BARABOO, WI – The International Crane Foundation (ICF) is celebrating its 40th Anniversary with a salute to the incredible conservation leaders that have dedicated their lives to saving the world’s cranes and the ecosystems, watersheds, and flyways on which they depend.
Over the past 40 years, ICF has developed unique collaborations and led effective community-based conservation programs, important research projects, and innovative captive breeding and reintroduction efforts. These efforts have inspired international cooperation, helped improve livelihoods for people around the world, and led to the protection of millions of acres of wetlands and grasslands on the five continents where cranes live.
On April 15, 2013, ICF opens to the public and allows visitors access to the ONLY complete collection of all 15 crane species. These majestic birds, that live at ICF year-round, are ambassadors for their species in the wild. The campus also offers an interactive education center, guided and self-guided tours, a research library, visitor center, and over four miles of nature trails set among 100 acres of restored tall grass prairie, oak savanna, and wetlands. Plan your visit.
What’s hatching for 2013?
Meet the 2013 Whooping Crane Chicks this May!
ICF’s popular Crane Chick Cam is back. Tune in to ICF’s live web cam to view Whooping Crane chicks as they are raised at ICF for reintroduction into the wild. Live broadcasts will begin as soon as the chicks start hatching in May. All you have to do is like ICF’s Facebook page or join our email list to receive Crane Chick Cam updates.
An Evening with the Cranes
On Saturday, June 22, from 5 – 8 p.m., ICF will host An Evening with the Cranes. Enjoy a magical evening with wine, Port Huron Brewing Company, food, live music, and of course – cranes! Tickets: $50 per ICF member and $60 per non-member. On sale NOW.
New Exhibit: A Salute to ICF Leaders
Also in June, Visitor Program Manager, Darcy Love, will unveil an interactive exhibit that highlights ICF’s conservation leaders and programs around the world. Using life-size, photo cut-outs and iPads, visitors will feel like they are “in the field” with ICF’s biologists. “We are very excited to be able to share this multimedia approach with our visitors. Video, slideshows, maps and photos will bring first-person accounts from our colleagues working around the world – not only to save cranes, but to provide safer and healthier environments for the people and other wildlife sharing their landscapes,” Love said.
ICF is open to the public daily between April 15 and October 31 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. From Memorial Day through Labor Day guided public tours are offered daily at 10:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m., and on weekends ONLY in April, May, September, and October. Public tours are free with general admission and there is no need to pre-register. You may also explore the site on your own. View a listing of our upcoming events.