The idea to send out an email to connect Friends of Patuxent (FOP) members arose during the COVID pandemic when the Patuxent Research Refuge (PRR) suspended volunteer activities and closed the visitor center. Although the grounds at Patuxent were still open, what was missing  was the opportunity to meet other volunteers and Friends members and have casual conversations about what they had been up to.  Typically, these revolved around nature – animal sightings and stories, garden successes and failures, and seeing pictures of most recent hiking vacations or hearing about upcoming plans.  

With the FOP Board approval, the Membership Committee published the first issue of  “Friends Connecting to Friends” on May 15, 2020. It became a platform for all Friends members to share their stories and connect with each other.   It was an additional publication to the FOP newsletter and had a different, perhaps more personal, focus.  The 13th and final issue was published on March 1, 2021, which coincided with PRR opening volunteer activities on its grounds.

Issue 1

Issue 2

Issue 3

Issue 4

Issue 5

Issue 6

Issue 7

Issue 8

Issue 9

Issue 10

Issue 11

Issue 12

Issue 13