Friends of Heinz Refuge at Tinicum (FOHR) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit cooperating association founded in 1997 to assist the United States Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS) in carrying out its educational, interpretive, and public use missions. We are part of a nationwide network of “Friends” organizations serving over 230 national wildlife refuges.
Our Mission
FOHR works in partnership with John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum to connect people with nature and to promote a culture of environmental stewardship through education, outreach, service, and nature-based recreation for the conservation of wildlife and habitat. The Refuge itself boasts of a diverse range of habitats— upland forests, freshwater tidal marshes, Darby Creek, and more— which are home to a few hundred species of birds, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians. A wide range of activities are available to the public, including kayaking, canoeing, nature programs, bird walks, special events, and more, as well as volunteer opportunities. All of our programs are free to the public.
Celebrated as America's First Urban Refuge, John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum (JHNWR) was established in 1972. The Refuge is a treasured green space nestled between Delaware County, two South West Philadelphia neighborhoods, and Philadelphia International Airport. The Refuge is teeming with a rich diversity of fish, wildlife, and plants native to the Delaware Estuary. The Refuge supports a diversity of habitats, including freshwater tidal marsh, open waters, mudflats, and woodlands that hundreds of species call home.
JHNWR is available to over 1.7 million people within 10 miles of the Refuge. We invite you to stop by the Refuge to see for yourself all we have to offer. For more information visit us at www.fohrefuge.org.