Friends of the Wichitas 2024 Year in Review

2024 was a great year for the Friends of the Wichitas! Here’s a round up of what we accomplished in 2024 within our organization and in support of the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge!

• Governance Committee: Finished a comprehensive review of the FOW bylaws and made recommendations which were approved by the full board.
• Refuge Lodging: Financially supported the refurbishment of the old Law Enforcement building which was put into service in 2024 as temporary lodging for refuge visitors here on official business.
• Environmental Education Center (EEC): Upgraded EEC lighting along with installation of Wi-Fi capability via a StarLink system. 
• Nature Store: Upgraded the telephone and Wi-Ficapabilities of the Nature Store via a StarLinksystem.
• Grant Writing Workshop: Funded two FOW members to attend a grant writing workshop offered by the Oklahoma Center for Non-Profits.
• Partially funded and supported various refugehosted events:
  – Junior Explorers
  – Spring Fling- Bison Summit
  – 2nd Annual Tribal Summit
  – Tribal Youth Camp
  – National Public Lands Day
  – Invasive Plant Pull
• ODOT Trash Pickup: Continued our quarterly ODOT roadside trash pickup for the two miles outside each refuge entrance.
• FOW Tour Registration Online: Developed and implemented an online service for FOW Tours registration.
• Refuge Tours: Organized and conducted 25 separate FOW tours for refuge visitors during 2024.

2025 is already shaping up to be another fabulous year for the Friends of the Wichitas!  We’d love to have as many of our members involved in our various projects as we can.  Please contact any of our officers or board members to see how you can get involved this year!

FOW Year in Review 2024 (PDF)