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2022 BY the num B ers

4,754 attendees

a n ote from the Board chair

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5,000 nr F mem B er s

83% o F co U nt I es have nr F- FU nded projects

7 dI vers I ty I n conservat I on Interns

$1,030,650 g I ven I n grants

As I begin my term as board chair, I’m optimistic about the future of NRF. The past few years have been challenging with the pandemic, but through it all, our staff and our supporters have stepped up and propelled the organization forward at an incredible pace.

I am really grateful that I had this opportunity, especially as someone who had limited knowledge about freshwater fish or the fishing community in Wisconsin. I gained experience in electrofishing and learned how to identify so many species. I loved fieldwork and plan to pursue a wildlife career in research or management.

As we turn the page into 2023, NRF has lots to celebrate including a new logo, 30 years of our incredible Field Trip program, new additions to the staff, and great momentum made possible by our supporters and partners. We are fortunate to be surrounded by so many people and organizations who have an unbridled passion for the conservation and restoration of Wisconsin’s biodiversity.

Spiny Waterfleas are invasive zooplankton spreading across Wisconsin — they can harm the ecology of lakes they get into. An NRF grant helped launch our “Stop Spiny!” campaign which works to stop the spread by providing education and cleaning tools. “Stop Spiny!” has reached 9000+ people to date, and still counting!

Last but certainly not least, I want to extend a HUGE thank you to our outgoing board chair, Mark LaBarbera. If you’ve had the chance to meet him, you know how genuinely passionate he is about our state’s great outdoor spaces and species. Watching Mark as the board chair has truly been inspirational — he’s raised the bar. The best part is that Mark will continue to serve on the board and be a guiding light.

We should all be proud of the work we’ve accomplished together. My greatest thanks for all your past and future support — stay tuned for great things to come.

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