Rappahannock Wildlife Refuge Friends

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Rappahannock Wildlife Refuge Friends

A group of volunteers who work to support the Rappahannock River Valley National Wildlife Refuge There is a niche for everyone and new ideas are welcomed.

The Friends Group is made up of people with diverse backgrounds and with diverse interests. Some like to build or maintain trails, some like to work with native plant gardens, some like to participate in bird counts, and others prefer to plan special events and projects or give monetary support only. What everyone has in common is a love of the National Wildlife Refuge System and its mission to help protect our environment and, in particular, our wildlife.

06/14/2026

Saturday, June 13, 2026, was a beautiful day to spend fishing with kids on the Rappahannock River at the Port Royal (Virginia) Town Pier.

Friends Group volunteers, Rappahannock River Valley National Wildlife Refuge staff, Town of Port Royal Council members, Conservation Police Officers from the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, and the Port Royal Public Library were present to make the day enjoyable for about 30 kids and their families.

All equipment was provided. Lunch was served. Goody bags and books were given to participants.

Many volunteers spend numerous hours to make this event possible. The Friends Group and the Town of Port Royal co-sponsor this Kids' Fishing Day. A big thank you goes out to everyone who makes this day for children a huge success. Your time and efforts are greatly appreciated! 💙🌏💚🎣

06/07/2026

Rappahannock Wildlife Refuge Friends and Rappahannock River Valley National Wildlife Refuge hosted Kids' Fishing Day on Saturday, June 6, 2026, at the Wilna Unit of RRVNWR.

Friends Group Volunteers, Refuge staff and interns, and Conservation Police Officers from the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources assisted 37 children with all facets of this annual event held in conjunction with DWR's Free Fishing Days in Virginia (June 5-7, 2026).

All equipment was provided. Lunch was included. Children received goody bags and prizes.

There were many smiles, several squeals, and much enthusiasm as an eel, a catfish, a Blue Gill, and a few bass were reeled in. All catches were safely released back into Wilna Pond.

Preparations for Kids' Fishing Day begin months in advance of the event. A big shout out goes to all the volunteers responsible for making this event a huge success. ❤️

Let the smiles speak for themselves! It was a great day to fish, have fun, and spend so much time outdoors with so many families. 💙🌳💚🎣

06/06/2026

Now is the perfect time to take a walk AND read a book at the same time! A storywalk trail, provided by the Essex Public Library, is ready for your enjoyment at the Hutchinson Unit of Rappahannock River Valley National Wildlife Refuge in Tappahannock,VA. Enjoy some time reading "Because of an Acorn" while walking the trails. When you have finished reading, experience the scenery on the rest of the unit. Several trails, Mount Landing Creek fishing pier and kayak launch, bluebird houses, an Osprey nest, a pollinator garden, and abundant wildlife await you. 💙🌳💚🌰

05/20/2026

Join us for two free, fun-filled days of kids' fishing. Two dates: June 6 and June 13, 2026. Two locations: Wilna Pond and Port Royal Town Pier. Prizes! Food! Fishing advice! Amazing fun! Family friendly. All equipment provided. Space is limited. See attached Flyer for details and registration information.

05/14/2026

Don't forget! 🚨

This Saturday, May 16 from 9-2 is our native plant sale! We will be at the pavilion just inside the entrance to the Hutchinson Unit of RRVNWR, located on Rt 17 just north of Tappahannock. We will have over 550 plants for sale, representing over 50 species!

We will also have a booth with a small selection of plants at the Tappahannock Farmer's Market.

We hope to see you there!

📸 Wild Petunia, Smooth Beardtongue, Blue Mistflower

05/09/2026

Want to attract more butterflies to your home garden? You can do just that by adding native plants to your garden! Pictured are a few of the many species of plants that will be available for purchase at our upcoming Native Plant Sale: Swamp Milkweed, Wild Bergamot, Narrow-leaved Mountain Mint, and Blue Flag Iris.

On Saturday, May 16 from 9am-2pm, you can visit the Hutchinson Unit of RRVNWR at 19180 Tidewater Trail (Rt 17) in Tappahannock. Find us at the pavilion right by the entrance.

All proceeds from the sale support the Rappahannock River Valley NWR. We hope to see you there!

05/06/2026

Huge Native Plant Sale coming up May 16th with over 500 plants and over 50 different species. See below for details and a partial list of plants. See you there.

02/03/2026

This weekend, February 7 and 8, is the annual Northern Neck and Middle Peninsula Winter Waterfowl Count! This count is important for establishing long-term trends in waterfowl diversity and abundance across our region.

This is the last call for volunteers to help count all types of waterfowl and water-associated birds across the 11 counties of the region. If interested in participating (or for more info), send an email to count compiler Jeff Wright at [email protected] and let him know what county you would like to help with.

10/27/2025

Volunteers from the Friends Group participated in the Waterways Conservation Festival during the Menokin: Re-Imagining A Ruin Pumpkin Illumination Event on Saturday, October 25, 2025. Each visitor to the Friends' booth enjoyed building a Bluebird house to take home. Many hands contributed to each final masterpiece. ❤️ A big thank you goes out to everyone who made this event a success. Your efforts to make the world a better place are greatly appreciated.🌏💚🐦💙

10/10/2025

The Rappahannock Wildlife Refuge Friends received the 2025 Molly Krival Award for Refuge Friends Group of the Year from the National Wildlife Refuge Association .

The NWRA is the only national organization dedicated solely to supporting the National Wildlife Refuge System.

Molly Krival was a pioneer in the Refuge Friends Group movement. She had a passion for wildlife and the natural world. Following her retirement in 1988, Molly and her husband began volunteering at the J. N. "Ding" Darling NWR (Sanibel, FL). She developed a mentorship program to help communities form Friends groups for USFWS. Molly passed away in 2014.

Since 2009, RWRF volunteers have contributed more than 65,529 volunteer hours at Rappahannock River Valley National Wildlife Refuge. In fiscal year 2024 ALONE, they contributed 5,935 hours.

The Friends have touched every facet of the Refuge: habitat management, trail maintenance, construction, vehicle/equipment maintenance, visitors services, wildlife management, and environmental education outreach. The group is an integral part of initiating and maintaining positive community relations.

This year's banquet was held on Tuesday, October 7, 2025, at the Rappahannock Tribe's Indigenous Environmental and Conservation Center located on the the Cat Point Creek Unit of RRVNWR.

A virtual celebration, honoring all reward recipients, will take place on Thursday, November 20, 2025, at 7:00PM (ET).

Congratulations and thank you to every volunteer to whom this honor belongs. Your dedication is greatly appreciated. Many hands make light work. 💚🌏💙🌳

Address

4037 Menokin Rd
Warsaw, VA
22572

Website

https://rwrfriends.org/

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