Menu
Log in
Forgot password
Log in

You're invited to our Annual Meeting!

Please join us on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, at 7:00 PM EST at the National Conservation Training Center (698 Conservation Way Shepherdstown, WV, Room 107 IE).

Whether you’re a longtime member, a new friend, or simply interested in learning more about the Friends of NCTC, we’d love to have you join us!

️Join Us for Dinner Before the Meeting

Come a little early and enjoy a casual dinner with fellow Friends from 6:00–7:00 PM in the cafeteria at the Headwaters Building. Entrées are approximately $14–$17, and payment may be made by cash or credit card.

Reservations for dinner are required by Friday, August 28 at noon. To reserve a meal, please email info@friendsofnctc.org with:

  • Your name 
  • The number of guests in your party 
  • The names of your guests 
  • Your phone number 
    After dinner, we’ll head over to Room 107 IE for the Annual Meeting.

    Celebrate Another Year of the Friends of NCTC

    We’ll share our annual report and highlight the many ways the Friends have supported NCTC and connected people with conservation this year. Among our many activities, the Friends reached more than 1,000 elementary school students through our educational programs!

    We’ll also have sign-up sheets available for a variety of volunteer opportunities, so you can find a way to get involved that’s right for you.

    Can’t Attend in Person?

    No problem! If you’d like to join us but can’t make it to campus, we’ll provide a video-conference link in the week before the meeting so you can participate remotely. Keep an eye out for that link.

    You're invited to the Friends Annual Social!

    Our Friends Annual Social is coming up on Sunday, September 13, 1:00-4:00 PM!

    This year, we’ll be celebrating with Archives Tours and an Ice Cream Social. It’s a wonderful opportunity to visit with old friends, meet new ones, learn more about NCTC’s history, and enjoy a sweet treat together.

    Come join us and bring a guest! Whether you’re ready to join or renew your membership or simply want to spend some time with the Friends, we’d love to see you there.



    The Summer 2026 issue of The Fish & Wildlife News is now available, and it’s filled with interesting stories highlighting the work being done to protect the habitats we share.

    One article that particularly caught our attention is "A Very American Bird: Why the bald eagle is our national symbol," beginning on page 18.

    As the United States celebrates 250 years of independence in 2026, the article takes a look at one of our nation’s most recognizable symbols and the remarkable conservation story behind it. The bald eagle was nearly lost from the skies of the lower 48 states. Through protections under the Endangered Species Act, habitat conservation, and the work of countless people, the bald eagle made an extraordinary recovery. By 2007, it had recovered enough to be removed from the federal endangered species list. As the article puts it, the story of the bald eagle is ultimately a story about what we value and what we choose to leave behind for future generations.

    And that’s just one of the many interesting stories featured in the Summer 2026 issue!

    Read The Fish & Wildlife News (Summer 2026) here: https://www.fws.gov/sites/default/files/documents/2026-08/summer-news-26-final.pdf

    Whether you’re interested in wildlife, habitat conservation, environmental education, or simply learning more about the natural world around us, we encourage you to take a look at the latest issue.

    Upcoming events

    NEWS

    Recent Lecture Series

    Thank you, Deb Stecyk and Mike R., for capturing such wonderful photos of Bella and Smitty! If you capture any photos, contact us at info@friendsofnctc.org, and we may put them in our slideshow.

    Great compilation of the Eagle Cams footage of Bella and Smitty's first season together!

    Here is the video highlights of the NCTC Bald Eagles 2019 nesting season. There is a heartfelt thank you to NCTC, Outdoor Channel and Friends at the end of the video, as well as, a very special thank you to all the citizen scientists that help us to document the events at the nest. This past year we were able to collect and document bald eagle behavior on a spreadsheet that is accessible to students and the public; thanks again to our small team at Bald Eagles 101 on Facebook your assistance made this possible! Thanks also to Clayton and Randy your support was greatly appreciated! 

    - Deb Stecyk at Bald Eagles 101


    Powered by Wild Apricot Membership Software