839.
May 10, 9 AM – 3 PM - Kids Water Safety Carnival: Join Refuge staff - Michelle Ostrowski, Jetta Fonkert, Eve Smallwood, and many dedicated members of the community at Skyview High School for fun, “hands on” activities that teach kids water safety.
May 17 - 9 AM – 5 PM: Bow Hunter Safety: For many years, Wildlife Biological Technician Todd Eskelin has worked with the Alaska Department of Fish & Game to provide Bow Hunter Education for Peninsula bow hunters. To register for the May 17 class at the Kenai NWR EE Center, contact the Alaska Department of Fish & Game at 262–9368.
Birding Events: Refuge biology staff - Toby Burke, Todd Eskelin, and Liz Jozwiak, participate each year in peninsula birding events as experts in bird identification and behavior. Watch for them running observation stations and leading field trips at the Kachemak Bay Shorebird Festival and Kenai Shorebird Celebration. For more information, visit the following websites: www.homeralaska.org/shorebird.htm and
http://www.kenaiwatershed.org/shorebird.html.
Have fun leaping into spring to learn something new or to lend a hand to make the Kenai Peninsula a better place.
Candace Ward works as a park ranger leading the Refuge’s information and education program. For more information, contact Kenai National Wildlife Refuge at 262-7021 or visit our refuge website at http://kenai.fws.gov/. You can check on new bird arrivals or report your recent bird sightings on the Kenai NWR Birding hotline at (907) 262-2300.
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