December 18 Wild Daze Ale Island Event
As part of its 40th anniversary celebration, DDWS rolled out its exclusive, limited-edition Wild Daze Ale at Fort Myers Brewing Co. on December 4. This week, on Saturday, December 18, Bailey’s on Sanibel Island will be hosting a tasting from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Refuge Wow interactive mobile nature experience will be on hand for free touring. (Note: The December 19 Bailey’s event has been canceled because the beer is selling out so quickly.)
The exclusive brew – a smooth and light-bodied golden ale with a subtle hint of sweetness – will be available for a limited time, depending upon how long supplies last. Besides Bailey’s, look for Wild Daze Ale at, Doc Ford’s Rum Bar & Grille, Sanibel Captiva Beach Resorts’ Oasis Pool Bar at ‘Tween Waters Beach Resort and Upper Deck Pool Bar at West Wind Inn, and The Timbers Restaurant & Fish Market.
Watch these two FOX4 News segments about the Wild Daze Ale collaboration.
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Remember, profits from all Nature Store sales go directly to the Refuge for educational programs, wildlife research, and overall conservation efforts. | |
Refuge Holiday Hours
The Visitor & Education Center, including the Refuge Nature Store, and all administrative offices will be closed Friday, December 24, and Saturday, December 25, for Christmas; and Friday, December 31, and Saturday, January 1, for New Year’s. Wildlife Drive remains open every day 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. except Friday, when it’s closed every week. America’s Best Restroom at the Visitor Center remains open during regular Wildlife Drive hours. Tarpon Bay Explorers closes ONLY on Christmas Day, December 25. Nature Store2 at 2250 Periwinkle closes for Christmas and New Year’s days, but is open 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. for last-minute shopping on December 24 and 31.
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Elementary Schools Cartoon Contest (Correction)
Each year, the Refuge hosts an editorial cartoon contest in the elementary schools in honor of Jay Norwood “Ding” Darling, a Pulitzer Prize-winning political cartoonist of the early to mid-20th century. This year, Edison Park (Fort Myers) and Patriot (Cape Coral) elementary schools participated. Shown here: First place winner from Edison Park by Taylor Fox.
See the Refuge Cartoon Contest Facebook page to see the six winning cartoons from both schools.
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Lecture Sponsorships
Thanks to all of our sponsors who have signed up to support our 2022 Lecture Series – see below.
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In addition to the delicious frozen custard it sells, The Shack of Sanibel goes extra sweet for the holidays. This week it launched its "12 Days of Giving." For 12 days leading up to Christmas Day, it donates a percentage of its sales to one of 12 nonprofits on Sanibel and Captiva islands. Tomorrow, December 17, is devoted to “Ding” Darling, so please stop by 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. to indulge, visit our information table (from 2 to 4 p.m.), and help support the Refuge.
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Year-End Giving with the "Ding" Darling Wildlife Society
As the end of the year approaches, people are thinking of meaningful ways to give back with tax deductible gifts.
By giving to the "Ding" Darling Wildlife Society, you are playing an important role in supporting our mission of protecting wildlife and their habitats, providing environmental education programming, and inspiring the public to conserve the priceless natural spaces found at the J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge and beyond.
Donate here to make a difference today.
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Donate Cash for Bikes
Bikes for Achievement rewards students at Tice Elementary, a Title 1 school in Fort Myers, for good first-semester academic progress with a drawing for free bikes next year. Our goal is to purchase 50 bikes, and so far we’ve received donations for 18. Donate $100 to $125 per bike online now until January 22, and specify “bikes” in the memo. Note: We are seeking only cash donations for this charitable request. No bikes, please.
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Refuge Spotlight - America's Best Kept Secret
In each issue of “Ding” on the Wing, we showcase one of the more than 560 refuges across the U.S.A.
Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge
Location: 66,306 acres; Awendaw, South Carolina
Totemic fauna: Loggerhead Sea Turtle, American Oystercatcher, Piping Plover
Visitor tips: A contracted concessionaire conducts interpretive tours. Historical sites include a
Confederate tower and two 19th-century lighthouses.
Image courtesy of Billy Shaw
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GOING GREEN
Wrapping Green Four ways to keep your gift-giving ecofriendly:
- Choose gift bags, boxes, tissue, and bows that you can save to reuse next season. Save and reuse cardboard shipping boxes
- Wrap boxes with brown paper bags, newspapers or other shipping supplies. Put your gift in a reusable tote
- Add natural festive touches to the wrapping and skip the bow or ribbon
- Break down shipping and gift boxes and put them out to be recycled on recycling day. (Dirty or wet boxes are not recyclable.)
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Blue-winged Teals have recently been spotted at the Refuge. These ducks are typically one of the first to migrate south in the fall but one of the last to move north in the spring.
Click HERE to see this week's wildlife sightings.
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If you have taken any beautiful, interesting, or just plain goofy photos at the Refuge, send them to Development Officer Sierra Hoisington for a chance to be featured in upcoming newsletters. | |
Upcoming Events
WoW@ the Refuge for the Holidays – Select days December 21-30, 2021
Artist-in-Residence Exhibition – Through February 28, 2022
Ding’s Wild Daze Beer Tasting at Bailey’s – December 18, 2021
2022 Lecture Series – January 4-March 25, 2022
2022 Film Series on Zoom – Dates TBD
Wellness Week at the Refuge - February 7-12, 2022
Go Wild for “Ding” – Year of the Anhinga, Soar for 40 More – February 9, 2022
WoW in Edison Festival of Light Parade – February 19, 2022
Lori Lawrence Art Exhibition - March 1-April 30, 2022
Walk for "Ding" 40th Anniversary Challenge - March 1-April 10, 2022
Project Refuge: A Couture Fashion Show Using Trash - March 31, 2022
April No-Foolin’ Volunteer Appreciation Drive-Through - April 1, 2022
“Ding” Darling Day Conservation Carnival @ Lakes Park – April 24, 2022
10th Annual “Ding” Darling & Doc Ford’s Tarpon Tournament – May 13, 2022
Niki Butcher Art Exhibition - November 15-December 31, 2022
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These are just snapshots of some of the things taking place at your Wildlife Refuge. Please check our website to learn more!
Sincerely,
Birgit Miller, Executive Director
"Ding" On The Wing composed by Chelle Koster Walton. Designed by Interns Christina Hester & Hayley Caylor.
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