Accomplishments

The FFRWR is part of a national movement to support National Wildlife Refuges across the USA. These “Friends” groups raise much-needed funds for education programs, habitat restoration, community partnership, and special outreach events. Here is the report on the many successes of the Friends groups across the country.

Friends Receives Shade Structure Grant for Archery Range

Friends of the Front Range Wildlife Refuges has been awarded a Shade Structure Grant from the American Academy of Dermatology. The grant will enable a permanent shade structure to be built over the Archery Range located at RMANWR that will protect children and adults each day from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays.

Protection from the sun is incredibly important at our refuge due to the intense UV rays and lack of trees surrounding the archery range.

Since its launch in 2000, the AAD’s Shade Structure Grant Program has awarded funding for more than 450 shade structures, which provide shade for more than 3.5 million individuals each day. Commerce City board-certified dermatologist Janine Mueller, Senior Specialist, MD, FAAD, a member of the AAD, sponsored Friends’ grant application.

According to the AAD, skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States, and it only takes one blistering sunburn during childhood or adolescence to nearly double a person’s chance of developing melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, later in life. Seeking shade is an easy way to reduce the risk of skin cancer, along with covering up and wearing a broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher.

The Shade Structure Grant Program is part of the AAD’s SPOT Skin Cancer™ campaign to reduce the incidence of skin cancer by educating the public about effective skin cancer prevention tips. To learn more about the Shade Structure Grant Program or for ways to prevent and detect skin cancer, visit SpotSkinCancer.org.

 

What has the nonprofit organization, Friends of the Front Range Wildlife Refuges, accomplished in 2022 and 2023?

Every year, we buy nature supplies for environmental education programs. We bring raptor programs and zoo and farm animals to the Visitor Center for special programming. We support the annual volunteer luncheon to thank the wonderful refuge volunteers and much more!

We get youth into the outdoors! The FFRWR hosts the Generation Wild Northeast Metro Coalition of three cities, seven nonprofits, and state and federal agencies that receive grants from the Colorado Lottery funded Great Outdoors Colorado. Funding brings students from the four target neighborhoods (Commerce City, Northeast Park Hill, Montbello, and Northwest Aurora) to the refuge and supports the Spanish language Wildlife Drive program and the annual GoWild In Your Park/Refuge Day community event in the fall. For more information see: https://www.generationwild.com/

For wonderful ideas about what to do with your kids outdoors, check out the Generation Wild’s list of 100 outdoor activities, your path to fun all year round — from your backyard to the backcountry. Click here for the English PDF or here for the Spanish PDF.

FFRWR plays a critical role in educating the community about the critical role the refuge plays in wildlife and habitat protection and community engagement. Recently designated as a Flagship Urban Refuge, the Rocky Mountain Arsenal follows these US FWS Standards (https://www.fws.gov/media/urban-wildlife-conservation-program-standards-excellence)

The future success of conservation lies ultimately in our ability to inspire Americans to connect with the outdoors and nature, and to become stewards of the environment. Americans are spending less time outdoors and are becoming more ethnically and racially diverse. With more than 80% of Americans now living in urban areas, our challenge is to become relevant in their daily lives. Without public awareness and support, our conservation mission will not succeed.  The Urban Wildlife Conservation Refuge Program follows these eight standards of excellence that serve as a framework for collaboration among the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and local communities:

1. Know and relate to the community.
2. Use stepping stones to engage people in nature.
3. Build partnerships.
4. Be a community asset.
5. Ensure adequate long-term resources.
6. Provide equitable access.
7. Ensure visitors feel welcome and safe.
8. Model sustainability.