Press Release Archives

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DDWS Wellness Week kicks off next week 4/23

DDWS to celebrate Nature Wellness Week May 3-9 4/23

13 DDWS conservation scholarships available 4/23

Go Bully auction features Sprankle works, visit from ‘Teddy Roosevelt’ 4/23

‘Ding’ Darling announces April 4 reopening of Wildlife Drive, visitor center 4/23

‘Ding’ retains 2022-23 artist in residence for current season 4/23

Archery, bounce house, live entertainment, beer: Free family fun at Sounds of the Sand 4/23

‘Ding’ Darling Day’s Conservation Carnival at Lakes Park celebrates Earth Day April 22 4/23

‘Ding’ Darling announces reopening milestones 3/23

‘Ding’ Darling hosts 10th annual photo contest for high schoolers 2/23

‘Ding’ Darling expands wellness program for 2023 2/23

DDWS supports new Southwest Florida solar co-op 2/23

March 31 DDWS scholarships application deadline 2/23

DDWS announces 2022 photo contest winners 2/23

Save the date: ‘Ding’ Darling Day Conservation Carnival to return to Lakes Park 2/23

Endowed fund supports volunteer program at ‘Ding’ Darling 2/23

Save the date: Sounds of the Sand to support ‘Ding’ Darling hurricane recovery, conservation 2/23

‘Ding’ Darling announces new refuge manager 12/22

DDWS board elects new board and emeritus members, officers 12/22

Save March 6 for ‘Ding’ Darling annual fundraiser 12/22

DDWS welcomes latest intern 8/22

Oct. 31 deadline for ‘Ding’ Darling Pocket Refuge grants 2/23

‘Ding’ Darling reaches more than 1,200 students over summer 8/22

Winningest’ federal duck stamp artist to participate in ‘Ding’ Art in the Wild 8/22

‘Ding’ Darling photo contest opens 7/22

Family funds ‘Ding’ intern project in father’s name 7/22

Refuge hires two new staff 7/22

‘Ding’ Darling awards $33K for environmental studies scholarships 7/22

 Refuge welcomes summer education intern 6/22

‘Ding’ Darling announces inaugural Art in the Wild for October 6/22

Refuge welcomes summer WoW education intern 6/22

‘Ding’ announces its 2022-23 artist in residence 5/22 

Endowed conservation fund supports visitor services at ‘Ding’ Darling 5/22

Refuge welcomes summer WoW education intern 5/22

$12K grant monies from “Ding” Darling create Pocket Refuges at local schools in need 4/22

Refuge celebrates Earth Day over weekend 4/22

Two special exhibitions showcase ‘Best of the Best of Project Refuge’ upcycled fashions; refuge schedules future shows 4/22

Games, tours part of ‘Ding’ Darling Day’s Conservation Carnival at Lakes Park 4/22

Refuge honors volunteers with drive-through awards event 4/22

Sue Tray memorial internship fund established at ‘Ding’ Darling 4/22

‘Ding’ Darling announces high school photo contest winners 4/22

DDWS reveals The Roost plans at ‘Ding’ Darling 4/22

‘Ding’ virtual film series airs double feature 2/22 

Farming harmoniously topic of next ‘Ding’ virtual film airing 2/22 

‘Ding’ virtual film airing focuses on salmon habitat conservation 2/22

‘Ding’ virtual film wraps up with sea turtle documentary 2/22 

Tickets available for ‘Ding’ Darling Project Refuge upcycle fashion show luncheon 2/22

March 31 DDWS scholarships application deadline 2/22

‘Ding’ Darling Day takes Conservation Carnival to Lakes Park 2/22

‘Ding’ Darling announces 2022 virtual film series lineup 1/22 

Harkeys gift $1M each to DDWS, CROW 1/22 

Enhanced Sprankle Feather highlight of DDWS 40th anniversary Go Wild fundraiser 1/22 

DDWS closes on 8.5-acre acquisition 1/22

‘Ding’ hosts free artist in residence exhibition 1/22

Refuge unveils Mindfulness Trail with chamber ribbon cutting 1/22

DDWS announces Wellness Week schedule; registration open 1/22

DDWS names new associate executive director 1/22

DDWS to celebrate Wellness Week: Mind, Body, Heart in February 1/22

‘Ding’ wraps lecture series with bird nests 12/21

Daughter to speak about Ikki Matsumoto at ‘Ding’ lecture 12/21 

‘Ding’ lecturer connects the genetic dots between humans, wildlife 12/21

‘Ding’ lecture explores what it’s like to be a bird. 12/21 

‘Ding’ lecturer addresses ornitherapy, health benefits of mindful nature experiences 12/21

