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  • March 12, 2024 12:00 PM | Anonymous

    FNCTC presented the award for the best student film at the American Conservation Film Festival on March 9th at Shepherd University.

    The winning film, "Faces of the Cloud Forest" was made by Hugh Allen (who was unable to travel from the UK). Accepting the award for him was his colleague, Jaxon Derow.

    The Friends of NCTC have sponsored this award since ACFF began in 2003.


  • March 07, 2024 2:08 PM | Anonymous

    We are getting back on track and have many volunteer opportunities coming up!

    The Friends' staffed Concierge Desk at NCTC is up and running. The training for Docent Tours of the NCTC Museum was held, and those volunteers are ready to help out. If these are among your interests, please contact us at info@friendsofnctc.org.

    For more details about the following opportunities, check our website or follow up through the contacts listed with the activity:

    • Friday, April 12: Shepherd Elementary School. 
      • NCTC Staff and Friends members will present a program about Eagles to two 4th grade classes. If you would like to help us grow this program for elementary students in the surrounding area, please contact Joe Spurgas at jspurgas@gmail.com
    • Saturday, April 27: Morgan Grove Park, Shepherdstown. 
      • The Friends will have a booth at the Shepherdstown Community Club’s Earth Day Celebration. Volunteer to help at the booth, or stop by. To get more information on how to volunteer, please contact Janet Olcott at jwo123rms@aol.com
    • Friday, May 10: NCTC will host 100 second graders from Rosemont Elementary School. 
      • Volunteers are needed to help host all of the activities, and to receive in-event training so that the Friends can expend this program for students to visit NCTC. For more information, please contact Randy Robinson at 304-876-7450 or randy_robinson@fws.gov.
    • Saturday, May 11: NCTC Open House (on Campus). 
      • The Friends will host 2 booths at the long awaited return of the Open House. Lots of family and kid friendly activities will be available. To volunteer for the booth or to help visitors plant a tree, please contact Ellen Murphy at ellen.l.murphy@comcast.net.
  • December 14, 2023 4:58 PM | Anonymous

    Are you looking for a volunteer project that doesn't involve heavy lifting, just listening and typing? NCTC has just the thing!

    They are looking for someone(s) who would like to help transcribe some oral history recordings. Most are 1 hour (or slightly longer).You listen to the interview and type what you hear, at your own pace. Even doing one interview would be a great help!

    The interviews are Fish and Wildlife retirees talking about what they did when working so they are interesting!

    If you want to know more, contact Alex at the NCTC Archives alexandra_henry@fws.gov.

  • December 12, 2023 12:04 PM | Anonymous

    The Shepherdstown Christmas Parade was a huge success! The Friends of NCTC eagle made an appearance, along with Lew Gorman and Peggy Jesse, members of the FWS Retirees Group.

    See the pictures below!


  • November 03, 2023 8:01 AM | Anonymous


    Last night was the first appearance of our NCTC Eagle. It was at a Halloween Party and Costume Contest Maureen "Mo" Dougherty, the NCTC Activity Liaison, arranged. 

    Check out the most up to date NCTC Activities:


    Photo credits to Mr. Murphy. 


  • November 01, 2023 2:32 PM | Anonymous

    It's that time of year again--the BEST time of year--cool, crisp mornings, pumpkin lattes, sweater weather, football and the NCTC Deer Hunt!

    NCTC Land Management would like to thank each of you for your continued support of this important program and, as always, a successfully run deer hunt season relies on assistance from all of its volunteers. We wanted to give you all the opportunity to look at this year's sign-up sheet in hopes of getting help running the deer hunt check station during the upcoming scheduled hunt dates.

    The days NCTC needs the most help are:

    • November 25 (5:30 am -12 noon or 12 noon - 6:30 pm)
    • December 2 (5:30 am -12 noon or 12 noon - 6:30 pm)
    • December 9 (5:30 am -12 noon or 12 noon - 6:30 pm)
    • December 16 (5:30 am -12 noon or 12 noon - 6:30 pm)
    • December 30 (5:30 am -12 noon or 12 noon - 6:30 pm)

    For any questions regarding this year's deer hunt or information on helping run the NCTC deer hunt check station, please contact Casey Johnson (304)876-7347 or email at casey_johnson@fws.gov.

