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U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Return to Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge

Partners and Youth

Updated November 3, 2026

The first national wildlife refuge was established in 1903 as a result of concerned citizens. Refuges continue to partner with volunteers, youth groups, landowners, neighbors and residents of urban and coastal communities to make a lasting difference. 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 to connect with both your community and wildlife resources by doing what you love.
 

Youth Employment

Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge works with youth volunteers and interns. Not every year looks the same, but opportunities often exist for youth to participate in seasonal volunteer projects, summer internship experiences, or temporary employment.

Internship programs are managed through partnerships with organizations such as the Student Conservation Association, American Conservation Experience and Conservation Legacy. Please note that summer internships are usually selected by March and candidates should be prepared to apply for such positions in December or January. 

Temporary employment opportunities are six-month positions and are advertised on USAjobs.gov. Past temporary employment positions have included individuals hired as Fee Collectors, Maintenance Workers and Biological Technicians.

Interested youth should contact the wildlife refuge at 757-301-7329 ext.4 to inquire about upcoming opportunities. 

Four people stand by two metal posts on the beach. Two are in maroon shirts and two are in tan shirts.
American Conservation Experience Interns and USFWS staff protect a sea turtle nest at Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge in Virginia.

Our Partners

Nature does not recognize human-made boundaries. In order to conserve our natural 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.

Back Bay NWR's primary partner is our Friends group, the Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge Society (Society). The Society was formed in 2020 to support the Refuge through various projects and programs. Initial Society projects include installing and maintaining osprey platforms and creating plant identification signs on the Raptor Trail. Most recently the Society constructed an Outdoor Classroom for field trip programs!

Back Bay NWR also works with many state, local, non-profit and federal partners to achieve our mission. This list continues to grow as we develop new partnerships:

A roofed structure with open walls sits in a field of vegetation.
The Friends group of Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge, in Virginia, constructed an Outdoor Classroom for the wildlife refuge in 2026.
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