I was invited to volunteer at Wolf Timbers by a friend I met in college who was a long time volunteer. Wolves were also fascinating to me so having the chance to work with them and teach the public was the most incredible thing I could imagine. After about 4 1/2 years, they soon became an addiction and inspired me to pursue a career in carnivore conservation. Because of Wolf Timbers, I was able to apply to work with reknown wolf biologist Dave Mech on his research project in MN, collaring wild wolves. Now I'm currently working on a master's in Zoology with a focus on mitigating human/carnivore conflicts while fostering coexistence. Wolves and other canids are my primary interest of study and the experiences I obtained from Wolf Timbers are the foundation of my career journey. Education is the most important aspect of any conservation effort. Since wolves continue to be at the forefront of political debates, its critical to educate as many people as possible so that the remaining populations can be protected while people learn to live alongside them. :)
Was invited by a friend to go with an educational group...Listened as speaker educated the group on wolves, their nature, and related subject matter. Our speaker did a great job...Was very informative and very good at communicating facts to both the children (of all ages),and the adults, in my opinion. We observed the wolves while listening, watched them eat, and perhaps most importantly, learned much! Wolves appeared to be in very good hands! Really enjoyed visit; would recommend a visit/support of this non-profit to any and all!
Took my daughter and grandchildren for the afternoon to learn about wolves and wolf behavior up close and personal. It was an amazing time. I've never seen the 10 and 9 year olds so quiet and interactive. My grandson got to throw some apple into the wolf enclosure. I'm not sure the 3 year old was a into the experience but we certainly enjoyed the opportunity to see and learn about wolves.
I went to Wolf Timbers to photograph the wolves. Once I got there I was greeted by the staff and felt right at home. I got some great photos with the help of the staff. It did not take long before I realized what amazing animals they are. I would like to make a couple more trips this year! I just wish I lived closer so I could volunteer. The staff was very helpful and friendly as well as very knowledgeable! To sum it all up in one word " FANTASTIC" !!!!
I have visited Wolf Timbers two times so far, and on both occasions I had a wonderful experience. The people there are very friendly and knowledgeable. They also do their best to make things engaging, fun, and interesting for the visitors. This included them howling with the wolves, spraying a bit of perfume for the wolves to roll in and act silly with, giving us apple slices to toss over to them, and watching the volunteers themselves interact with the wolves. They show great caring and compassion for the wolves, and also a lot of respect. I learned new facts and information about wolves that I had not previously known, and had a great time watching the wolves and how they interacted with everything. I also brought along a friend from another country who loves wolves. He, too, had a great time and had looked forward to visiting this place since I first made mention of it before his trip over here. His only disappointment was that he couldn't actually go IN with the wolves. But that is obviously not something that Wolf Timbers did wrong, as it would be ridiculous to let any old random visitor into the wolf pen. It just made my friend want to come back and maybe try to volunteer there himself.
Upon visiting Wolf Timbers for the first time we knew very soon that it was an organization that we wanted to be a part of as we already had a great love for wolves. The volunteer staff who presented the program were very knowledgeable and committed in sharing the factual information about the true nature of these majestic animals. Within a month we became volunteers and since that time have been involved in nearly every facet of the operation of Wolf Timbers. We know that the hard work of many dedicated workers through the years have made Wolf Timbers the great place that it is. There is much to do for continued success and we are grateful to be a part of this work. If you have not yet been to Wolf Timbers, we invite you to visit soon.
For two years I have had a great experience socializing with these great friendly wolves. This has been a wonderful learning time. They are receptive to the good care that the owner is giving them, and they in turn respect us when we give them the respect they deserve. It has been great to see how they act towards each other and behave as individual members of the pack. It has been a pleasure to see the enjoyment by both the adults and children when they visit the facility. Everyone remarks how much more they understand about these beautiful animals after their visit.
Have been a board member for a number of years. First visited Wolf Timbers in 2001 to photograph the wolves. This is a great educational facility where people can see the wolves up close. Since first coming out I've taken over the web site, redesigned it and now update and maintain it. I've donated numerous computers to WT for the volunteers to be able to use while they're there. WT has a very dedicated core group of volunteers who all chip in to help run and maintain the facility. Their personal relationships with the wolves is wonderful to see firsthand. The numerous public programs WT puts on help educate people about the truths and myths concerning wolves. WT has the potential to be a great educational facility. They have the space to give the wolves an even bigger natural looking enclosure in time as funds become available as well as room for an educational room/building. It takes time and money and staff to get there but I think WT is definitely on it's way. They have a great bunch of people involved with this facility. Since this is an all volunteer facility, any additional funds are always welcome and much needed.
My experience at Wolf Timbers has been, and continues to be, a very wonderful one. There is a shared love of the wolves by all of us who spend our time there.
