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2012 Events Calendar
Click for printable Family Fishing Day - June 2, 2012
Click for printable 2012 Summer Ranger Programs
Refuge
Hours: 1/2 hour before sunrise until 1/2 hour after
sunset
Visitor Center Hours: 9:00
a.m. - 4:30 p.m. daily, closed on most Federal Holidays
January
February
Great Backyard Bird Count - February 17 - 20, 2012 Help count the birds through the windows of the visitor center. Refuge personnel and volunteers will be on hand to help keep track of sightings. How many different species can we find? The Great Backyard Bird Count is a joint program of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and National Audubon Society
March
- Spring waterfowl migration.
- Spring Migratory Bird Day - March 24th, 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Spring Migratory Bird Day - Refuge activities include spotting scope stations; enjoy family events & wildlife videos at the DeSoto Visitor Center, March 24th, 2012, 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. For additional Information about this national event go to: http://www.fws.gov/scripts/exit.cfm?link=http://www.birdday.org/
April
- DeSoto Lake OPENS April 14, for fishing
- Mushroom collecting April 16 - 20; April 23 - May 31
- Youth & disabled turkey hunt - April 14 - 15
- Archery turkey season - April 16 - May 20
May
- Spring bird count - Sunday May 6, 2012. Anyone interested in participating please meet at DeSoto Refuge, administration building parking lot area. For detailed information contact Steve Van Riper at 712-388-4807, cell # 402-957-8951 or email steve_van_riper@fws.gov
International Migratory Bird Day Observed - May 12, 2012. http://www.fws.gov/scripts/exit.cfm?link=http://www.fws.gov/birds/imbd/
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Cleanup and Conservation Project Day at DeSoto- May 12, 2012. Volunteers needed! For more information or to register, call the DeSoto Visitor Center at (712) 388-4800. Pre-registered participants will be assigned to one of the following activities:
- Prairie cord grass planting
- Refuge Roadway Litter and Debris Clean-up
- Day Use Area and Hiking Trail Maintenance
- Registration is encouraged, however, equipment and supplies will also be available for any other volunteers that want to stop and help that day.
- A bird conservation educational program will be presented after lunch as part of the refuge’s annual celebration of International Migratory Bird Day.
- Refuge Summer Program Activities
- Summer Jr. Refuge Manager Program Series- 10:00 a.m.
Saturday, May 26
Children will love these nature themed programs.
Pre-registration is appreciated at 712-388-4800.
- Habitat Work Days – 10:00 a.m. -12:00 p.m.
Saturday, June 23
Participate in conservation projects at the refuge. Projects may include trail maintenance and trash clean
up. Bring work gloves and water. Meet at the visitor center.
June
- Refuge Summer Program Activities
- Family Fishing Day, June 2, 2012
9:00 a.m.- 1:00 p.m.
South Gate Recreation Area
Fishing clinic instruction provided by the staff and volunteers of DeSoto NWR, Iowa DNR and Nebraska Game & Parks. Enjoy these fun activities - shoreline fishing with equipment available for loan by Nebraska Game & Parks, see a variety of live fish and talk about fish identification and how to catch fish with the Iowa DNR. This day also coincides with Iowa Free Fishing Days (June 1-3).
Any Iowa resident can fish at DeSoto without a fishing license during this event. Fishing license requirements for Nebraska residents age 16 years and older still apply.
- NATIONAL GET OUTDOORS DAY, June 9, 2012, - FEE FREE DAY
- Summer Jr. Refuge Manager Program Series- 10:00 a.m.
Thursdays, June 7, 21
Saturdays, June 16, 30
Children will love these nature themed programs.
Pre-registration is appreciated at 712-388-4800.
- Habitat Work Days – 10:00 a.m. -12:00 p.m.
Saturday, June 23
Participate in conservation projects at the refuge. Projects may include trail maintenance and trash clean
up. Bring work gloves and water. Meet at the visitor center.
July
- Refuge Summer Program Activities
- Summer Jr. Refuge Manager Program Series- 10:00 a.m.
Thursdays, July 5, 19
Saturdays, July 14, 28
Children will love these nature themed programs.
Pre-registration is appreciated at 712-388-4800.
- Kid’s Fishing Clinic – 10:00 a.m.
Saturday, July 7
South Gate Recreation Area
Discover the wonders of fishing with a DeSoto staff member. Learn a few secrets of fishing while having a
good time. Kid’s younger than 16 can fish without a license, fishing license requirements for Nebraska
and Iowa residents age 16 years and older still apply.
- Habitat Work Days – 10:00 a.m. -12:00 p.m.
Saturday, July 21
Participate in conservation projects at the refuge. Projects may include trail maintenance and trash clean
up. Bring work gloves and water. Meet at the visitor center.
August
- Refuge Summer Program Activities
- Summer Jr. Refuge Manager Program Series- 10:00 a.m.
Thursdays, August 2, 16
Saturdays, August 11
Children will love these nature themed programs.
Pre-registration is appreciated at 712-388-4800.
- Kid’s Fishing Clinic – 10:00 a.m.
Saturday, August 4
South Gate Recreation Area
Discover the wonders of fishing with a DeSoto staff member. Learn a few secrets of fishing while having a
good time. Kid’s younger than 16 can fish without a license, fishing license requirements for Nebraska
and Iowa residents age 16 years and older still apply.
- Habitat Work Days – 10:00 a.m. -12:00 p.m.
Saturday, August 18
Participate in conservation projects at the refuge. Projects may include trail maintenance and trash clean
up. Bring work gloves and water. Meet at the visitor center.
September
- September 29, 2012 - FEE FREE DAY - National Public Lands Day (NPLD)
National Public Lands Day (NPLD) - September 29, 2012 Saturday. Join refuge staff and friends for the nation's largest hands-on volunteer effort to improve and enhance our public lands. Volunteer projects will include seed collecting, invasive plant removing, and trash collecting. For more information about National Public Lands Day, visit their website National Public Lands Day
October
- October 14, 2012, National Wildlife Refuge Week/Fall Migratory Bird Day - FEE FREE DAY
- October 20, 2012, Fall Migratory Bird Day - Activities include spotting scope stations; enjoy family events & wildlife videos at the DeSoto Visitor Center. Celebrate America’s great outdoors with a visit to a national wildlife refuge during National Wildlife Refuge Week. You will see for yourself that refuges conserve some of our nation’s most cherished natural treasures: wildlife and wild places. Join us to connect with nature through a variety of activities; bird watching, wildlife films and more.
November
December
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