The Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1965, and since the beginning, there was a vision to someday have a permanent learning center. Plans for such a building have been in the works for the past 15-20 years. 

 

These dreams started coming true when construction on the new Oak Savanna Learning Center started March 25, 2015. When finished, the 4,000 square foot building will have modern classrooms and indoor restroom facilities. The new building is located south of Co. Rd. 9 on School House Rd., up the hill and behind the trees from the Old School House site.

 

The Oak Savanna Learning Center will be devoted to fulfilling the educational goals of the refuge and is slated to be finished by the end of October 2015.

Visitor Services Manager Michelle Garcia hopes the building can be used daily to connect with schools, communities, and volunteers. The new learning center would regularly host school field trips, hold training sessions and workshops for volunteers and adults, be an available meeting space for conservation-minded groups, and function as the main hub for special events at the refuge. 

 

Garcia and Refuge Manager Steve Karel hope that the Oak Savanna Learning Center can be an asset to the many nearby communities. 

 

"The Refuge works so well because it's a mix between urban and wild," said Karel about the optimal location of the Refuge which can service surrounding communities from Elk River and Princeton to St. Cloud and Big Lake.

 

Another large part of the Refuge are the people who make it successful. From a dedicated refuge staff to an active volunteer group of over 600 people working in over 20 volunteer programs, these passionate people are the soul of the refuge. 

 

"So many people come out here and invest time and energy into our refuge and do it for free," said Garcia, whose favorite part about the refuge is the volunteers.

 

Karel added that these enthusiastic helpers are like a child's infectious laugh. "You feed off their energy. Everybody builds together, and you feed off each other."

 

Brad and Su Johnson of Big Lake, have been volunteers at the Refuge since 2003. From photographing blooming wildflowers to monitoring bald eagle nests to triangulating the location of the 30-35 nesting pairs of Sandhill Cranes with a compass and ears tuned to a specific melodic call, the Johnsons have invested countless hours into the Refuge. 

 

"Su and I got involved in collecting wildflower seeds. You get to see parts of the Refuge no one else sees. You learn a lot. We collected seeds from over 150 species. Over $30,000 worth of seed is collected each year and used for reseeding the Refuge [notably the reclaimed oak savanna areas] and trading seeds with other Refuges," recalled Johnson about one of their many projects.

 

Their ardor for the Refuge is evident. A simple inquiry may lead to in-depth discussions on the adventurous migratory patterns of Sandhill Cranes, which migrate to Florida following the Ohio River whereas the vast majority of birds follow the nearby Mississippi River down south, or the opportunity this year to see the grazing project along Co. Rd. 4 where cattle systematically graze parts of the Refuge to eat the invasive species, mainly cattails, and to destroy the invasive root system with their hooves in the process. 

 

Brad Johnson is also the President of the Friends of Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge. There are currently over 300 members in this non-profit group which has been partnering with the refuge since 1993.

 

"The Friends of Sherburne believe that the Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge is a unique natural resource and that we can help the community develop a deeper appreciation and understanding of the refuge and its mission," said Johnson. 

 

This mission is manifested by helping the refuge staff, politically advocating for the refuge and carrying out their education goals by funding refuge programs. 

 

Tangibly, this translates as talking to Congressional leaders, sponsoring workshops from preschool age to adult, raising money, applying for grants, writing newsletters, paying to bus school children to the refuge, printing brochures, buying observation scopes, working with local Chamber of Commerce committees and many other activities.

 

The Friends of Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge have also played a part in making the Oak Savanna Learning Center a reality. The building itself is built along the design of other Refuges where they have a building with an education wing, visitor center and refuge offices. The current design would allow for offices and a visitor center to be added at a later date. 

 

In the next few weeks they will launch their Be Wild! campaign. This campaign hopes to raise $250,000 for education of youth and all ages at the new Oak Savanna Learning Center. Every dollar raised by the Friends goes directly back to the Refuge.

 

When the center is completed, it will be an empty building, so the Friends are raising funds for tables and chairs, audio-visual equipment, microscopes, educational materials, kiosks, outdoor learning areas with connecting trails, and other needs of the new learning center. They also focus on making the Refuge accessible with the landscaping and parking lots.

 

For more information about the Friends of Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge or to find out how to get involved, stop by Refuge Headquarters or visit www.exploresherburne.org

 

While there is always something to see at the refuge, there are special activities planned all summer long. From summer butterfly and wildflower tours to Sandhill Crane viewings in the fall, there are many things to experience.

 

One major upcoming event is the Spring Celebration of Nature to be held Sat., May 9 from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Refuge headquarters. Come out for family and expert bird tours, activities for kids, Mother's Day crafts, and the ever-anticipated Friends of Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge plant sale. 

 

The largest event of the year is the annual Fall Wildlife Festival, which will celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Sherburne County Wildlife Refuge. This major event draws up to 1,500 people and is a great day for families to come out to see the refuge.

 

The Fall Wildlife Festival will be held Sat., Oct. 3 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and will kick off with a 5K run/walk. Come out to enjoy speakers, including author and wildlife photographer Stan Tekiela; bird education; nature crafts; food; wildlife discovery; and a silent auction.

 

For more information about the Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge and upcoming events, visit www.fws.gov/refuge/sherburne/