The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Whittlesey Creek National Wildlife Refuge (NWR)played a major role in organizing the event, and Pam Dryer, Mark Brouder and Ted Koehler from the Ashland NFWCO helped with leading festival excursions.  Pam Dryer led Hiking Copper Falls State Park were participants enjoyed a birding adventure while hiking through the northern coniferous forest and viewing the spectacular waterfalls.  Mark Brouder led segments called Coaster Brook Trout Field Trips where festival goers joined him on Whittlesey Creek to learn about and participate in coaster brook trout restoration.  Part of these trips was the chance to help stock coaster brook trout in the stream and everyone was thrilled to handle and directly participate in efforts to recover this important Lake Superior resource.  Ted Koehler led tours called the Coastal and Inland Wetland Walks.  The programs focused on migratory waterfowl and began with a “Ducks on a Stick” presentation where participants could literally handle and identify taxidermy mounted ducks on a stick. 

After a short time indoors, the majority of the program explored Whittlesey Creek National Wildlife Refuge’s inland and coastal wetlands.  Many species of waterfowl and other wetland associated birds were observed including scaup, ring-necked ducks, common terns and bald eagles.  The Ducks on a Stick were provided by Rice Lake National Wildlife Refuge and were a big hit at the festival and at a presentation given to the local Cub Scout Pack.  

In all the activities led by the Ashland NFWCO participants learned about the area’s natural features and their importance in the life cycles of fish and wildlife, as well as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s role in protecting and restoring the area’s federal trust species and their habitats.