WALK | RUN | SWIM | PADDLE | MOVE so they can FLY!
Celebrating fall migration this September at Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge
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Join Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge this September as we celebrate fall migration of birds, butterflies, dragonflies, and more! As part of our celebration, we are challenging you to get moving outside throughout the month. You can also participate in our "walk-a-thon" style fundraiser by asking friends, family, or businesses to sponsor you at a pledged rate per mile.
This month-long virtual "move-a-thon" is a way for us to come together and move (bird, walk, hike, run, swim, paddle, ride, etc.) in our community with a goal of reaching 2,269 miles collectively (the distance it takes a monarch butterfly to travel from Oak Harbor, Ohio to the butterfly sanctuary in Sierra Chincua, Mexico)! Participants in the Migration-A-Thon will track and upload the miles moved during the month of September. Your miles can be completed anywhere! Your donors will contribute their pledged amounts, and donations will help Friends of Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge to conserve wildlife habitat for future generations. Click the link below to get started with your virtual challenge and fundraiser today! |
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Perks and Prizes
The Grand Prize this year is a Garmin Instinct 2 Smartwatch! Whatever you do, own it with Instinct 2. This rugged GPS smartwatch is tough enough to keep up with you and unique enough to fit your style. Do more of what you love with preloaded activity profiles and stay connected to what matters with smart features. Built-in sports apps to take on running, biking, swimming, strength training - even hunting and fishing!
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Distance Milestone |
Perk/Prize |
10 miles |
10 miler badge on your challenge profile. Social media shout out. |
25 miles |
25 miler badge. Social media shout out. 1 entry to win Grand Prize! |
50 miles |
50 miler badge and monarch pin. Social media shout out. 5 entries to win Grand Prize! |
100 miles |
100 miler badge and monarch pin. Social media shout out. 10 entries to win Grand Prize! |
250 miles |
250 miler badge and Swag Bag. Social media shout out. 15 entries to win Grand Prize! |
500 miles |
500 miler badge & Swag Bag. Social media shoutout. 20 entries to win Grand Prize! |
Overall Most Miles Moved |
Private tour of the refuge for yourself and up to 12 friends, certificate of achievement, and social media FAME! |
Fundraising Milestone |
Perk/Prize |
$250 raised |
Egg badge on your fundraising website. Social media shout out! |
$500 raised |
Caterpillar badge on your fundraising website. Social media shout out! |
$1,000 raised |
Chrysalis badge on your fundraising website. Social media shout out! |
$2,500 & up raised |
Butterfly badge on your fundraising website. Social media shout out! |
Overall Top Dollars Raised |
Private tour of the refuge for yourself and up to 12 friends, certificate of achievement and social media FAME! |
More About Monarchs
Fall migration is in full swing in September. It's a time when some types of birds, butterflies, and dragonflies flock through Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge's 11,000 acres of protected habitats as they journey south to overwintering grounds. Some species like the monarch butterfly travel hundreds or even thousands of miles to their winter home!
In honor of their journey, Friends of Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge is hosting the Migration-A-Thon Virtual Race in September 2024. This month-long virtual "move-a-thon" is a way for us to come together and move (walk, run, swim, paddle, ride, etc) in our community with a goal of reaching 2,269 miles collectively (the distance it takes a monarch butterfly to travel from Oak Harbor, Ohio to the butterfly sanctuary in Sierra Chincua, Mexico.).
Researchers estimate that a jaw-dropping 970 million monarchs have vanished since 1990. There are a number of threats to monarch butterflies including habitat loss, climate change, and pesticide use that is reducing milkweed populations, a plant on which the monarch lays its eggs. The long-term solution to ensure the survival of this species is to plant native milkweed species and nectaring plants and protect winter roost locations. This event raises awareness about the monarch migration in hopes of inspiring the next generation of conservationists to protect threatened and endangered species through habitat conservation.
Please consider joining our Virtual Challenge to conserve and protect wildlife habitats at Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge for monarch butterflies and many other important species.
In honor of their journey, Friends of Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge is hosting the Migration-A-Thon Virtual Race in September 2024. This month-long virtual "move-a-thon" is a way for us to come together and move (walk, run, swim, paddle, ride, etc) in our community with a goal of reaching 2,269 miles collectively (the distance it takes a monarch butterfly to travel from Oak Harbor, Ohio to the butterfly sanctuary in Sierra Chincua, Mexico.).
Researchers estimate that a jaw-dropping 970 million monarchs have vanished since 1990. There are a number of threats to monarch butterflies including habitat loss, climate change, and pesticide use that is reducing milkweed populations, a plant on which the monarch lays its eggs. The long-term solution to ensure the survival of this species is to plant native milkweed species and nectaring plants and protect winter roost locations. This event raises awareness about the monarch migration in hopes of inspiring the next generation of conservationists to protect threatened and endangered species through habitat conservation.
Please consider joining our Virtual Challenge to conserve and protect wildlife habitats at Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge for monarch butterflies and many other important species.
Additional Info
A guidebook is available to help get your race started with tips and suggestions for trails around Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge. If you have any other questions, feel free to contact Executive Director Aimee Arent at [email protected] or 419-707-7756.
