On January 31st, 2023, the Friends of Mashpee NWR held its 2022 Annual Meeting. A key element of the meeting was a review of our 2022 accomplishments. It’s an impressive list of activities that our Friends group, with help from many individual donors and volunteers, has achieved. For more about our Annual Meeting, please see the full minutes.
FMNWR 2022 Achievements:
Osprey Cam: Installed and managed “Osprey Cam” at WBNERR, which increased public awareness, engagement and donations. The live stream chronicled a nesting pair of ospreys successfully raising their three chicks.
POH Camp: Participated in Wampanoag Tribal 2022 “Preserve Our Homeland” (POH) Camp by creating a pollinator friendly “rain garden” at Tribal HQ. Over 500 plants were planted with Tribal youth.
Brochure: Published and printed new brochure “Cape Cod Pollinator Gardens” to be distributed to the public in 2023.
WFTW: Participated in 2022 “Walk for the Wild” (WFTW), an awareness and fundraising campaign for the NWRS and FMNWR. We look forward to building on the event’s success in 2023.
Pollinator Gardens: Expanded and maintained pollinator gardens at Refuge trailheads through volunteer efforts to plant, weed and water throughout the season.
Visitor Center/Visitor Contact Station: Revitalized discussions about a Mashpee NWR Visitor Center / Visitor Contact Station. Working on proposal to utilize WBNERR/DCR property at Martin Road for plant propagation.
Girl Scout Trip: Coordinated a program at WBNERR for a group of visiting Girl Scouts from Girl Scouts of Ohio’s Heartland Council.
Palmer Award: Presented 2022 David Ross Palmer Environmental Stewardship Award to Katelyn Cadoret, past President of FMWR and former Mashpee Assistant Conservation Agent.
Estuaries Day: Co-sponsored “Celebrating Ospreys and Estuaries” with WBNERR.
Newsletters: Published and distributed three FMNWR Newsletters (Winter, Spring, Summer) to members and mailing list.
Refuge Highlights: FMWR submitted articles appearing in multiple Refuge Highlights, a publication of USFWS and the National Wildlife Refuge System Eastern Region
AmeriCorps: Along with Refuge Partner WBNERR, the Friends co-mentored AmeriCorp Members Emilie Brush (2021-2022) and Leo Lainez (2022-2023), working on Friends newsletters, educational programs and other support. Also worked with AmeriCorps Cape Cod teams as part of a Service Day, working in pollinator gardens on Earth Day 2022.
Falmouth Rod & Gun Club: continued to work with the Pollinator Committee of the FR&GC, a Refuge Partner, on plant cultivation in their fields and other locations.
Thank you again to all who help make our work possible!