Twenty Years of Friendship for Your Wildlife Refuge
1996 Initial meeting at the refuge headquarters. Thirty-five people attended this meeting, most from the immediate area. Support was strong. A board of directors was elected, and the name Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge Association was chosen.
1997 Received $5000 capacity building and project grant from the National Wildlife Refuge Association to produce a logo, create banners, purchase a computer system, and put a ramp in at the trail head parking lot. Then refuge manager, Larry Martin even drove his car over it to pack it down after it was built!
1998 Membership numbers grew to over 100.
1999 Started to sell a small inventory of bookstore items. Annual sales were roughly $2,000 and profits were set aside for refuge projects and organizational needs. Began to advocate for a Visitor Center.
2001 Purchased golf cart shuttle to increase access to the hiking trails for disabled and elderly individuals who needed assistance to get out and explore.
2002 On March 14, a centennial ceremony was held to honor the 100th year of the National Wildlife Refuge System. A groundbreaking ceremony for the Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center was held, and a time capsule was sealed. Later that year, the Association built the observation deck at Stange Prairie.
2003 Check received for $1.35 million from First Energy to restore Farm Unit 2 and to include accessible boardwalk and outdoor restrooms near the Visitor Center.
2006 Received grant for “Reading with Puddles” program and purchased 250+ kids books and refuge mascot costume.
2007 Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center opens on May 11, 2007, International Migratory Bird Day. Center included a nice space for a store. West Sister Island featured on Dirty Jobs. First Cars for Critters benefit car show held.
2012 Boss Unit Shorebird Deck built.
2013 Received an Ohio Environmental Education Foundation grant ($48,460) to equip the Refuge Ranger Station with educational materials and provide staffing to update curriculum on wetlands, native species and migratory birds. With funds from another grant, we also hired consultant Cathy Allen to help the board with strategic planning and budgeting.
2014 Purchased automatic gates for the Ottawa Wildlife Drive to increase and enhance access to wildlife viewing opportunities at ONWR. Created a policy manual and 10 year strategic plan.
2015 Hired first salaried staff member who worked towards our strategic goals.
2016 Re-branded as Friends of Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge. Constructed Wildlife Window. Enhanced Biggest Week activities with arts and crafts vendors. Started a petition to create an Ottawa NWR license plate.
2017 Raised $100,000 in gross Nature Store sales, and had nearly 800 members.
1997 Received $5000 capacity building and project grant from the National Wildlife Refuge Association to produce a logo, create banners, purchase a computer system, and put a ramp in at the trail head parking lot. Then refuge manager, Larry Martin even drove his car over it to pack it down after it was built!
1998 Membership numbers grew to over 100.
1999 Started to sell a small inventory of bookstore items. Annual sales were roughly $2,000 and profits were set aside for refuge projects and organizational needs. Began to advocate for a Visitor Center.
2001 Purchased golf cart shuttle to increase access to the hiking trails for disabled and elderly individuals who needed assistance to get out and explore.
2002 On March 14, a centennial ceremony was held to honor the 100th year of the National Wildlife Refuge System. A groundbreaking ceremony for the Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center was held, and a time capsule was sealed. Later that year, the Association built the observation deck at Stange Prairie.
2003 Check received for $1.35 million from First Energy to restore Farm Unit 2 and to include accessible boardwalk and outdoor restrooms near the Visitor Center.
2006 Received grant for “Reading with Puddles” program and purchased 250+ kids books and refuge mascot costume.
2007 Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center opens on May 11, 2007, International Migratory Bird Day. Center included a nice space for a store. West Sister Island featured on Dirty Jobs. First Cars for Critters benefit car show held.
2012 Boss Unit Shorebird Deck built.
2013 Received an Ohio Environmental Education Foundation grant ($48,460) to equip the Refuge Ranger Station with educational materials and provide staffing to update curriculum on wetlands, native species and migratory birds. With funds from another grant, we also hired consultant Cathy Allen to help the board with strategic planning and budgeting.
2014 Purchased automatic gates for the Ottawa Wildlife Drive to increase and enhance access to wildlife viewing opportunities at ONWR. Created a policy manual and 10 year strategic plan.
2015 Hired first salaried staff member who worked towards our strategic goals.
2016 Re-branded as Friends of Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge. Constructed Wildlife Window. Enhanced Biggest Week activities with arts and crafts vendors. Started a petition to create an Ottawa NWR license plate.
2017 Raised $100,000 in gross Nature Store sales, and had nearly 800 members.
“For a brief moment in time, I was fortunate enough to be associated with some of the most amazing naturalists, hikers, hunters, and outdoors folks NW Ohio has to offer. All the refuge staff, especially Rebecca, Mike and Chris Crofts, Bill and Sharon Dailey, Bob Morrison, Sharon Cummings, Tom Bartlett, Jackie Breno, Nicole (Breno) Crofts, Jack and Janet Volker, Al and Betty Schlecht, so many more… we are all just people who wanted to help. At the end of the day, I can look back knowing that we never doubted that “a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world.””
—John Hinkle, Board President (2002-2007)
