Discover the Nature of America ... Visit a National Wildlife Refuge (USFWS poster).

National Wildlife Refuges offer year-round opportunities to prevent nature-deficit disorder (USFWS poster).

Long weeks of mid-winter darkness, sub-freezing temperatures, and record breaking snow falls have given chills to many Coulee Region families who are coping with symptoms of cabin fever. 

To help cure this annually recurring malady, the La Crosse National Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office (NFWCO) participated for the third consecutive year in the Mid-Winter Family Sport Show, a community event held February 15-16 at the Coulee Region Christian School in nearby West Salem, Wisconsin. 

The NFCWO booth near the entrance of the show displayed posters encouraging families to “Discover the Nature of America” and “Prevent Nature-Deficit Disorder”.   Staff distributed brochures describing recreational opportunities (e.g., fishing, hunting, camping, canoeing, hiking, photography, wildlife observation, foraging) available at nearby refuges (Necedah, Trempealeau, Upper Mississippi River), as well as practices that encourage ethical outdoor behavior and environmental stewardship, to help the hundreds of people attending the show plan their next visit to a national wildlife refuge, where nature comes first.