Springville, Tenn.–The Friends of Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge have come up with an unusual way to assist programs and projects at both Tennessee and Cross Creeks Refuges. For the second year they are raising funds and awareness of the beauty and vitality of these lands by connecting people to nature through unique outdoor experiences guided by experts! Instead of an auction with just items, this time you can bid on a having a great time for you and your family!
Open now, these experiences can be bid on through an online auction company until November 2, 2025.
This year the Friends have pulled out all the stops to present an exciting array of experiences, with a few items added. These unique experiences range from guided flyfishing, guided wildlife filled kayak excursion, historic tours, coffee with award winning actress Cherry Jones, private hummingbird banding, to a three day duck hunting full package. Here is a list of all experiences or items open now for your bidding pleasure:
Personal Guided Golden-Hour Kayak Excursion on the Tennessee or Cross Creeks NWR
Personal Coffee with award winning actress Cherry Jones
Personal Tour of the Jack Hinson Story
Personal Boat (or driving) tour of Fort Henry
Wood Duck Box Experience in the back areas of Cross Creeks NWR
Professional Guided half day Fishing Trip on Kentucky Lake with Ross Wimberly
Private Hummingbird Banding at Your Location with bird researcher Cyndi Routledge
Guided Flyfishing Trip for 4 to Northwest Arkansas to Spring Valley Rod and Gun Club, lodging provided (gear provided if needed)
Three Day Duck Hunting Trip for 2 in Strait Lake Lodge in Arkansas, meals and lodging provided (Jan. 23-25, 2026)
Waterfowl Gear package
Ducks Unlimited 2024 Rifle of the Year (Howa 1500 Carbon)
Ducks Unlimited light up LED sign
Bidding is ongoing compliments of Kail Auctions. To bid see https://kailauctions.hibid.com and click on the link for the Friendsof Tennessee NWR Experience Auction.
This past year, the Southeast Region of the National Wildlife Refuge System lost over 100 positions to retirement and the deferred resignation program. The Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge alone lost two full time positions. Over the course of the past twenty years, the refuge has gone from twenty full time positions to nine. With the loss of employees, the Friends group has been tasked with filling the voids where it is possible.
Through past fundraising efforts such as these, the Friends of Tennessee NWR have been currently supporting environmental outreach and education programs; refuge events; habitat improvement and restoration; seasonal employees and interns. The friends group provided funding for: a seasonal park ranger to staff visitor center and lead school field trips; seasonal tractor operators that mow and maintain roadsides and levees, help prepare and plant millet and wheat fields; season biological interns that helped with wood duck trapping and banding, beaver control, invasive species control, and biological surveys.
“For this Friends group to continue to meet these challenges, they are asking for the community to step up and help out in this fun and interesting way” said Friends president Hal Hassall. ““With reductions in Federal budgets and staffing, we as a community must work together to cope with the operational changes impacting our refuges through volunteerism, advocacy, and fundraising. We hope that we can count on you supporting our second annual online Experience Auction. Many folks last year used these experiences as unique Christmas gifts for their loved ones.”
For questions or more information, feel free to contact Wendy Crawford at wendy@friendstnwr.org or 406-366-1972.