Families Gone Wild Alaskan Refuge Trip Contest

Barbara’s Bakery Sponsors National Wildlife Refuge Tour Sweepstakes

Apr 24, 2009 Dawn M. Smith

Barbara's Bakery takes its decade long support of the National Wildlife Refuge Association to another level by encouraging people to visit NWRs and share their experience

To enter the contest, families who have been to a National Wildlife Refuge just send in a video (30 seconds) or a photo with a 50 word essay describing their experience. The winner will receive a trip for four, including airfare and hotel, to the Kenai NWR.

National Wildlife Refuges Under Threat

The National Wildlife Refuge system is a US government managed habitat protection program. Not many people are aware that there are 150 million acres protected to some extent under the US National Wildlife Refuge system.

All National Wildlife Refuges are managed for multiple interests, which may include hunting and fishing as appropriate. Unfortunately the refuge system tends to be under constant threat from budget backlogs and pressure from development interests.

The Alaska National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) is probably the most famous in terms of an ongoing effort to encroach on critical wildlife habitat. But smaller refuges in densely populated states such as the Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge in Florida, where endangered manatees congregate, also face pressures.

The Role of the National Wildlife Refuge Association in Protecting NWRs

The National Wildlife Refuge Association works as a public voice for the refuges, helping to ensure that funding for important refuge management and acquisition is protected.

An important part of their work is in raising public awareness when attempts are made to encroach on National Wildlife Refuges in ways that are likely to be detrimental to the wild animals which utilize the lands. In some sensitive refuges even adding an additional unpaved roadway may have a seriously damaging impact so this watchdog effort is important to maintaining the integrity of NWRs.

The National Wildlife Refuge Association also supports the development of Friends of the Wildlife Refuges groups to advocate locally and to help with hands on management of the refuges. These groups do everything from attending local, state and federal meetings on National Wildlife Refuge issues to helping clear invasive plants. Supporting the NWR staff in maintaining and restoring wildlife refuges helps tremendously in tight budget times.

Barbara’s Bakery Families Gone Wild Alaskan Refuge Sweepstakes

Barbara’s Bakery, having been a supporter of the National Wildlife Refuge Association for many years, recognizes the need to interest more people in the NWR system. The Families Gone Wild Alaskan Refuge Trip Sweepstakes is yet another way of supporting the work of the NWRA in protecting wildlife refuges.

Those who wish to participate in the contest need only send a photo with a 50 word comment or a 30-second talking video taken at a national wildlife refuge which reflects their refuge experience. Entries must be received by August 24, 2009. The prize is a trip for four to the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska where visitors experience an Alaskan wilderness complete with glaciers, moose and abundant birdlife.

Families can find out where their local National Wildlife Refuges are by visiting the US Fish and Wildlife Service NWR website.

The copyright of the article Families Gone Wild Alaskan Refuge Trip Contest in Wildlife Preservation is owned by Dawn M. Smith. Permission to republish Families Gone Wild Alaskan Refuge Trip Contest in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Glaciers Seen at Kenai National Wildlife Refuge