For those who like the offbeat over the tried and true, three one-of-a-kind events on national wildlife refuges could be worth a special trip this spring.

Take the Montezuma Refuge Challenge!

Are you tough enough to complete a course of six fitness and conservation events set out by this upstate New York refuge? Hike five miles, paddle 10. Ski or snowshoe five more. Volunteer eight hours. Attend five public refuge events. Keep a nature journal or photo album.

The Discover the Refuge contest opened in April. All activities must be done at the refuge. Don’t worry if the snow’s melted. You have a year from when you start to complete all course goals. Competitors are on the honor system. Register and get your card punched each time you meet a contest task. The prize? A tee shirt listing your feats.

The contest was conceived by Visitor Services Manager Andrea VanBeusichem. “I wanted to motivate people to do more than attend festivals,” she says. “When you sign up, you make a commitment to keep coming. It’s something anyone can do, by yourself or with family or friends.” (More information: 315-568-5987)

Sunrise over Knox Marsh. Photographed at Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge.
Credit: Doug Racine/USFWS

Elk Fest, Jackson, Wyoming: May 17-18

Where else but in Jackson, Wyoming, can you see four tons of elk antlers displayed and publicly auctioned each spring in a lively outdoor celebration?

The antlers are collected as they drop off, starting in March, from wintering elk at National Elk Refuge, up the road. The Jackson District Boy Scouts receive special permission to help refuge staff and volunteers collect the antlers, to deter poachers and reduce damage to refuge vehicles. The scouts also help bundle, weigh and tag the antlers, which are sold in small lots.

A Lucky Find! A Scout proudly holds up his find during the spring antler collection, coordinated with National Elk Refuge staff. Credit: USFWS / Mike Pfiel, National Elk Refuge volunteer
 

Antlers fetch an average $10 a pound. The average haul from auctions over the past 10 years has been about $85,000. Eighty percent of the auction proceeds are donated by the Jackson District Boy Scouts to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for elk management and habitat enhancement on the refuge. (More information: http://1.usa.gov/Qk0qAJ or http://elkfest.org/)

Concert on the Prairie, Neal Smith Refuge: June 6

Sway with the refuge’s native prairie tallgrass. Celebrate music, art, and nature on the open prairie at Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge, 25 minutes east of Des Moines. This second annual event features music by a Caribbean steel band, a tasting of local wines and an exhibit of art, photos and literature by Iowa artists.

After the evening concert, enjoy a guided twilight walk on the Overlook Trail. Tickets are $40. Proceeds will help refurbish and upgrade educational displays in the refuge’s Prairie Learning and Visitor Center. (More information: http://bit.ly/PXVUrq)

Bison roam the fields at Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge by Richard C. Hager. 2nd place in the 2009 photo contest for the Animals category. USFWS photo by Richard C. Hager.

Discover many more events on national wildlife refuges: http://1.usa.gov/1cUGVqz or http://1.usa.gov/1kI8nLl

All information contained herein provided by the USFWS