Get Involved

Open the door to a potentially life‑changing experience. Whether through an internship, fellowship, or volunteer opportunity at a national wildlife refuge, fish hatchery, or other U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service site, participants often gain new skills, perspectives, and enthusiasm for conservation.

 

Internships and Seasonal Opportunities

J. Clark Salyer National Wildlife Refuge offers internship and seasonal employment opportunities that give young people valuable, hands‑on experience in refuge operations. Depending on the year’s needs, these positions may support a wide range of projects—from habitat management and grounds maintenance to biological monitoring and visitor services.

Because availability varies from year to year based on funding and staffing, interested applicants are encouraged to watch USAJOBS for federal seasonal openings and American Conservation Experience (ACE) for internship listings. These platforms provide the most up‑to‑date information on opportunities as they become available.

 

Youth Conservation Corps (YCC)

In addition to internship and seasonal position opportunities, J. Clark Salyer National Wildlife Refuge may offer a Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) program that provides summer employment for youth. The YCC program gives young people the chance to complete meaningful refuge projects while learning about wildlife and natural resource conservation. Participants may help with trail clearing, painting, installing signs, mowing and maintaining public‑use areas, cleaning facilities, repairing equipment, assisting with biological work, and other hands‑on tasks. Throughout the season, YCC members gain practical skills, learn how a national wildlife refuge operates, and build teamwork and workplace experience.

Program Requirements

1. Youth must be 15–18 years old.
2. