Ways to Get Involved
The refuge works with partners to offer opportunities to get involved in conservation both on-site and in the surrounding communities. Volunteer opportunities are project-based and get added throughout the year, so check back here often to see if something new offered aligns with your interests.
Volunteering
Volunteer opportunities change throughout the seasons and are often different from year to year. To give the best service to community members dedicating their valuable time, staff take care to engage with volunteers in an intentional and quality way. This sometimes means we are not able to take on additional volunteers while we work on supporting current projects. We appreciate your patience and encourage you to work with other local community organizations if we are not able to offer you an opportunity. Check back here often for updates.
We are currently onboarding new volunteers! If you are interested, please fill out this inquiry form: 2026 Volunteer Inquiry Form.
We will reach out to you about our available positions and our Volunteer Training in early Spring.
Refuge Environmental Educators
Support communities in learning about nature exploration at the Refuge and in their backyards.
- Lead or assist with activities during school field trips
- Prep materials for education programs
- Lead guided walks and on-site programs
- Engage with people at local community events
Refuge Nature Center Volunteers
Welcome visitors, answer questions, and communicate about projects and plans happening within the Ridgefield
NWR Complex
- Engage visitors at Ridgefield and Steigerwald Lake NWRs on trails, in the new Nature Center, and at the
contact station to answer questions - Provide customer service, site orientation, and facilities upkeep
- Speak with visitors about current and future developments with the Nature Center and obtain feedback
and community vision for programming and facilities
Refuge Enhancers
Improve habitat to enhance wildlife health and the visitor experience.
- Remove invasive plants
- Maintain trails and facilities
- Maintain native plantings
Refuge Office Supporters
Help provide a welcoming face and voice to those visiting the refuge or calling the administrative office in Ridgefield
- Provide customer service at the front desk
- Answer phone and return messages
- Help with misc. office tasks
- Sell entrance passes
Refuge Communicators
Help share the stories and conservation work of the refuge and our partners
- Write educational articles and curriculum
- Create content for social media
- Take photos of refuge programs and visitor uses
- Post flyers for refuge events in the community
Our Partners
National wildlife refuges are often small pieces of broad landscapes, but the Refuge System commitment and vision are not small. To be effective in confronting the challenges posed by climate change climate change
Climate change includes both global warming driven by human-induced emissions of greenhouse gases and the resulting large-scale shifts in weather patterns. Though there have been previous periods of climatic change, since the mid-20th century humans have had an unprecedented impact on Earth's climate system and caused change on a global scale.
Learn more about climate change , 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 , habitat fragmentation and development, the Refuge System must look beyond refuge boundaries to work and plan with multiple partners.
Education Programs
Visit the Refuge
We welcome education groups of all ages to visit the Refuge to expand in-class lessons and provide an immersive learning experience. If you are interested in bringing a group out, please contact the Refuge so we can work together to provide the best trip for your group and secure the bus parking space for you, if needed.
For more on visiting the Refuge this spring and summer, visit our Education Programs Page.