Parker River National Wildlife Refuge
Northeast Region
 

Get Involved

Volunteering at Parker River

Volunteers are welcome in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service! With more than 36,000 volunteers contributing in excess of 1.4 million hours of their time, skills and talents, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's volunteer program is robust and continuing to grow. The tireless efforts of our volunteers complete more than 20 percent of the work conducted on national wildlife refuges alone. Volunteers play a vital role in helping the service fulfill its mission of conserving, protecting and enhancing America's fish, wildlife and plants and the habitats on which they depend. We hope you will consider spending time with us to help wildlife.

A Volunteer helps a child Fish during "Go Fish" day

Volunteers perform a wide variety of tasks. Some volunteers work full time, some a few hours a week or month or during a particular season or special event. 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.

Some volunteer opportunities at Parker River include:

  • Being a plover warden stationed along closed areas on the beach to let the visiting public know about the nesting needs of the piping plover and prevent trespass
  • Conducting wildlife population surveys
  • Leading tours and field trips for school groups and the visiting public
  • Assisting with habitat improvement projects, such as pulling invasive pepperweed in the refuge marsh or maintaining the refuge native plant garden. To learn more about pepperweed management click here.
  • Providing information to the public at the visitor center front desk
  • Assisting with maintenance projects such as refurbishing boardwalks and mowing

To volunteer, please contact or visit:
Parker River National Wildlife Refuge
6 Plum Island Turnpike
Newburyport, MA 01950
978-465-5753 ext. 208
fw5rw_prnwr@fws.gov

Friends of Parker River National Wildlife Refuge

The Friends of Parker River National Wildlife Refuge is a non-profit organization that supports the refuge through advocacy, fundraising, and special events. To learn more about the work of the Friends or to become a member, please visit www.parkerriver.org

 
Last updated: February 4, 2013