    Thank you again all and look forward to working with each of you this upcoming season!


  • August 14, 2023 10:05 AM | Anonymous

    The Friends of NCTC are having two training sessions so that you can help their student guests at the Concierge Desk and/or helping with tours of the Archives. The Concierge Desk provides information on activities around the NCTC campus for the guests who are there for the week. Hours are 11:30 am-1:30 pm and 5:30 to 7:30 pm, (Monday through Thursday). Volunteers can choose the time and day they are available to help on a regular basis. The training will be Thursday September 7th at 1:00 pm and 6:30 pm. You can choose the time that works best for you.

    Training to help with Archives/Museum Tours will be Wednesday November 8 at 1:00 pm or 6:30 pm. This training will give you background on the history of the US Fish and Wildlife Service, some of the items in the Archives, and the exhibits in the museum in Main Entry. Trained volunteers will available to help during the week on an "as needed" basis and before scheduled evening public programs.

    Please note that regular NCTC volunteers go through a background screening that includes fingerprinting. To sign up for either of these trainings, contact Susan Holloway (holloway5@earthlink.net). Please specify which training and time you prefer.


  • August 14, 2023 10:04 AM | Anonymous

    It's Back!

    After several years, NCTC is having a full Open House and we need the help of Friends of NCTC!

    The event will take place on Saturday October 28 from 10 am to 3 pm. Volunteer help is needed including at the Friends of NCTC contact booths, at several NCTC exhibits, assisting with parking, people herding, and with some kids' activities. There may be other opportunities as well. If you can volunteer for a few hours or even all day, contact Ellen Murphy (Ellen.L.Murphy@comcast.net).

    We're looking forward to seeing you! (No security clearance is needed for this day, but we need to know who to expect.)

  • March 16, 2023 12:20 PM | Anonymous


    Photo Credit: Deb Stecyk, Bald Eagles 101

    The NCTC bald eagle pair have been busy guarding their nest and setting on eggs. They use their beaks to turn the eggs about every hour for even heating (photo).

    The eggs were laid on Feb. 15 and 18. We hope to see the first egg hatch after March 22! You can view our two live nest cams at: https://www.outdoorchannel.com/live/eaglecam

    We now have a second nest camera online - you can choose a closeup or wide angle nest view: https://www.outdoorchannel.com/live/eaglecam

    The NCTC bald eagles "branch manager" video has been getting airplay across the country on CBS, CNN, Fox, NBC, Facebook and Twitter. Here's a sample: https://twitter.com/FOX10Phoenix/status/1629753191003815937

    Please join us on March 16 at 1:00 pm ET for “Live from the Eagle’s Nest!” - our bi-weekly program during the bald eagle nesting season at the National Conservation Training Center. On each program we’ll catch up on the latest nest action and answer your eagle questions too. Teachers, students and anyone interested in bald eagles is welcome to join us on NCTC Livestream! https://livestream.com/nctc

    You'll find our schedule here: https://fws.gov/story/2023-02/2023-nctc-eagle-update


  • February 24, 2023 9:47 AM | Anonymous

    The past week has been a busy one for the NCTC bald eagle pair!

    • Egg #1 was laid at 3:26 pm on Feb. 15, 2023
    • Egg # 2 was laid at 6:53 pm on Feb. 18, 2023



    Less than an hour before the second egg was laid, another eagle tried to land on the nest but was repelled and chased off.

    Both eagles remain on alert for nest takeover attempts; these attempts usually occur by breeding age females (4-5 years old) in search of nesting territory.

    Male and female eagles take turns incubating eggs for 35-38 days before the hatch.

    Watch for them to turn eggs with their beak about every hour!

    You'll find the live video link along with photos, videos and commentary here: https://www.outdoorchannel.com/live/eaglecam

    Photos by Paul Kolnik/Bald Eagles101


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