Make A Donation
Help protect the refuge wildlife and their habitats by making a contribution to the Back Bay NWR Society. Support our advocacy, outreach, and education for the betterment of the Refuge.
MISSION
Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge Society is the primary partner and Friends group of the the Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge.
Learn MoreVOLUNTEER
Gain new experiences and meet new people while helping to advance wildlife conservation. Preserve and protect habitat and wildlife.
Learn MoreMEMBERSHIP
There are no dues required for Society membership. The Society depends on donations to fund programs and projects.
Learn MoreDWR Wildlife Viewing Grant
Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge Society is implementing the awarded Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) grant received for “Wildlife Viewing Through A Community Framework”. This grant focuses on inclusion of underserved, underinvested, and underrepresented populations related to wildlife viewing.
Project Synopsis:
Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge despite having over 9,200 acres of beach, marsh, managed water impoundments, dunes and woodlands is geographically isolated making it harder for school groups in our region to visit and experience. With the help of a DWR Wildlife Viewing Grant The Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge Society has connected Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge with Virginia Beach City Public Schools that would not normally be able to take part in wildlife viewing. Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge Society was able to create on site school outreach with hands-on outdoor school learning opportunities at each school utilizing equipment from the DWR grant and was also able to create field trips that bring each school to the refuge for a once in a lifetime wildlife viewing experience. 671 4th grade students participated in the program and each student that participated was given a free national parks pass. As a result of this program Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge handed out more park passes than any other refuge in the nation.
DWR Wildlife Viewing Grant allowed Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge Society to obtain
- Two Vortex Spotting Scopes with Tripods
- Ten Vortex Viper 10×42 HD Binoculars
- Ten Skylight Digital Frames with email for sharing wildlife images
- One All Beach Wheelchair for needs access to the beach
- And materials for classroom platform and ADA compliant ramp that is the base of an outdoor classroom project that Back Bay NNWR Society is buildingAnd materials for classroom platform and ADA compliant ramp that is the base of an outdoor classroom project that Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge Society is building
Projects
CHRONOLOGY
A citizen science project with the Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge.
Refuge visitors upload photographs from their phones at four designated locations. Photographs contribute to scientific documentation of the refuge habitats. By automatically appearing in time-lapse videos that are available online.
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Gardens
Monarch garden a safe habitat for migrating monarch butterflies
Monarch butterflies have suffered a drastic reduction in population in the last 30 years. Some estimates indicate a population decline of 90%. The most common reason cited for this dramatic decline is loss of habitat. Given the success of the pollinator garden and the fact that Back Bay is on the Monarch’s eastern migratory flyway, it was decided to put in a monarch specific garden at the Refuge.
Pollinator & Monarch garden updates
Pollinator garden an aesthetically pleasing addition to the Visitor Center entrance ways
Volunteers removed and pruned old vegetation, cultivated and amended soil, and filled beds with native plants supporting pollinators and wildlife Garden beds are maintained by volunteers throughout the year. Signage and visitor outreach is being planned
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National recreation trails
Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge trails designated National recreation trails
The 2.7 miles of the Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge Trail System consists of seven, interconnected trails that provide opportunities to observe the wildlife and vegetation of the refuge’s seven distinct habitats- ocean, beach, marsh, shrubs, grassland, maritime forest and freshwater bay. Trail surfaces vary from boardwalk, crushed stone, sand and gravel.
LEARN MOREBack Bay NWR Society
1324 Sandbridge Road, Virginia Beach, VA 23456
