Minnesota Valley Refuge Friends

Our Blue Goose Bus Fund provides FREE field trip transportation to public schools to the Refuge for onsite, hands-on education experiences for children ages K-12. 

This fund enables schools who cannot afford the high cost of field trip bus transportation to experience a wide range of conservation and environmental programs - including fishing, monarch tagging, hikes, bird watching, snowshoeing, natural habitats, insect adaptations, and so much more. 

We transport more than 10,000 students annually with a goal to reach 15,000+ in 2024-2025.

YOUR VALUABLE DONATION CAN HELP US REACH MORE KIDS IN OUR COMMUNITY!

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Minnesota Valley Refuge Friends is the citizen support group of the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge. Headquartered in Bloomington, the Refuge continues for 70 miles along the Minnesota River to Henderson. 

Since its founding in 1976 by motivated residents, it has remained free and open to everyone.  With more than 46 miles of trails and two visitor centers, our Refuge is unique in its urban setting — tucked within the shadows of the Mall of America and the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport — and is within walking distance of public transit. 

OUR MISSION

Minnesota Valley Refuge Friends is dedicated to supporting the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge in its mission to "conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people." We do this by raising awareness, recruiting volunteers, and securing money for activities at the Refuge.