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Friends of Aransas and Matagorda
Island National Wildlife Refuges |
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The Friends of Aransas
and Matagorda Island (FAMI) were organized in 1997 with a handful of local
citizens who cared about the Refuge and wanted to make a difference. Since
then, membership has grown and the group has become an important partner for
the Refuge.
In 2000, FAMI assumed
operation of the Visitor Center nature store. FAMI members provided the
full range of retail management functions on a volunteer basis, with day-to-day
operations provided by Refuge staff and volunteers.
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With store profits, FAMI
is able to support and fund Refuge projects such as water/windmill restoration
at ten sites, prairie restoration at the Whitmire Unit, Brundrett Lake culvert
repair marsh enhancement at Matagorda Island, Big Devil Bayou culvert repair,
Shell Reef Culvert project, water hyacinth control at the Whitmire Unit, Port
O’Connor boat barn construction, scholarships, grants projects, Manager’s
fund, youth hunts, Refuge
Celebration, Fishing Clinic, and the Migration event. Other
activities include staffing the Visitor Center front desk, van
tours, conducting both on and off-Refuge visitor presentations, school programs,
guided walking tours, Christmas Bird Count sponsorship, and support of off-site
Refuge festival booths at the Whooping Crane Festival in Pt. Aransas, Hummer/Bird
Celebration in Rockport and a State Science Teachers Convention held in Corpus
Christi in 2004.
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Friends
of Aransas & Matagorda Island NWR
Mission Statement
Friends of Aransas &
Matagorda Island National Wildlife Refuges (FAMI) will work to support and
assist the Aransas and Matagorda Island National Wildlife Refuge Complex in
its goal of enhancing habitat and wildlife and encouraging compatible wildlife-dependent
public uses of the Refuges through educational, interpretive, scientific and
other activities appropriate to the Mission of these Refuges. |
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The
Nature Store offers drinks and snacks along with mosquito repellent and hunter
tape. You’ll find a large variety of nature-related products from children’s
games and books to T-shirts and field guides for the experienced birder or naturalist.
All profits go back to the Refuge to support needed projects. If there is something
in particular you are interested in purchasing, please contact Business Manager
Beverly Fletcher at the Refuge (361-286-3559). |
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