Ways to Get Involved
Join us as a Volunteer, Friend, or Seasonal Intern!
Whether you want to further conservation, learn more about nature, or share your love of the outdoors, you’ve come to the right place. National Wildlife Refuges provide many opportunities for you to help your community and support wildlife conservation by doing what you love.
Internships
The refuge typically has a variety of field work internship opportunities each year, starting in late spring and going through the summer. These positions range from shorebird monitoring and invasive species invasive species
An invasive species is any plant or animal that has spread or been introduced into a new area where they are, or could, cause harm to the environment, economy, or human, animal, or plant health. Their unwelcome presence can destroy ecosystems and cost millions of dollars.
Learn more about invasive species work to interpretation and education. Announcements will be posted on this website and on popular job boards during the winter of each year. Internships are a great way to experience what it is like to work on public lands and make a contribution to natural resource conservation.
CURRENT INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
- Biological Support Member (Shorebirds) - This is a 45-week position based at Monomoy NWR in Chatham. Estimated start date: February 2, 2026. Estimated end date: December 11, 2026 (start date may have 1-2 week flexibility). Housing is provided at no cost for the duration of the term.
Position Overview: During this term, the ACE member will contribute to management and monitoring of mammalian and avian predators (coyotes, rats, herons, etc.) that are impacting high priority nesting birds at Monomoy NWR. The member will provide support and assistance under the guidance and direction of FWS staff to:
During the non-field season months (generally November - March):
-spend 50% of time entering and summarizing data related to predator impacts from previous years.
-spend 50% of time developing prioritization and management strategies for the upcoming years, including compiling research, expert opinions, etc.
During the field season months (generally March - October, but rat work may occur year round)
-spend 40% of time monitoring predator impacts to high priority bird species
-spend 40% of time conducting predator management trials, with a likely emphasis on rats
-spend 20% of time assisting with other high priority biological projects including posting areas closed to the public, wading bird surveys, seal surveys, invasive species mapping and control, interacting with the public, entering data, maintaining facilities, and conducting routine office work.
This position requires living on a remote island, in either a lighthouse keepers house (electricity and running water may be available) or a field camp (no electricity or running water) from April - September.
Click the link for more information about this internship and to apply!
Volunteering
Volunteer Opportunities
We love our volunteers! Without their time, support, and dedication, much of what we do at Monomoy NWR, both in the Visitor Center and in the field, would not be possible.
Learn more below, and complete this form to sign up for volunteer opportunities or to request to receive email updates about upcoming volunteer events.
Visitor Center Volunteers
Our new visitor center is located at 791 Main Street in Chatham. Volunteers help our staff with public outreach and maintenance at the visitor center, informing visitors about the refuge and answering questions.
Information Kiosk Volunteers (Memorial Day - Labor Day)
The Friends of Monomoy NWR and volunteers staff our outdoor visitor outreach kiosk, located at the refuge parking lot and trailhead at 30 Wikis Way in Chatham, during our highest visitation months. Typical shifts are 10am-1pm or 1pm-4pm.
Biological Project Volunteers
These are typically one-off volunteer opportunities which largely occur in the spring and summer. Volunteers help our refuge biologist and technicians with important work such as posting the refuge's beaches with signage, setting up tern camp on the island, bird censuses, horseshoe crab surveying and tagging, and more. Boat transportation to the island is provided.
Maintenance & Administrative Project Volunteers
Volunteers help maintain walking path (mainland, on Morris Island), repair and replace signage, maintain parking lots, and assist with trash clean up events.
Fill out the form to sign up or learn more!
Our Partners
Nature does not recognize human-made boundaries. In order 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.
Friends of Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge
The Friends of Monomoy is the official Friends Organization of Monomoy NWR. Friends Organizations are independent, non-profit group that support public entities. The Friends of Monomoy NWR are devoted to the continued protection and management of the refuge, and to the promotion of wildlife oriented education as it relates to the refuge.
Looking for more information? Interested in upcoming volunteer opportunities with the Friends? Looking for deeper involvement as a Friends Board member?
Check out the Friends of Monomoy website (https://www.friendsofmonomoy.org/) and Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/FoMNWR), or reach out via email at friendsofmonomoyrefuge@gmail.com.
