Family Walk to Protect America’s Wild Heritage

Special Event: Family Walk to Protect America’s Wild Heritage

August 14th – 1PM – 3PM

Ward Pound Ridge Reservation (Shelter 5)

6 Reservation Road

Cross River, New York 10518

Strong and wild, America’s gray wolves once ranged across most of the United States. More than a symbol of wilderness, scientists agree that the wolf is a keystone species.  Its presence is critical to maintaining the integrity of native ecosystems.

But, centuries of hunting and trapping sought to eliminate wolves from the American landscape. Today, thanks to the safety net of the Endangered Species Act, wolves are slowly recovering in wild places across the Great Lakes, Northern Rockies and Southwest.

Restoration of the wolf is considered one of our nation’s greatest conservation success stories. Unfortunately, the centuries-old war on wolves is far from over.  The unwarranted assault on wolves that commenced in states including Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho after wolves in those states lost federal protections highlights the increasingly hostile anti-wolf policies of states now charged with ensuring the survival of gray wolf populations.

Slowly, wolves are now expanding further, making their way into places like California, Maine and other states. But just as wolves are beginning to return to their historic range, Secretary of Interior Sally Jewell is proposing to strip them of the federal protections afforded by the ESA, and thus allow them to be hunted once again.   Federal protections for wolves are essential to help this animal recover and expand into still-suitable parts of its former range, just as the bald eagle was allowed to do before having its federal protections removed.

Today, raising families of curious pups and romping in meadows, the wolf is trying to make come back. Our children want to be assured that this symbol of the American wild will not be silenced in their lifetime or for future generations.  

In response to this call to action, the  Wolf Conservation Center and the National Wolfwatcher Coalition has implemented service learning programs that can be just the catalyst for change among a new generation of stewards who can hopefully reverse this trend before it is too late.

In that regard, both organizations are hosting a service-learning event co-sponsored by Prai Beauty and the Center for Biological Diversity, “A Family Walk to Protect America’s Wild Heritage,” as an opportunity for kids and families to participate on the National Day of Action to support wolf recovery – Wednesday, August 14th, from 1-3PM at the Ward Pound Ridge Reservation in Cross River, NY.   

This event will include learning activities, hikes, crafts, raffles and an appearance by ambassador wolf, Atka, from the Wolf Conservation Center.  

Alyssa Grayson, Wolfwatcher’s first Junior Advocate (photo to the left) , will also address the gathering with a compelling message for her generation!

The event hopes to raise awareness about the importance of wolves to ecosystems across America and to teach families and youth easy ways they can ‘educate, advocate, and participate’ for wolves now  and in the future. 

We hope you can join us for this wonderful opportunity for the whole family…

 If you have any questions or plan to attend, please RSVP to

diane@wolfwatcher.org