A
S A N C T U A R Y
F O R
T O M O R R O W
HENGES WETLAND PARK AND EDUCATION CENTER
Legacy BUILDING A
FOR WILDLIFE & COMMUNITY
CONSERVED – CONNECTED – VALUED – PROTECTED – FOREVER
Legacy BUILDING A
OF CONSERVATION, EDUCATION, & ACCESS
For more than 25 years, Great Rivers Habitat Alliance has been a trusted voice for floodplain protection in the Confluence region. Our work has protected thousands of acres, strengthened regional partnerships, and delivered lasting environmental, economic, and community benefits.
WWW.GRHA.ORG
In 2026, we kick off a new venture — the Jay and Carolyn Henges Wetland Park and Education Center — a world-class destination for wildlife habitat, outdoor education, and community engagement. Through partnerships with the Missouri Department of Conservation, the Nature Conservancy, Missouri Conservation Heritage Foundation, and many veteran and first responder groups, this vision is off to a great start. This vision will only be realized through your generosity. We need your help to complete the acquisition and ensure this property serves wildlife and the community FOREVER! By giving to this campaign, you help ensure that people of all ages and abilities can connect with the hunting heritage and wildlife of the Confluence. Your support fuels habitat restoration, youth mentorship, and refuge for millions of migratory birds and threatened species.
Each year, staff at the Henges Center work to provide more than 2.5 million duck-use-days through agricultural crops, moist-soil plants, and invertebrate-rich wetlands. The property also supports habitat for passerines, raptors (including nesting bald eagles), bats, fish, deer, other mammals, amphibians, and reptiles.
Developing innovative partnerships in education and research will influence and celebrate the wildlife and hunting heritage. The Henges Center will enable the creation of innovative
conservation,
educational,
and
research partnerships. These partnerships will provide curriculum opportunities to develop and scale technology and knowledge that ensure both
people
and
nature
management
by
our
thrive.
habitat
Increased experts
—
employing innovative wetland management techniques,
including
extending
the
management into the critical spring migration period — will maximize the property’s benefit to wildlife. Developing innovative partnerships in education and research will influence and celebrate the wildlife and hunting heritage of the Confluence and safeguard its protection in perpetuity.
HABITAT WORLD CLASS
The History In 1958, Mo Buder established the 785-acre Whistling Wings Property, including the 330acre inviolate refuge, to provide critical migration habitat for his ‘boys and girls’… the ducks! In 2025, GRHA entered into a contract to acquire the property and began to build on the conservation legacy originally set by expanding the refuge to 400 acres and implementing cutting-edge moist-soil management on more than half of the property’s acreage, managed by renowned experts. Maintaining this property for wildlife is crucial for the future of the Confluence as a refuge and migration corridor during fall and spring for a myriad of wildlife species. Positioned on the ‘Eastern Front’ against urban expansion from the City of St. Charles, the site is vital for maintaining outdoor recreation, hunting heritage, agriculture, and the mission of GRHA. The site currently hosts millions of migratory bird-use-days annually and will now welcome people to enjoy the wonders of floodplains and the spectacle of spring and fall migrations. Annual workshops will promote habitat management ultimately impacting the quality of habitat provided in the Confluence and beyond. We hope you will join GRHA in our excitement and support this trailblazing vision for public/private wildlife conservation partnerships. WWW.GRHA.ORG
Philanthropic
EXPLORE OUR OPPORTUNITIES
CONNECTING PEOPLE TO THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER A LIVING MODEL OF FLOODPLAIN STEWARDSHIP
Visitors experience best practices in:
Our mission is to reconnect communities
Sustainable Agriculture
with the Mississippi River and its vital
Outdoor Recreation
floodplains. This transformative property
Environmental Education
will serve as a living example of how
Wildlife Habitat Management
people and nature can thrive together.
TOGETHER WITH OUR PARTNERS, WE ARE CREATING AN OUTDOOR OASIS THAT DEMONSTRATES HOW HEALTHY WETLANDS AND FLOODPLAINS SUPPORT CLEAN AIR, CLEAN WATER, FLOOD STORAGE, WILDLIFE, AND VIBRANT COMMUNITIES.
EXPANDING OUTDOOR ACCESS & OPPORTUNITY The property will operate as a premier educational site dedicated to promoting the critical importance of wetlands and floodplains. Through hands-on learning and immersive experiences, visitors will gain a deeper understanding of how these natural systems protect and sustain all life.
