The Friends of the Heinz Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum is engaged in a wide variety of Projects, Programs, and Services which serve to raise the awareness of, and support for, the National Wildlife Refuge System, the United State Fish & Wildlife Service, and in particular for this wetland "Treasure" called Tinicum Marsh. We have many dedicated volunteers who manage a nature gift shop, assist with education programs, solicit grants for special projects, organize special events on and off the refuge, work on water quality issues, provide photo documentation of refuge activities and events, and help to develop and maintain many miles of refuge trails.

The Friend's Program Services

Manage a nature shop in the Cusano Environmental Education Center, which carries a wide selection of merchandise that reflects the natural bio-diversity of the region. Net proceeds from sales in the nature shop are intended to supplement the cost of special programs and projects on the refuge, which would otherwise go unfunded due to budget shortfalls. Two projects currently in line for such funding are: stocking the resource room library with books and multi-media items, and developing a handicapped accessible loop trail on the edge of the impoundment

Sponsor a Water Quality team which, at present, operates primarily during the spring and summer months. The work done by this team is mostly "hands-on", and involves environmental education, and water quality monitoring. Included activities are: Annual stream and stream-bank cleanups, Stenciling storm-drains with the words "NO DUMPING, DRAINS TO RIVER" on a neighborhood by neighborhood basis, regular water testing, and working with nearby schools to catalogue water quality information in booklets which are to be distributed throughout the state.

Sponsor a Photo Group which documents refuge activities and events, is developing an illustrated handbook of refuge flora, and which works with local schools to teach children about nature as seen "Through the Eye of the Lens". Other favorite activities of the Photo Group include leading monthly guided photography walks, and sponsoring photo contests for people of all ages and experience.

Sponsor a "Trail Tamer" Group that helps to plan, develop and maintain refuge trails. We have a regular "Second Saturday" schedule, which is supplemented by special activity days such as "United Way Day of Caring" and "National Public Lands Day", each September, "I Can Make a Difference Day" in October, and "Earth Day" in April. The big project on the drawing board at present is the planning for, and development of, a handicapped accessible loop boardwalk trail near the new Environmental Education Building.

Foster environmental education through work with refuge educational staff, as they implement the "Earth Steward" Program on the refuge. Students from nearby schools work all year on special environmental education issues, culminated at year-end with a refuge service project. Our environmental education volunteers assist with presentations in the schools, helping to raise needed funds, and also with the physical implementation of the service projects.

Operate a "Speaker's Bureau", utilizing either a refuge slide show or video. We are building a list of contacts, and a roster of presenters so that we can accomplish better community outreach.

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