On Saturday, October 13, 2012, Refuge representatives and guests gathered for the dedication ceremony of the reburbished Forests of Patuxent Discovery Hike trail.

Dr. Gregory Smith, Director of Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Nell Baldacchino, the Refuge Visitor Services Manager, Pauline Chvilicek, Trail Committee Chair, a number of trail committee members, and several visitors witnessed the “unveiling” of a new trail head sign; the revised trail guide, which is illustrated by Rod Burley, a member of the Friends of Patuxent Board of Directors and Patuxent volunteer; and a new trail guide holder made by volunteer Ken Lavish.

This Friends of Patuxent project was initiated by Pauline Chvilicek, member of the Friends of Patuxent Board of Directors. Hard working volunteers put in several hours on a working day in August. They cleaned, repositioned and painted the numbered posts that line the trail.

Part of the trail is dedicated to Dr. Chandler S. Robbins who began his career at Patuxent in 1945 and has dedicated over 60 years of his life to the study of migratory birds and their habitats.