National Wildlife Refuge Week 2010
Sharing the Good News via Amateur Radio
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How the Amateur Radio Observation of NWR Week Got Started
In 2005, John Forslin KC8ULE of Marquette, Michigan activated a National Wildlife Refuge to mark the U.S. Fish & Wildlife
Service's National Wildlife Refuge Week.
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"I like to do special events that feature the upper peninsula of Michigan. I was at the Seney NWR a few years
ago and happened to be there during National Wildlife Refuge Week. I had never heard of NWR Week. Up here, October is
the end of the season, and the Refuge doesn't put on any special public events. I worked with the refuge manager to run
a radio event from their location the next year. I was lucky - he has relatives who are ham operators and he understood
the concept of a special event. Since it was a national recognition week, it seemed a natural extension to try to get a
few more refuges activated so I put ham ads in QST for two months and got some expressions of interest that way.
Operating at Seney is tough. We set up on snow two years, and some of our signage blew away in a storm last year.
Our tent is usually pretty well buttoned up - it's a treat to be able to raise the sides. Refuge staff appreciate the
operation and are always helpful." - John KC8ULE
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Photos Copyright © John Forslin KC8ULE. All rights reserved.
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