Refuge Manager, Gary Wheeler, is joined by Refuge staff and Friends of Alaska National Wildlife Refuges volunteers for Kodiak's 49th Annual Crab Festival.

Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge came out of hibernation for the 49th Annual Kodiak Crab Festival May 24th through 28th. Volunteers from Friends of Alaska National Wildlife Refuges assisted Refuge Outreach staff in this community-wide celebration by designing and building a custom float, themed “Under Construction and Coming Soon” that featured the Refuge visitor center (opening this fall 2007). Refuge Manager, Gary Wheeler, was joined on the float by Visitor Center Manager, Tina Shaw, Friends Outreach and Education Co-chair, Carla Stanley and Blazy Construction Superintendent, Fred Roberts, while Refuge staff and Friends volunteers marched along as the ‘Big 6’ of Refuge Public Use. More than 1000 Kodiakans turned out in the rain and cold to cheer on the parade and raved as the Refuge float was awarded second place by the Mayor of Kodiak. Along with creating this award-winning float, volunteers staffed an informational booth on the Crab Fest mid-way, contacting more than 600 festival goers and raising more than $500 in donations for Kodiak Summer Science and Salmon Camp.