Springville, Tenn.–The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Southeast Regional Director announced that the Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge Friends organization was selected as the Volunteer Group of the year.
Over the past year, the Friends of Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge played a vital role in sustaining the refuge’s visitor services and environmental education programs. Following the retirement of the career refuge ranger, the group launched a creative and successful fundraising campaign to underwrite the cost of a ranger position which allowed ongoing staffing of the Refuge Visitor Center in Springville. This position was essential in delivering outreach and education to more than 5,000 people in 2024.
Through the community’s volunteerism and financial support of the local Friends Group, the refuge has:
• Maintained public access at the Visitors Center (Mon.-Sat.),
• Hosted twelve popular “Discovery Series” outreach events, and
• Delivered dozens of educational field trips for school students drawn from a 10-county region.
• Maintained public access at the Visitors Center (Mon.-Sat.),
• Hosted twelve popular “Discovery Series” outreach events, and
• Delivered dozens of educational field trips for school students drawn from a 10-county region.
USFWS acknowledged that without the efforts of the Friends Group, the Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge Complex would have been forced to drastically reduce or eliminate its public-facing programs. USFWS Regional Director Mike Oetker said, “this partnership highlights the indispensable role Friends Groups play in supporting the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s mission. Through their leadership, the Friends have preserved vital public services, strengthened community connections, and fostered a deeper appreciation for conservation. Without their creative fundraising and unwavering support, the refuge would face the difficult reality of closing its visitor center and halting outreach and education.”
Local board president Hal Hassall said, “We appreciate the recognition for our successful grassroots funding and volunteerism to aid the refuge. Even with service staff reductions and funding cuts from Washington, working together with the refuge staff we can stay true to our mission of protecting migratory waterfowl and engaging the public on the 60,000 acres of waters, wetlands, and woodlands that make up the refuge complex’s 5-county footprint.”
According to Hassall, “Our Friends Group is especially grateful for the financial support from the Helping Hand Radio Auction of Henry County, Dana Corporation, the Betsy Ross Foundation, the Jackson Foundation, Pepsi MidAmerica, Moody Realty, and TVA for vital contributions and for the hours of service provided by community volunteers.”
To learn more, visit https://www.fws.gov/refuge/
Photo: The Friends of Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge are being nationally recognized by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service as being the top Friends group for the Southeast Region! They have worked tirelessly to assist in keeping the Refuge Visitor Center open and public programs viable despite major staff decline and setbacks. One of their largest events is held the second week of August to promote awareness and band hummingbirds.