We are committed to providing outdoor education and access, including: Public hunting opportunities Hunter safety training programs Youth engagement initiatives Programs for first-time hunters Veteran-focused opportunities Women in outdoors initiatives First responder programs Educator partnerships
THESE EFFORTS ENSURE BROADER ACCESS, BUILD SKILLS, AND FOSTER LIFELONG CONNECTIONS TO CONSERVATION.
THE GOAL HELP US REACH
GRHA has a goal to raise $11,000,000 to complete the acquisition of the Jay and Carolyn Henges Wetlands Education and Conservation Center. Thanks to lead gifts from the Jay Henges Charitable Trust, Missouri Department of Conservation, The Nature Conservancy, and the Costello Family/CK Power, we are off to a great start with more than $7 million raised to date (65%). To keep the vision of the Jay and Carolyn Henges Wetlands Education and Conservation Center moving forward, GRHA needs to raise an additional $4,000,000 over the next 2 years to complete the acquisition of the property from Ducks Unlimited and cover the costs of initial restoration and infrastructure improvements.
OUR GOAL $11 MILLION
$11 MIL $10 MIL $9 MIL $8 MIL $7 MIL
$6 MIL
$5 MIL
$4 MIL
$3 MIL $2 MIL $1 MIL
65%
RAISED
By supporting this campaign, you help bring the Jay and Carolyn Henges Wetlands Education and Conservation Center to completion, strengthen conservation throughout the floodplain, and protect a landscape that sustains wildlife, local communities, and clean water for generations. Together, we can protect what matters most, now and forever.
YOUR SUPPORT FUELS HABITAT, YOUTH MENTORSHIP, OUTDOOR EXPERIENCES AND REFUGE FOR MILLIONS OF MIGRATORY BIRDS AND OTHER WILDLIFE SPECIES.
Gifts & Underwriting EVERY GIFT HELPS US: Protect and restore critical
Provide refuge for millions of
floodplain habitat
migratory birds
Mentor the next generation of
Ensure public access and
conservationists and hunters
inclusive outdoor experiences
SPONSORSHIPS OF ALL LEVELS AVAILABLE One-Time Gifts, Naming & Underwriting Opportunities Opportunity
Description
Investment
Great Rivers Basin Naming
Name the 152-acre Great Rivers Wetland Basin—one of the largest and most vital waterfowl refuges in the Confluence region.
$1,000,000
Viewing Tower Naming Rights
Help complete a 15 x 15 ft, 30 ft high covered viewing tower overlooking the Great Rivers Basin.
$130,000
Wetland Pool Naming
Name one of 12 managed wetland pools within the refuge and hunting units.
$100,000 each
UTV Underwriting
Sponsor one of six UTVs used to transport youth and mentored hunters. Includes logo recognition.
$25,000 each
Duck Blind Replacement
Fund new accessible blinds built for mentored youth hunts.
$25,000 each (8 available)
Goose Blind Installation
Support construction of a dedicated goose hunting pit for mentored Canada goose hunts.
Ammunition Underwriting
Annual sponsorship supporting ammunition for youth and mentored hunts.
$25,000
$15,000 annually
Customized underwriting opportunities available. GRHA THANKS YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION! RECOGNITION There will be a large dedication area in the center of the property’s Headquarters featuring an active wetland and rock wall with bronze mallard and pintail ducks coming to roost. Surrounding the wetland will be a cattail fence with recognition plaques for those who support this effort.
First Responders
Birding
ho s k r o W s d n a l t e W
Veteran Duck Hunts
ps
Youth Duck Hunts
Mentor Dove Hunts
The magic of nature’s venture, the wonder of it all, the cycle of life that we must stewarded for continuation, the need to teach, the need to experience — Jay would be, and is, as am I, so proud of this new education center. May it flourish, inspire, and teach countless generations the majesty and beauty of our world! — Carolyn Henges
GIVE TODAY!
TO LEARN MORE OR GIVE A GIFT, VISIT GRHA AT: WWW.GRHA.ORG MIKE CHECKETT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR MCHECKETT@GRHA.ORG PHONE: 901.277.9118
CAMPAIGN CO-CHAIRS MCDARA O’BRIEN MCDARA@GREENLEAFPROCUREMENT.COM PHONE: 312.307.4744
JAMES T. BLAIR, IV JTBDDTHUNT@GMAIL.COM 20 PHONE: 314.517.2526