| In an effort to balance the need between
providing the resident wolves a sanctuary and people a nature experience
we have located the refuge far from paved roads. Please plan on 14 miles
of bumpy (possibly muddy or snowy) dirt roads to get here. It is each
person's responsibility to provide their own transportation and to come
prepared for mountain weather conditions. Bring warm clothes and shoes,
hat, gloves, sunglasses, ect. Cameras are welcome. Come prepared with
food, drink and snacks. Click
here for directions to the refuge.
When you arrive, a staff member will give you a tour of the refuge,
tell you the stories of our wolves, and try to answer any questions
that you have. We try to feed on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays.
The timing varies from 10:00am to 5:00pm depending on weather, available
volunteer help, frozen or thawed meat, and visitor demand. Many people
love to watch or help feed the wolves.
Camping
If you decide to stay the night, there is a small flat camping area
at the refuge with a picnic table and a campfire circle. We have an
outhouse and limited water available. There are miles of adjacent Nat'l
forest too. Developed campgrounds are a 45 minute+ drive. You'll need
to be sure to bring a tent, sleeping bags, sleeping pads, food, water,
a cook stove and anything else you might need. Our only requirements
for staying at the refuge are that you respect the wolves (don't scare
them), and that you are self-sufficient. Once you have taken care of
yourselves, if you have any energy left, then we can find a project
for you to work on to help the wolves (whether it be feeding, fencing,
working on our new building, ect).
Dogs
Most people who are as interested in wolves as you are also love dogs.
All of the staff here are huge fans of the lovable and trainable cousins
of our wolves. However, Mission:Wolf's resident wolves see visiting
dogs as a potential threat. So, if you are planning on visiting the
refuge with your dog, please reconsider. Your dog would need to remain
in the car at all times and stay quiet... a difficult feat for any canine
while watching the rest of its family go off to see a bunch of wolves.
If the dog starts barking, the wolves become very upset and agitated,
either because they see the dog as an intruder in their territory or
as an animal giving an alarm call (wolves only bark when they are extremely
scared) that means they should run for their lives. Either way, dogs
and wolves don't mix well. If you need to bring your dog for whatever
reason, please be prepared for a short visit and for someone to stay
back at the car with them if it is necessary.
Children
If you are planning on bringing children, then please remember that
Mission:Wolf is not set up for kids under six or seven. We've found
that children that young don't usually understand the difference between
"wolf" and "dog." We've also found that young kids
look like puppies in the wolves' eyes, and our wolves want nothing more
that to play with the "puppies." However, if we let the children
play with the wolves, one of them could accidentally get hurt. So, young
children end up teasing the wolves through the fence without even meaning
to. This usually ends up with the wolf running off to take their frustration
out on its mate. In the end, we know that children are the most important
people to educate about wolves and wilderness... they are the ones who
will be most affected by seeing a wolf and stand the best chance of
changing the future. We can figure out a way to take care of the wolves
and young children at the same time, but life is much easier if we don't
need to.
Group/ School Visits
If you have a group that wishes to receive a guided tour of the refuge
the following information is offered to help you prepare for your visit.
A typical day visit will see your group arriving at the refuge by 10:00
am. After a one to two hour tour the group takes time out for lunch.
If the group is able to stay after lunch, completion of a student volunteer
project will be rewarded with a unique experience.
Requirements
Provide M:W prior notice(one week) stating your group size, age and
length of stay. Provide your own transportation, come prepared for mountian
weather and driving conditions. Bring all of your own food, water, camping
and cooking gear.
Group Size
To balance the wolves need for sanctuary with the humans needs for education
we suggest you limit your group to twenty individuals or less. This
will allow a M:W staff educator to get the group as closes as possible
to the wolves and respond to individual needs. Larger groups up to 50
are permitted but the group will be split into two or three smaller
groups. Only one group is allowed near the wolves at a time, come prepared
with activities to keep the other groups occupied between tours. For
the most intimate encounter a group of ten or less is ideal.
Age
M:W allows individuals of all ages to visit the refuge. However, one
young toddler in a group may drastically change the experience for everyone
else, for this reason we discourage bringing a toddler on the tour.
The wolves react different to small children and may be easily frightened
or agitated. This may prevent the group from experiencing the wolves
at close range and observing their normal behavior. Additionally, most
young children see the wolves as large dogs that should be petted. To
explain to a youngster that they cannot touch the wolves often results
in cries and protests. This will disrupt the visit so much that other
students in the group become disinterested.
By the age of six or seven years, many children are able to grasp the
difference between wild and domestic animals and do well on tours. If
your group finds itself with a disruptive youngster (or adult) while
on tour, M:W provides a visitor building where a parent or teacher may
baby-sit and allow the rest of the group to have a better experience.
Cost
If your group can survive the journey, bring your own food, dress warm
and not frighten the wolves we are happy to provide a tour for free.
At the end of the tour individuals will have the opportunity to make
donations or purchase shirts and posters. Most groups are encourage
to become wolf caretakers by supporting M:W by feeding the wolves. The
suggested group donation is $100.00 for a one year membership.
Clothing
The refuge is located at 9300' elevation. Mountain storms can appear
in moments without warning. Always come prepare with warm clothes and
sturdy shoes or boots. The mountains also expose people to intense sunshine,
bring sunglasses and hats. If you are desire to volunteer to work on
a project please bring your own gloves.
Vehicle
The 14+ miles of dirt roads are passable in a two wheel drive vehicle
most of the year. However a simple rain shower or snow storm may turn
dirt to mud in moments and result in an eye-opening ride, be prepared.
Large school busses, motor coaches and RV's can negotiate the roads
easily. However the climb up to the refuge in a bus is so slow that
we suggest groups use 15 passenger vans instead. Vans are much easier
to handle and reduce drive time by half.
Food and Water
The nearest food store, restaurant, restroom, and gas station is a 40
minute drive. Bring all supplies to keep your group feed and watered.
The elevation and sun exposure will bring on a headache quickly when
people are the least bit dehydrated. We encourage each student to bring
their own water bottle.
Community Service
The entire M:W facility has been created by volunteers including help
from group visitors. There are many projects ranging from construction
and landscaping to animal care and education that groups may help with.
In a one hour time period a group of ten year olds can provide benefits
equal to a full days work by an experienced staff. In return for Community
Service work we try to provide the group a unique personal experience
with an ambassador wolf.
Camping
Mission:Wolf is designed for wolves first and people second. We offer
groups a level camping area at the refuge in sight of the wolves. A
campfire and wood is provided along with two picnic tables. We have
limited water for cleaning and an outhouse. For extended group stays
the refuge offers a sheltered outdoor kitchen with a gas range, a cooler,
a table and cooking utensils.
Local Attractions
Adventures in the nearby area may include visits to: Sand Dunes Nat'l
Monument, Bishops Castle, Greenhorn Wilderness, Sangre De Cristo Wilderness,
hike the Rainbow Trail, High Lake Fishing, Arkansas River Rafting and
Fishing, Horseback riding, Mountain Bike Riding.For more local information
visit: CusterGuide, Custer County Chamber of Commerce and the Huerfano
County Chamber of commerce web sites.
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