Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge
Northeast Region
 

Volunteer

Volunteers are the life blood in helping the Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge fulfill its mission of conserving, protecting, and enhancing fish and wildlife and their habitats as well as providing educational and recreational opportunities for the public.

Volunteer Newsletters

All files are in .pdf format and require Adobe Acrobat Reader to view.

Intern Opportunities 2012

Intern Opportunities

Intern Application

Volunteer Position

Visitor Services Volunteers

Responsible for providing friendly, accurate information to refuge visitors. Duties will include: working in the Friends Gift Shop, providing orientation to the refuge, taking program and tour reservations, assisting with on-going refuge recreation activities (public use surveys, refuge programs for school groups, refuge events such as National Wildlife Refuge Week, hunter bag checks, responding to mail and phone inquiries, maintaining database for mailing lists and wildlife observations, light gardening.

Volunteer Interpreters and Environmental Educators

Don Freiday, the Chief of Visitor Services is seeking Volunteer Interpreters and Environmental Educators. He would like to have regularly scheduled programs on the weekends and during the weekdays during spring break. In addition, he would like volunteers that he can call on to help provide different activities for large school groups, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and other special request programs.

If you or anyone you know is interested in leading activities, have them contact Volunteer Coordinator Sandy Perchetti for a volunteer application. If you have already have an application on file and would like to participate contact Don.

We have an outstanding training opportunity for our volunteers. In collaboration with Stockton College, we have a 40 hour Volunteer Master Naturalist course. In addition, for volunteers who would like to lead hikes or other activities, we offer the National Association for Interpretation Certified Interpretive Guide course. Let Sandy Perchetti know if you are interested. For more information about the courses and to register visit the Stockton College Continuing Studies Web site.

Contact Sandy at 609-652-1665; fax: 609-652-1747; email: sandy_perchetti@fws.gov. Contact Don at (609) 652-1665 ext 13; fax (609) 652-1747; email: donald_freiday@fws.gov.

Carpenters/Handypeople

Build and install benches, brochure racks, and interpretive panels, maintain trails and viewing facilities, complete landscaping projects. There is no end to projects waiting on the sidelines.

Biological Aide

Assist with on-going refuge biological surveys (waterfowl, shorebirds, vegetation, water quality, data entry, hunter bag checks, nest boxes, bird banding, habitat restoration, boundary posting, minor maintenance projects, etc). A great way to increase your knowledge of our local natural resources is to become a Volunteer Master Naturalist. For more information about the program and to register visit the Stockton College Continuing Studies Web site. Be sure to check out our list of projects that volunteers can help with.

Office Workers

Not as glamorous as holding masked bobwhite, but just as important are support jobs involving copying, filing, computer data entry, and answering phones. Help keep the refuge running smoothly by working at headquarters.

Field Maintenance Volunteer

Assist maintenance staff in carpentry, plumbing, painting, grounds keeping, minor equipment repair and maintenance, boundary posting, habitat restoration, and other construction projects. Heavy equipment operators needed for dozers, bobcat, road grader and other equipment.

Creative Gardener Volunteer

A very special garden in a very special place needs a very special gardener like you, beginner or experienced. Join other volunteer gardeners in planning, planting and nurturing a native wildflower garden in front of the Refuge Headquarters Building. Meets Thursdays at 10:00 a.m. in spring and fall.

Photography Volunteer

Stay Focused Photo Club is up and running. Join us each month as we learn about photography from guest speakers and each other. Occasional field trips are planned.

Call Ed Jones at 609-652-1665 for more information, or visit their web site at www.stayfocusedphotoclub.com.

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FAQs

How much of my time is required?

The amount of time that you volunteer is up to you. You may volunteer a few hours a week or month, or during a particular season. A commitment averaging 8 hours a month for at least 6 months is required.

Where do I start?

Contact the refuge and ask for a volunteer/intern application packet. You may stop by, call, fax, or email your request. Volunteer application available here (.pdf - 105KB). Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader.

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Disclaimer
Last updated: May 13, 2013