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This is my sanctuary, an oasis in the rush and clamor of urban life. This is my retreat, a haven of marsh, woods and wildlife, where my spirit is refreshed. This is my refuge.

The old fields, woods, streams, and wetlands found in John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum had been, as recently as 1960, targeted for industrial expansion. Those plans were changed in 1972 when in response to intensive grassroots efforts by local citizens, Congress passed legislation which put the future of these lands into the hands of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service; these 1,200 acres would become a National Wildlife Refuge, and this refuge would become the nation’s very first National Environmental Center.
Ducks

When Congress established it, they set three mandates by which the refuge should be managed:

  • To restore wetlands, wherever possible;
  • To promote environmental education;
  • To provide wildlife-oriented recreation opportunities for visitors.

We invite you to visit our refuge and to see for yourself just how well we have lived up to these Congressional mandates.

The Friends of Heinz Refuge (FOHR) is excited to announce this year’s photo competition “Nature in Focus 2024”, celebrating the beauty and diversity of the natural world found at the Heinz Refuge through the lens of photography. From breathtaking landscapes and stunning wildlife, to intricate patterns and textures found in nature, we encourage you to explore the endless possibilities of capturing the essence of the natural world.

The “Nature in Focus” Photo Competition opens Monday, April 15, 2024 and ends Thursday, August 15, 2024.

In the March issue of On The FOHR Front:

  • Heinz Refuge Calendar
  • Junior Duck Stamp ENTRIES DUE!
  • Announcing “Nature In Focus 2024”!
  • In Store at the Nature Store
  • Photo Finish
  • Save The Date
  • Get Involved

Click here to read this issue.

In 2022, the Friends of Heinz Refuge presented four multi-disciplinary webinars that provide perspectives on how to prevent and reduce plastic pollution in the waters of the John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge and beyond.  Explore where it comes from, monitoring and clean-up methods, the role that policies can play, and tips to engage with communities and audiences to reduce plastic pollution – topics pertinent to many coastal watersheds.

A previous webinar series, Plastics in Our World Today, aired in 2020.

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