Please add contact@ridgefieldfriends.org to your address book or safe senders list. You are receiving this email because you are either a member or signed up for our mailing list.  Image credit: Barbara Burgess, 2024, 1st Place, Landscape Category, Pro Photo Supply Refuge Photo Contest The Friends of Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge The latest updates & news | November 2026 The Ridgefield NWR Admin Office is open weekdays, as staff availability allows: 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM Office phone number: 360-887-4106 Community Nature Center Hours:  Hours and times for the Community Nature Center and the Office will vary over the next few months as we transition to offering this new experience at the Refuge. The staff of the Refuge and the Friends appreciate your patience. Learn More: Official Refuge Website Three Creeks Rotary Kicks off Microscope Purchases for the Community Nature Center Since the opening of the Community Nature Center in May, the Friends and the USFWS have been working to make this a world-class learning facility. The Friends outfitted the classroom with stools and adjustable height tables, and are now working on gathering equipment necessary for environmental studies. In August, Friends employee Samantha Zeiner, along with Co-Presidents Jean Stemp and Jim Maul, were invited to spend an awesome afternoon with the Rotary Club of Three Creeks. When we mentioned the need for scientific equipment, club members stepped in to provide funds to purchase seven student microscopes, petri dishes, and lab tweezers!  This October, the Three Creeks Rotary members and their families came to visit, take a special tour around the new building, and check out the new microscopes in action. This amazing contribution kicks off our fundraising efforts towards providing better environmental education opportunities to students of all ages. We still need more microscopes and other equipment, including a cart to store the microscopes safely, and we’re so grateful to Three Creeks for getting us started! images provided by Rotary Club of Three Creeks Get Your 2027 Photo Contest Calendars!Get your Photo Contest Winner Calendars online, today! 8.5x11 size is just $20, featuring:
 Storytime at the Refuge (click to view or download PDF) November 12 10:30-11:00 AMPut on your adventure boots and join your Ridgefield Community Library pals at the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge for Storytime! The shiny new Community Nature Center will welcome curious wanderers from 10AM to 12PM, with a library-led storytime from 10:30-11:00. The trails are also always calling for some daytime exploring fun! No need to sign up, just drop on by! Free Community WorkshopMason Bees Unwrapped: The Art & Science of Cocoon Harvesting November 14, 10:00 - 11:30 AM Discover the world of native Mason bees with Master Gardener and Master Melittologist Anne Bulger! Learn about their unique life cycle, peek inside nesting tubes, and watch a live demo on harvesting and cleaning cocoons to protect these pollinators from winter pests and diseases. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced host, you'll leave with practical tips to help native bees. Birding Enthusiasts Check out what bird species are being seen on the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge - both past and current archives - on our website. A Bee StoryBuild a Bee Garden, One Season at a Time (for real this time) (Last month we had link errors, and we apologize. Here is a refreshed version of what you missed) November may seem like an odd time to think about bees. The buzz of summer is quieting, flowers are fading, and many of the native bees we...keep reading... -Anne Bulger, Friends of RNWR Board Member, & OSU Master Melittology Lead Instructor for the RNWR Complex Image of Yellow Monkeyflower Ridgefield First Saturdays Make a Difference MonthGet involved in your community to Make a Difference! Connect with non-profits, develop positive community habits, practice kindness and be a part of what makes Ridgefield unique. Stay Involved:Join the Friends - Become a MemberAll members will receive a digital member card, a free optional tote bag, a sticker, and other perks. Members over $60 also gain access to the Soar into Wellness Program, & Members giving over $1000 are also included in a special website highlight!  Support While You Shop Get the whole family geared up and support Refuge conservation with every purchase. If you're looking for gorgeous nature and wildlife photography on jigsaw puzzles, we have you covered! Featuring new designs!   When you link your Fred Meyer Rewards Card to the Friends, you help us earn donations from Fred Meyer Community Rewards. It's easy! Search Friends of Ridgefield NWR, #PK822  Friends Amazon Wishlist- Support our work and the Refuge's initiatives! Whether it's habitat restoration or BirdFest & Bluegrass, we'll feature items essential to efforts toward achieving conservation and community outreach goals. Friends Board MeetingsJoin the Friends of Ridgefield NWR Board for their monthly meeting. Meetings start at 5:00 PM every second Monday of the month and will be either virtual or in-person with a virtual option. Please contact us to find out how to join in! Board Meeting Dates 2026:
 Become a Business Alliance MemberAs a member of the Friends of the RNWR Business Alliance, you invest in one of our urban metropolitan area’s most unique and diverse natural and cultural resources. Find out more. Sponsors:Business Alliance Members:     In-Kind Support:   BirdFest & Bluegrass:           Granting Organizations & Partners             More Ways to HelpWant more updates on Refuge events & happenings? Follow the Friends on social media or our website by clicking the logos below! Stay connected when you're off the Refuge. Friends of Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge | PO BOX 1022 | Ridgefield, WA 98642 |
