Ways to Get Involved
Since 1903, the National Wildlife Refuge System has owed its very existence to concerned citizens eager to protect America's natural resources.
More than 200 nonprofit Refuge Friends organizations support national wildlife refuges, whether they work with a single refuge, a refuge complex or an entire state. Friends members are crucial to conserving and protecting our nation’s wildlife and teaching millions of Americans that their actions today determine the conservation legacy of tomorrow.
More than 42,000 people volunteer their time and ideas each year to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Whether they work on the land, in a visitor center or with youth, they contribute to the conservation mission that reaches back more than a century. Become a volunteer or Refuge Friend to contribute your strength on behalf of America’s natural resources.
Volunteering
Make a Difference, Become a Volunteer!
Ash meadows National Wildlife Refuge is looking for volunteers! As the largest remaining oasis in the Mojave Desert, the rare and unique habitats of the refuge are home to a least 26 species of plants and animals that exist nowhere else in the world. The refuge and our visitor center receive thousands of visitors a year. Be a part of connecting visitors from all over the world to the wonder of Ash Meadows.
There are many exciting volunteer opportunities to choose from:
- Visitor Center Information Desk
- Refuge Maintenance
- Environmental Education
- Restoration Projects
- Litter Clean up
Resident RV spots with full hookups are available for long-term volunteers. Check out our listings here.
Local-area volunteers are also encouraged to apply! 775.372.5435
Volunteer Opportunities
Our Partners
Nature does not recognize human-made boundaries. To conserve our natural and cultural resources effectively, we must work with others to bridge these boundaries. Partnerships foster creative solutions to challenging situations and often the results are greater than the sum of the parts. Learn more about our local partners.
Education Programs
Ash Meadows provides exceptional opportunities to observe and learn about diverse desert habitats, water conservation, and the protection of endangered species. We provide on-site fieldtrip programs, virtual programs, and in-class visits upon request.
Field Trips
A field trip to Ash Meadows is a free, field-based adventure that supports Next Generation Science Standards. During a fieldtrip, your students will marvel at the beauty of a sapphire blue spring, immerse themselves in diverse desert habitats, and encounter the endangered Ash Meadows Amargosa Pupfish. We can serve up to 60 school students per visit. Our state-of-the art visitor center provides clean restrooms and a calm, sheltered picnic area that seats 54+ students with a mesmerizing view of a wild landscape.
On-site programs
- Introduction to Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge
- Junior Refuge Ranger Activities
- Science, Art, and Language programs available
In-Class visits
- Every Kid in a Park
- Federal Junior Duck Stamp Program
- Ash Meadows introduction
Ready to reserve your field trip to Ash Meadows? Please contact the Visitor Center at (775) 372-5435 or email us at desertcomplex@fws.gov.