Friends of the Red River National Wildlife Refuge

Friends of the Red River National Wildlife Refuge partner with refuge staff and other volunteers to support the RRNWR mission. Our membership is a positive and diverse group of conservation minded individuals from throughout Northwest Louisiana. Members provide ongoing volunteer and financial support for youth and community educational programs and camps , public outreach efforts, conservation initiatives, and habitat development projects. Friends are often the first folks that visitors to RRNWR meet when they visit. Our Friends serve as program volunteers and staff the Friends Store and adjacent welcome desk housed in the headquarters building at 150 Eagle Bend Point in Bossier City, LA. When Friends venture into the community, they showcase the many ways that individuals can learn about and become involved in the world class conservation efforts happening at Red River NWR. Visit Red River NWR and volunteer for the birding and habitat restoration projects help staff shape the unique cultural and historical focus on the people who have lived along the Red River.

Testimonials

I have been a member of the Friends of the Red River National Wildlife Refuge (RRNWR) since 2011. I learned about the organization from friends in other local conservation organizations, and I attended the RRNWR annual fall celebrations a few times before joining the Friends organization. I am currently a lifetime member.
I have served as a volunteer for the Friends ever since the RRNWR headquarters building opened in February 2012. In this capacity, I open up and work in the Visitors Center and the Nature Store. I greet visitors and answer questions they have about the RRNWR as well as other questions related to wildlife and the area.
I believe strongly in the mission of the Friends organization to support the education and conservation efforts of the RRNWR. The RRNWR is a unique urban wildlife refuge that provides a quiet, restful haven from the city noise and bustle, but is geographically so close to the city that visitors can easily make time in their days to visit and relax. Hikers, photographers, bird watchers, bicyclists and others frequently utilize the well-maintained trails. Visitors learn about the ongoing conservation efforts of the RRNWR and many enthusiastically support these efforts through membership in the Friends organization or other donations.
Specific examples of the support provided by the Friends organization to the RRNWR include planting and maintaining native tree, shrub and flowering plant species, expanding the wireless wildlife camera network, supplying food for birds and providing materials and labor for projects such as the Kids Discovery Area. Thus, the Friends provide critical support for the RRNWR mission in areas that are not financed by federal funds.