The Link – Winter 2026

The longest-ever government shutdown is over, but uncertainty remains on the horizon. Time to take a deep breath, spend some time outside, and bravely look ahead to 2026. Challenges can be stressful, but they can also inspire creativity. This issue offers resources to promote nature store success as well as an example of a joyful response to the reopening of Ottawa NWR (OH) after the shutdown. Enjoy!

Sue Hix, Editor
Friends of Sherburne NWR (MN)

Join the Herd!

By Joan VanGorp, Friends of Neal Smith NWR (IA)

We invite you to learn more about CORFA’s resources to help in the operation of nature stores. The Hub on CORFA’s website is for conversation and the sharing of ideas. If you have questions, challenges, best practices – the HUB is the ideal place to share with other Friends.

Also, the plan is to add more documents to the resource center on the website, and we want to gather that from all of you. We welcome job descriptions, store criteria, vendor lists, nature store volunteer’s information, marketing tools…whatever you use in the day-to-day operations of your store.

If you are not signed up to access the website/Hub, it is very easy. Go to the CORFA website: https://coalitionofrefugefriends.com  From there, create an account by entering your email address, creating a password, entering your First Name, Last Name, and your role with your Friends group. Then click on Create account.

Once your account is created:

• In the left side bar, under Getting Started, click on Join a Group.
• Click on Request Access in the “Friends in Retail” square.
• The Organizer of the Retail HUB will approve your request.
• Once approved, to share information and ask questions – click on the Friends in Retail square.
• This will take you to the Feed page.
• Click on the area titled “Share something with the group…”, 
• Then type in your question or idea. 

Friends are encouraged to join the Hub, and we are asking for your input – we want to hear from you and what is important for your group.

If you have questions or have documents that you would like to have shared on the website, please send them to: joanvangorp@gmail.com

Photo of bison at Neal Smith NWR by Joan VanGorp

A Fun Way to Promote Your Refuge!

From Aimee Arent, Executive Director, Friends of Ottawa NWR (OH)

The Friends of Ottawa NWR (OH) are active-and very creative-users of Facebook. They post almost daily, featuring refuge wildlife and habitats in photos and videos that are both engaging and educational. And of course they also use Facebook to promote their store, the Rookery Nature Store.

Like USFWS staff and Friends organizations across the nation, the Friends of Ottawa were thrilled when the 43-day government shutdown was finally over and the refuge—and their nature store—could be open again. Being closed meant weeks of lost store income, and as their Facebook post noted, “that’s one of the biggest ways we fund conservation, education, and community programs all year long.”

To celebrate the reopening, on November 14 the Friends posted a video starring the Refuge System Mascot, Puddles the Blue Goose. With the help of talented singer Kaitlin Abbey of Forte Music School – Perrysburg, Puddles ran singing through the refuge – excited to reopen the Refuge Visitor Center. Click here to enjoy the video!

Photo by the Friends of Ottawa

We’d love your opinion

By Joan VanGorp, Friends of Neal Smith NWR (IA)

Many Friends groups rely on their nature store as a major source of income. There are also, of course, always challenges with operating a store. CORFA is looking at ways to help Friends groups regarding nature stores and that is where you come in.

The input from Friends will be an important part in determining what resources to develop and what topics to explore. We need to know what you see as important for the successful operation of a nature store.

Would you help by completing this short survey? Please complete this survey by Friday, February 16, 2026. Nature Store Survey

Credit

The Link is a coordinated effort between the National Wildlife Refuge Association and Coalition of Refuge Friends & Advocates.  

To receive the next issue of The Link, go to https://coalitionofrefugefriends.com/ and sign up for an account. And please add coalitionofrefugefriends.com to the safe list for your email account.