The Friends of Patuxent is an all-volunteer group that raises funds and provides financial support for the USFWS Patuxent Research Refuge and the USGS Eastern Ecological Science Center. In FY 2024, FOP’s support totaled $36,202 including:

• $8,000 for a pollinator cam for the Science Center Bee Lab.

• $8,000 to develop and install a conservation-oriented Story Trail at the National Wildlife Visitor Center.
• $2,000 to initiate a Speaker Series at the National Wildlife Visitor Center.
• $2,000 to plan exhibition of Motus Tower data in the National Wildlife Visitor Center.
• $2,000 added to a restricted fund for use by the Refuge.
• $2,000 added to a restricted fund for use by the Science Center.
• $5,643 to support facilities and education programs at the Refuge.
• $5,960 to support other programs and activities at the Refuge and Science Center.
• $599 to purchase a laptop computer for the National Wildlife Visitor Center auditorium

In 2024, the Friends of Patuxent:

• Dedicated the Dr. Chandler S. Robbins Outdoor Education Center and Wisdom Trail.
• Designed and developed the first-ever Exploring Patuxent Research Refuge calendar.
• Sponsored and hosted the annual Wildlife Holiday Bazaar.
• Sponsored and hosted the spring Wild Bee & Flower Festival.
• Sponsored and hosted the autumn Magical Monarchs & Pollinator Habitats Celebration and Workshop.
• Sponsored and hosted a Speaker’s Series presentation Crisis in the Chesapeake Bay: Ospreys in Peril.

In addition, the Friends of Patuxent supported: 

• The historic Patuxent Herbarium located in the National Wildlife Visitor Center.
• Art exhibitions in the Hollingsworth Gallery at the National Wildlife Visitor Center.
• The Refuge’s Latino Conservation Day and Urban Wildlife Conservation Day.
• The Refuge's Mentored Hunt Program and workshop "Modern Hunting Ammunition: Opportunities for Hunters and Wildlife Conservation."
• The link with Masonville Cove Urban Wildlife Refuge Partnership.
• Two Congressional Staff tours hosted by the Eastern Ecological Science Center.
• The planning committee for a Whooping Crane Exhibit in the Visitor Center.
• The Co-designing With (Not for) Communities initiative of the Refuge.
• The Refuge regarding land-use issues adjacent to the Refuge.
  

Friends of Patuxent continues to:

• Operate the Wildlife Images Bookstore & Nature Shop at the Refuge.

• Log countless volunteers' hours supporting the Patuxent Research Refuge and Eastern Ecological Science Center.

• Support the Junior Ranger Program.

Want to help in this vital conservation, education, and wildlife research? Please consider joining and volunteering with the Friends of Patuxent!

Check out our past accomplishments here:

2023          2022