The Friends of Horicon designed and built a Refuge System Centennial float to appear in area parades in 2003.
Photo provided by Molly Stoddard
Friends of Horicon NWR
The Friends of Horicon NWR have creatively combined their support of Horicon Refuge in Wisconsin with celebrating the NWRS centennial. The group constructed a refuge centennial float, which debuted in a local St. Patrick's Day parade and went on to appear in a firefighters parade, a July 4th parade, the Horicon Marsh Days parade and the Audubon Days parade, winning one second place and one third place award. The Friends group successfully took over the ownership and management of the Coots Corner sales outlet in the Refuge visitor center and was instrumental in transforming the landscape around the visitor center from a grass lawn to an attractive yet low maintenance educational tool. Friends developed a design plan featuring suitable native plants, implemented a "donate a tree" fund and then planted and nurtured the plants until they were well established.