President's Perch

by Cheryl Hart

Board President

Last weekend, the Refuge Deputy Manager and I took advantage of the opening of our Seasonal Trail to take a walk around the loop. It was cold. It was raining most of the time. But I was awed by the beauty that nature continues to create along our recently restored Chicken Creek. When we are frequent refuge trail visitors, we may not always appreciate how quickly recently restored areas begin to thrive. But, it was an amazing experience to witness what Mother Nature has been up to behind the curtain provided by the winter closure. If you haven’t

ventured out on the Seasonal Trail yet this year, you have some beautiful surprises in store

when you do make that trip!

If you happened to be at the refuge on Saturday, April 27, you might have seen some excited

and enthusiastic youth taking part in the Second Annual Youth Climate Change Summit. The

weather chose not to cooperate for this event either, so it was staged inside the Visitor Center

this year. The uncooperative weather couldn’t dampen the spirits of the students who

participated. Many of them have worked together to plan this event for the whole school year.

Bonnie and I have the honor of working with these students throughout their planning process

and we both admire the dedication of the planning team and the great ideas they come up with to engage their classmates in activities that can help to save our planet. Most of the planning team are Seniors so they will be stepping out into a wider world next year but not before they pass the torch to the next set of Summit planners. This is truly one of my favorite things all year. Meeting weekly with these student leaders really recharges my batteries!

Our Service Staff and Friends are making a continued effort to welcome people to the refuge

who may not have always felt welcome in nature. Two years ago, we celebrated the opening of the Seasonal Trail with Oregon Chinese Coalition sharing their culture. Last year, the refuge

hosted a Pride event and an event for Latinx families. This year, we are planning another Latinx

event and a special event for women Veterans and their families. Keep a watch on our Web Page and social media to find out what other special events will be hosted at our refuge.

As I was writing about the drizzle that interfered with some of my activities over the last month, I am aware that we just had our first 80-degree day since October and, not to be shown up, today is supposed to be 90 degrees. There is nothing like a morning walk in the cool wooded

areas of the refuge when the weather heats up. Remember, the refuge opens at sun-up and is

open until sundown so take advantage of the cooler morning and evening hours, and I’ll see you at the refuge.

-Cheryl

Focus on Friends

by Bonnie Anderson

Executive Director

Honoring Women Veterans at the Tualatin River NWR in June

The Friends of the Tualatin River Refuge are proud to announce a special event honoring our local women veterans! This event wouldn't be possible without a series of connections that highlight the power of community.

January | A Seed is Sown

In January, we were invited by U.S. Rep. Andrea Salinas to participate in a Senior Outreach Fair. There, we met Jessica Bradley, the Women Veterans' Coordinator for the Oregon Department of Veteran Affairs (ODVA).

February | The Invitation

Jessica, impressed by our work, invited us to be the only non-veteran exhibitor at their annual luncheon celebrating Women's Military History Week. This event allowed us to connect with many inspiring women veterans from the Tri-County area.

March | A Generous Spark

Following these encounters, Jessica and I discussed the potential for connecting women veterans with the healing power of nature offered by the Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge. This conversation, coupled with a generous donation of birding books from Heather and Alan Fitzpatrick, ignited the idea for a special event.

June | Honoring Our Heroes

Collaborating with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and ODVA, we're thrilled to host an event at the Refuge on June 15th. This event will celebrate both the women veterans themselves and the anniversary of the signing of the Women's Armed Services Integration Act in 1948.

Honoring, Celebrating, and Connecting

On June 15th, we'll welcome these brave women and their families to the Refuge. This will be an opportunity to:

• Thank them for their service and sacrifice.
• Celebrate their achievements and stories.
• Connect them with the healing and restorative power of nature found at the Refuge.

Connecting Our Community

This event exemplifies how the Friends of the Refuge play a vital role in connecting our community. By collaborating with ODVA and the Pacific Northwest Veteran Sisters group, we create valuable opportunities for our community members.

Support Our Work

If you believe in what we do, please consider making a donation to support us in providing these opportunities that connect veterans with nature.

Together, we can create a space for healing, connection, and celebration for our local women veterans and more! Please make an online donation here, so we can continue to provide these opportunities.

Bonnie