The Ward Burton Wildlife Foundation

Show Your Skills at the 2025 DWR Archery Open! 🏹 Calling all archers! The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) and The Ward Burton Wildlife Foundation (WBWF) invite you to the inaugural 2025 DWR Archery Open on January 11, 2025, in Richmond, VA. Featuring opportunities for both youth and adult competitors, this event is your chance to make an impact. Every arrow helps support conservation efforts. Plus, visit the Conservation Exhibit Hall to connect with our community! Early registration ends November 30—don’t miss out! Register now: https://lnkd.in/e6Xmnhc7. #ArcheryOpen #Conservation #RichmondVA

🚨 We are SO excited about the 2025 DWR Archery Open event on January 11th. Early registration discounts go through Nov. 30th. Don't miss out on your spot! 🏹 #archery #wildlife #virginia

Another 221.5 acres conserved in Virginia via WBWF's Readiness Environmental Protection Integration/Army Compatible Use Buffer program with Ft. Barfoot! Looking forward to sharing more good news in the coming weeks. Stay tuned. To learn more about this program, visit https://lnkd.in/enWThRbv #conservation #naturalresources #agriculture #wildlife #virginia

🗞 *NEWS* 📢 Several weeks ago, we introduced you to Freedom, WBWF's 2024 Emotional Support Dog. This past Saturday, Freedom met his new best friend, American Hero, Tyr Symank. Tyr Symank has served his country for nearly three decades in the Army, intelligence, and special operations communities. Since 2003, he has deployed overseas 15 out of 21 years. We cannot think of a more deserving recipient. Tyr and Freedom are already best friends and Tyr reports "He reminds me to look up, to smile. He keeps me on track with self-care and absolutely will not leave me alone when he senses I’m emotionally shutting down." We're looking forward to keeping in touch and following the adventures of these two for years to come. Special thank you to the following donors that made this year's program possible: NutriSource Pet Foods Margaret Dano & Alan Wosniak SCREAMING EAGLE READY MIX LLC VFW Post 7059 AND to Freedom's incredible training team: Davis Owen of Sunflower Goldens of Kansas Heather Hunt of Springhill Goldens #fridayfeels #emotionalsupportdog #goldenretriever

📣 It's official! We are thrilled to share that The Ward Burton Wildlife Foundation has been named the primary Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration partner to Marine Corps Base Quantico.     💡 What is the REPI Program and Why is it Important?   The Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration (REPI) program is administered through the Department of Defense to conserve properties around military bases in order to protect the military missions, minimize encroachments, and increase resilience to climate change.   The military services utilize non-profit partners, like WBWF, to work directly with landowners to conserve willing landowner lands. These REPI conservation efforts reduce incompatible uses around the bases such as high-density development, and additional indirect benefits include protection of the environment, rural culture, and family legacy farms.   WBWF serves as primary REPI partner to 2 other military training installations, Ft. Barfoot in Virginia and Ft. Indiantown Gap in Pennsylvania. Staff has executed nearly 150 landowner projects over the past 14 years and are looking forward to continued success at these bases, as well as our new partner installation MCB Quantico.    To learn more about REPI, visit www.repi.mil   🇺🇸 About MCB Quantico:   Located in Northern Virginia, Marine Corps Base Quantico is known as the "Crossroads of the Marine Corps." The installation is home to a population of approximately 26K. The base houses training for Marine Corps Officers, the FBI Academy and serves as the principal training base for the DEA. 👨💻 From WBWF Leadership: "We at WBWF are committed to creating a successful REPI program at Quantico, just like at the other bases that we are the prime partner. It is a responsibility we take very seriously and are grateful for the opportunity."  Ward Burton, WBWF Founder and President   "We are honored to be the primary partner of Marine Corps Base Quantico and their REPI program. We are so excited to protect Quantico's military mission by conserving lands around the base, and in turn support our national defense." Tom Inge, WBWF Executive Director 

Last week, our Founder and President, Ward Burton, accepted an award on behalf of WBWF from Garrison Commander, Colonel Kevin Potts and Base Operations Commander, David Weisnicht, for 10 years of dedicated Army Compatible Use Buffer (ACUB) support to the Pennsylvania ARNG and Ft. Indiantown Gap training center. It is an honor to partner with the base on this important program. To learn more, visit https://lnkd.in/ehWEKtGy #conservation #resiliency #compatibleuse #army

It was an honor to host this wonderful group at Daytona International Speedway last summer. Looking forward to the next one! Project Healing Waters

Virginia's Free Fishing Days are back June 7-9. Don't miss your chance to fish without a license! Bring your loved ones and enjoy a weekend of FREE fishing across Virginia. Not sure where to start? DWR will be hosting select fishing events where agency staff and volunteers will provide everything you need to get started! Learn more at https://lnkd.in/eEzMyGTj. #Virginia #Fishing #FreeFishingWeekend 📸= DWR

Mother nature can be tough but so can mamas. One of our game cameras captured this wild turkey hen protecting her nest from a predator. #conservation #wildlife #wildturkey #poults

📣 NEWS! We're pleased to announce that Mark Clements has joined the WBWF Board of Directors. Mark joins the board as a longtime WBWF supporter and volunteer. Mark serves as the Director, Marketing and Business Development for the Henrico Sports & Events Center and brings a wealth of knowledge, development, and event execution expertise to our board. Welcome, Mark! We’re so happy to have you on the team.