Urban Wildlife Refuge Program

We're Hiring: South Florida Regional Partnership Specialist

We're Hiring: South Florida Regional Partnership Specialist

The National Wildlife Refuge Association is seeking a dynamic and experienced Regional Partnership Specialist to join our Urban Wildlife Refuge Program team in South Florida. This full-time position will play a key role in expanding the reach of the Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge’s Urban Program, fostering community engagement, building partnerships, and promoting wildlife conservation across diverse urban communities.

Building Connections Through Fishing In The Northeast

Building Connections Through Fishing In The Northeast

The National Wildlife Refuge Association is thrilled to share the success of the recent Cops and Bobbers fishing program, a collaborative effort by Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, Groundwork Elizabeth, and the Elizabeth Police Department, under our Urban Wildlife Refuge Program in the Northeast. This exciting event introduced over 50 youth summer campers to fishing and archery for the first time, fostering connections with nature and community. Dive into the full story to see how we're making a difference!

Delray Beach Creates Second Pocket Refuge as Part of Urban Wildlife Refuge Program

Delray Beach Creates Second Pocket Refuge as Part of Urban Wildlife Refuge Program

We've got some seriously exciting news for you. This Earth Day, the National Wildlife Refuge Association teamed up with the Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge, the City of Delray Beach’s Department of Parks and Recreation, and the Department of Sustainability to create a groundbreaking Pocket Refuge at the Family Recreation and Fitness Center Playground.

Urban Partners Team Up to Plant Trees in Chauncey Park for Earth Day

Urban Partners Team Up to Plant Trees in Chauncey Park for Earth Day

An Earth Month celebration was held on April 8, 2023, at Chauncey Park in Dobbs Ferry, NY, in collaboration with the National Wildlife Refuge Association, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Groundwork Hudson Valley, and Moms Organic Market. The event aimed to unite community members to stabilize the riparian habitat along the Sawmill River. Groundwork Hudson Valley led the planting of 68 potted dogwoods, elderberry, and birch trees along the banks of Sawmill River Island.

New Urban Community Engagement Specialist Helps Expand Conservation Impact in New York, New Jersey

New Urban Community Engagement Specialist Helps Expand Conservation Impact in New York, New Jersey

As far back as she can remember, Lucy Crespo hasn’t liked being indoors. Maybe it’s in her genes: she was born in Argentina, surrounded by forests and mountains, lush grass and plants, and rivers that ran by her home. The air was crisp and sweet, the water clear.

That’s all a distant memory for her now. When she was four years old, Lucy and her family left home in search of a better and more prosperous life, eventually settling thousands of miles away in Elizabeth, New Jersey.

Elizabeth Urban Wildlife Refuge Partnership Christmas Bird Count!

Elizabeth Urban Wildlife Refuge Partnership Christmas Bird Count!

Elizabeth, New Jersey is home to skyscrapers, parking lots, and one of the busiest seaports in the eastern United States, but may not immediately come to mind when thinking of a location for bird watching as part of the Audubon Society’s annual Christmas Bird Count. Appearances can be deceiving though, as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, along with the Friends of the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, Groundwork Elizabeth, and the National Wildlife Refuge Association, successfully hosted their third-annual Christmas Bird Count in Elizabeth on December 17, 2022.

Celebrating Urban Wildlife Conservation Day

Celebrating Urban Wildlife Conservation Day

Urban Wildlife Conservation Day, is an annual celebration of nearby nature that invites everyone to connect with the outdoors, from National Wildlife Refuges to local parks. Urban Wildlife Conservation Day was established in 2018 to recognize and celebrate more than 100 urban national wildlife refuges that are within 25 miles of cities and towns across the country.

Community Connections For Conservation: The Urban Wildlife Refuge Program In South Florida

Community Connections For Conservation: The Urban Wildlife Refuge Program In South Florida

Connecting people to nature for our sustainable future, join us as we speak to Liz Figueroa, South Florida Regional Partnership Specialist for the National Wildlife Refuge Association’s Urban Wildlife Refuge Program.

Elizabeth Figueroa Named South Florida Urban Specialist at National Wildlife Refuge Association

Elizabeth Figueroa Named South Florida Urban Specialist at National Wildlife Refuge Association

The National Wildlife Refuge Association recently named Elizabeth (Liz) Figueroa as the South Florida Regional Partnership Specialist for NWRA’s Urban Wildlife Refuge Program. Liz’s primary focus is to build a major urban program throughout South Florida in partnership with the Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge in Boynton Beach.