I first experienced Wolf Timbers on a field trip with my 3rd grade class.It was an amazing experience to not only see a wolf for the first time but to see the volunteers interacting with them. The three wolves were stunning. I remember we were given a handout with a wolf paw print on it. I took it home and compared it to my own dog's paw, the wolf's was much much bigger! That field trip really got me excited, and held my attention all the way until today, now all these years later, I'm a senior in high school I decided to look up Wolf Timbers because I wanted to know the latest I haven't had the opportunity to get back since that field trip. I emailed Don Knoch in January telling him that I was interested in becoming a volunteer, he emailed back and told me that an orientation for new volunteers was coming up that week. It worked out so well! I met most of the other volunteers there and got a handbook full of info on wolf behavior, volunteer duties, and safety. They explained the handbook to me and we watched a movie about wolves. I didn't get to meet the wolves that day because I was still 17 but I completely understand that and I was awestruck just to watch them from outside the fence. After that I was eager to come back as soon as I could but the winter weather wouldn't allow it. Now that it's spring we could get together and talk about the upcoming season and have a work day and I got to go in with the wolves!(recently turning 18 and all) It was amazing I can't compare it to any other experience so far, to have a wolf greet you by licking your mouth and to see the wolves interact with each other was like nothing else. I got to see the grounds again, the trail and the gift shop, I am so honored to be part of this organization, the volunteers are friendly and the wolves are healthy I know that this is where I want to be.
I have learn social behaviors of grey wolves and I learn how much these creatures are so misunderstood some people believe they killed for no reason and can wipe out the deer population what we learn that they will kill the weak and sicky before taking a healthy deer. we have rules in life so does the wolves in a pack It amazing that pack is so much like a human family ..We are teaching this and so much more to the public learn about the wolves and I think we are teaching that at wolf timbers I hope you come and see for your self
Wolves have been & continue to be some of the most misunderstood & demonized animals in the world. One of Wolf Timbers’ main goals is to educate people on the true nature of the gray wolf, a mission in which they are highly successful. I myself have been volunteering at Wolf Timbers for almost 4 years now. Throughout my time with Wolf Timbers, I have come to a much greater appreciation & respect for these amazing animals. Our three wolves possess a certain charm & graceful nature, that many of our guests soon come to realize after observing the pack. Guests are not only treated to a unique insight into the life of the pack, but also an educational experience as well. Wolf Timbers continues to promote a true understanding of the wolf, and I am proud to be part of this organization. I have enjoyed my time with Wolf Timbers, and it continues to be one of the most rewarding experiences in my life.
Since I was a member, I was invited to an appreciation dinner and viewing of the wolves in either sept. or oct. of 2009. Since it was a family membership I was accompanied by one of my sons who has an interest in wolves. We had a nice meal served by volunteers of Wolf Timbers. During this time they gave us a tour of the facilities and explained the mission of the organization. They very readily answered our questions. After the meal we were shown the wolves and they described each one. We were very impressed with the facility and the staff. It was a fun and educational experience. I would recommend Wolf Timbers to anyone interested in animal preservation or anyone interested in wild animals and their habitats.
Volunteering at Wolf Timbers has been a very pleasurable, knowledgable, and unforgetable experience. I have not only meant other people and friends, but have learned about wolves and their important role in the ecosystem. Wolf Timbers is an educational place for people to visit and learn about wolves. You learn about their temperments, life span, eating habits, and even their quirks. I would recommend Wolf Timbers to anyone who wants to learn about nature, the ecosystem, or just hang out and watch Nira, Ingo, and Keeley.
I HAVE FOUND THE EXPERIENCE TO BE REWARDING AND VALUABLE. I HAVE INTERACTED WITH THE WOLVES DIFFERENT TIMES. mY SON AND I HAVE PICKED UP ROAD KILL DEER FOR THE WOLVES. I HELP THE PUBLIC AS THEY COME INTO THE PROGRAMS. I HAVE GONE TO A LOCAL SCHOOL FOR A TEACHING PROGRAM. I HELP WITH GENERAL CARE OF THE GROUNDS. I HELP WITH THE GIFT SHOP AND DO TEACHING AS NEEDED. I HAVE FOUND A WONDERFUL ORGANIZATION AND FEEL GRATEFUL TO BE A PART OF IT.
We visited Wolf timbers last year with our son, for an event they had in the spring. My husband, and I always try to educate ourselves on the grounds of new places for us to visit, because our son is in a wheelchair. We knew that do to the nature of the activity it may not be Wheelchair accesible,however, the staff and volunteers at Wolf timbers were so helpful with Nicholas. They made our day unforgettable. Nicholas had so much fun exploring the grounds and viewing the wolves. He enjoyed learning about the wolves and being able to see people interact with them. They had many activites that evening including trivia questions for kids.He actually won a childrens movie about wolves that is viewed frequently in our home.
I have been a volunteer with Wolf Timbers since 1998. I have learned more than I had ever planned. One of my favorite experiences was having the opportunity to help raise one of the wolves. It is always a joy to see the face of a visitor when they first see the wolves. A lucky few even get the opportunity to meet a wolf. We have been able to make dreams come true. That feeling is beyond explanation. Educating the public, and especially the children, is also very rewarding.