McNary National Wildlife Refuge

	Community Volunteers Lend a Hand The Chinook Council of Campfire Girls and Boys received a grant from Aeneca Ag.Inc. with which they set out to add native trees and shrubs to the refuge. These provide protection and food for wildlife at McNary National Wildlife Refuge.

	On March 15, 1997, under the supervision of McNary National Wildlife Refuge rangers and Campfire director, Martha Spencer, hundreds of shrubs and cuttings were planted. The Campfire Boys and Girls, aided by Girl and Boy Scouts, and members of the Lower-Columbia Basin Audubon Society, worked in chilling weather for hours. Shrubs and trees now provide wildlife cover and food. The volunteer work is a continuing benefit to this wetlands ecosystem.

	McNary National Wildlife Refuge Environmental Education Center Members of the Lower Columbia Basin Audubon Society (LCBAS) and The Nature Conservancy (TNC) went into classrooms with mounted bird specimens. The children enjoyed the presentations and were invited to visit the refuge. On their visits they experienced a natural outdoor environment. In hands-on science activities they discover the relationship of animals, plants, and insects to earth, air and water in the web of life. Dedicated volunteers guide walks we call Safaris In Search Of Nature on the trail around the wetlands on the McNary National Wildlife Refuge. Call (509) 543-8322 to make a reservation a week or more in advance to assure the date of your choice.

	Outdoor Classroom and Displays McNary National Wildlife Refuge management and volunteers offer an environmental educational experience called MEECe. Teachers, their classes, scout groups, and the public enjoy a display of mounted bird specimens, discarded nests, videos, and books on nature. Children can touch bird wings, bones, and animal pelts. Additional items are added as they become available, either when discovered on the trail or when donated by supporters of nature.

	Supplementing Classroom Textbooks Workshops assist teachers in using the refuge as an outdoor classroom. Learning stations demonstrate natural science and expose children to the wonders of nature. Outdoor activities augment classwork across the curriculum tailored to a teacher's needs for meeting Washington State Department of Education's requirements. Do It Yourself The 2-mile trail is open daily to visitors who wish to discover nature with a walk on their own. A self-guided text related to numbered Posts along the trail is available. A Photographer's Dream A large photo blind was built by volunteers in 1998. It features special vents and glare-free backdrops for photographers. Windows toward the water and a large seating area makes wildlife viewing a comfortable pleasure for casual visitors and student activities. Greater Accessibility to Waterfowl A concrete path from the parking lot to the photo blind was dedicated in the spring of 2000. Now visits to the water's edge by wheelchair are possible and the path is preferred by many who find the chip path difficult.

In 530 National Wildlife Refuges the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service works to preserve and protect plant and animal species. Critical habitat is acquired and research conducted to help protect endangered species. Under intensive management programs, varied habitats are maintained to provide balanced ecosystems in these times when residential and industrial development spreads concrete and tarmac over the land.

In Oregon's Salmon River area the marshes to visit are Ankeny National Wildlife Refuge and Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge. These areas provide many opportunities for recreation, from fishing and hunting to wildlife observation and nature photography.

For information about refuges in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Nevada, or Hawaii, contact:

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