Deputy Refuge Manager Doug Staller leading fur Yo-Yo sewing - photo by Janet Schmidt, USFWS, 2/14/2009 Kenai NWR

Maggie Jones leads native dancing at Kenai NWR Winter Fun Day - photo by Betsy Oliver, USFWS, 2/14/2009

Park Ranger and Storyteller Jetta Minerva of Kenai NWR explains how Raven created the first song - photo by Janet Schmidt, USFWS

The Kenai Peninsula community surrounding the cities of Kenai and Soldotna celebrated Valentine’s Day 2009 with a "Winter Family Fun Day" at Kenai National Wildlife Refuge.  Refuge staff led a number of indoor family activities and prepared wild, winter Alaskan snacks including smoked salmon, salmon jerky, reindeer meatsticks, and our whipped topping and berry version of  Akutaq (Eskimo ice cream).    A yo-yo fur sewing session, led by Deputy Refuge Manager Doug Staller and assisted by his son, Dalton, drew an interested crowd, and a guided Beginners Snowshoe Walk with Education Specialist Michelle Ostrowski discovered the presence of winter wildlife along the trails near the Visitor’s Center.  An additional feature to this year's annual event was the participation of Maggie Jones from the Kenaitze Indian Tribe who taught some Dena'ina language and, with help of Park Ranger Jetta Minerva, performed several native stories and dances.  Children and some carefree parents and friends moved through the Education Center singing and dancing about how Raven gave people the first song.  It was a beautiful sunshine-filled day where people embraced the opportunity to enjoy Kenai Refuge and the outdoors with their loved ones.