Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery Complex

Volunteering at National Fish Hatcheries

Our volunteers are individuals who want to give back to their communities, parents who want to be good stewards of the land and set examples for their children, retired people willing to share their wealth of knowledge, concerned citizens of all ages who want to learn more about conservation, and passionate people who enjoy the outdoors and want to spread the word about America's greatest natural treasures.

Volunteers must be at least 16 years old; however, for some tasks, 12 - 15 year olds can be permitted to volunteer if accompanied by a trained parent or guardian. Anyone under 18 must have parental approval.

Organized group participation is welcomed and encouraged.

Volunteers Can Help With Many Tasks

Volunteer opportunities include:

Helping with fish related activities such as spawning
Leading tours and providing accurate information to visitors
Improving habitat such as re-establishing native plants along a riverbank
Helping with special projects such as snowshoe tours or kids fishing days
Helping with special events such as National Fishing Day, the Salmon Festival or Kids in the Creek
Performing clerical and administrative duties
Sorting and organizing historical files and photos
Maintaining the nature trail
Assist with removal of invasive plant species
Minor routine equipment maintenance

Generally, no special skills are required to be a volunteer. Any on-the-job training is provided if needed. Individual talents and skills are matched with volunteer interests and work opportunities.

For more details about volunteering for the National Fish and Wildlife Service, see the FWS Volunteer Home Page.

Contact Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery Information and Education Department to become a volunteer. 509-548-7641

Friends of Northwest Hatcheries

Slide show of volunteers hard at work - Photos: USFWS The Friends of Northwest Hatcheries (Friends) is a non-profit group of volunteers dedicated to supporting, providing and enhancing natural resource outdoor education and interpretation. Their mission supports the USFWS national initiative, “Connecting Families and Nature”, throughout the Pacific Northwest. Administratively based at the Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery, Friends includes local chapters at hatcheries located in Leavenworth, Entiat, Winthrop, Carson, Spring Creek, Hagerman, Dworshak, and Kooskia.