Volunteering On The Mid-Columbia River Refuges

2013 Volunteer Opportunities Link (PDF)

Do you have some spare time? Would you like to do something interesting to help wildlife? Consider becoming a volunteer for one of our wildlife refuges. As a volunteer, you will be actively involved in station programs, teaching environmental education classes, helping rehabilitate burned habitats, greeting visitors, assisting office staff, conducting goose surveys, or helping with any number of other rewarding tasks.

The Mid-Columbia River National Wildlife Refuge Complex includes refuges in two states, and it's likely there's a refuge near you. We could use help at:

Cold Springs NWR near Hermiston, Oregon

Columbia, NWR near Othello, Washington

Conboy Lake NWR near Glenwood, Washington

Hanford Reach National Monument near Richland, Washington

McKay Creek NWR near Pendleton, Oregon

McNary NWR near Burbank and Pasco, Washington

Toppenish NWR near Toppenish and Yakima, Washington

Umatilla NWR near Umatilla, Oregon

Volunteer opportunities and partnerships are recognized as key components of successful management and vital to the implementation of refuge programs, plans and projects. In other words, WE NEED YOU! And it’s our belief that you can benefit by volunteering. Developing a sense of place and knowing that you contributed to the perpetuation of the natural environment through caring and education are just some of the internal benefits of volunteering.

Various opportunities exist at the entire Mid-Columbia River National Wildlife Refuge Complex for volunteers to experience rewarding and educational opportunities. Volunteers can serve for a long- or short-term period. Help is needed in a variety of fields, including interpretation, environmental education, wildlife and plant surveys, and maintenance and resource management.

The Friends of Mid-Columbia River National Wildlife Refuges was organized in 2001 to provide high-quality natural resource-oriented education programs free to the public. Over 60 local citizens belong to the Friends nonprofit group. If you are interested in joining, contact the Friends at (509) 546-8350 or via email at mcnaryedcenter@gmail.com.

Volunteering is fun, but does require commitment. Refuge staff will provide the necessary training and equipment. All you need to supply are time and enthusiasm.

If one of the volunteer opportunities interests you, please contact the person listed for the opportunity or:

Jaynee Levy
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
64 Maple Street
Burbank, WA 99323
(509) 546-8356
jaynee_levy@fws.gov

Thank you for your interest in the national wildlife refuges along the Mid-Columbia River; we look forward to working with you to protect our national treasures.