‘Ding’ lecture series presents new bald eagle book by Pulitzer-winning Davis 12/21

‘Ding’ to host celebrity birder Richard Crossley for opening of lecture series 12/21

DDWS promotes Galloway to Nature Store manager 12/21

Urban Ranger joins ‘Ding’ Darling staff 12/21

Suzanne Dubuc Community Connector position funded for 2022 at ‘Ding’ Darling 12/21

Endowed education fund honors parents’ love of ‘Ding’ Darling 12/21

DDWS board elects new members, officers 12/21

Celebrity birders to headline ‘Ding’ Darling 2022 free lecture series 11/21

DDWS makes urgent request for matching donation funds toward 8.5-acre acquisition 11/21

DDWS announces ‘Ding’ Day photo contest winners 11/21

‘Ding’ Darling announces beer rollout events 11/21

‘Ding’ Darling hosts ninth annual photo contest for high schoolers 10/21

‘Ding’ Nature Store celebrates winter 10/21

DDWS welcomes latest intern 10/21

Harkeys establish first permanently endowed intern fund at ‘Ding’ 10/21

Endowed education fund honors parents’ love of ‘Ding’ Darling 10/21

‘Ding’ partners with school district for education staffing 10/21

‘Ding’ Darling branded beer to launch Dec. 4 9/21

‘Ding’ Darling Day @ Lakes Park postponed; photo contest extended 9/21

‘Ding’ welcomes visitor services intern 9/21

‘Ding’ welcomes new friends group intern 9/21

Refuge welcomes WoW education intern 8/21 

Refuge lead biologist promoted to regional USFWS position 8/21

Refuge welcomes WoW education intern 8/21

DDWS plans year of celebration for 40th anniversary 8/21

‘Ding’ Darling Day @ Lakes Park takes shape 8/21

‘Ding’ Darling first national wildlife refuge to unveil scope for colorblind viewers 7/21

‘Ding’ Day photo contest opens 7/21

Refuge takes ‘Ding’ Darling Day on the road 7/21

Save the Date: Great American Outdoors Day at the refuge 7/21

Refuge receives funding for invasive plant management 6/21

FWS Southeast Region names DDWS ‘Friends Group of The Year’ 6/21

Free guided refuge tours on tap for summer 6/21

‘Ding’ Darling awards $30K for environmental studies scholarships 5/21

Refuge welcomes photography, videography intern 5/21

Ding’ Darling grows by 36 acres 5/21

‘Ding’ tarpon tournament breaks records 5/21 

Endowed education fund honors John E. Carney at ‘Ding’ Darling 5/21

DDWS hires new office manager 5/21

 New refuge education fund honors Darling’s granddaughter, her husband 5/21

Refuge unveils Sprankle trail sign 3/21

Refuge appreciates volunteers with drive-through awards event 3/21

Save the Date: Refuge celebrates Earth Day with free events 3/21

‘Ding’ Darling film series wraps up with a food waste story 3/21

 Go Wild for Jeopar-Ding tickets selling quickly 3/21

 March 31 DDWS scholarships application deadline 3/21

‘Ding’ Darling announces high school photo contest winners 3/21

‘Ding’ receives second internship fund 3/21

‘Ding’ Darling to celebrate International Women’s Day March 8 2/21

‘Ding’ Darling film follows world’s rarest eagle 2/21 

Free refuge programs begin Jan. 6 2/21

‘Ding’ Darling hires two staffers 2/21

‘Ding’ visitor services intern promoted to ranger 1/21

Godsea appointed to lead Southwest Florida refuge complex 1/21

‘Ding’ Darling switches 2021 film series lineup to virtual format 1/21

‘Ding’ Darling celebrates refuge manager retirement 1/21

‘Ding’ welcomes new intern 1/21

‘Ding’ Darling film series kicks off with microplastics that ‘smog’ our seas 1/21

Noted ‘Ding’ Darling lecturer to spotlight the gray owl 1/21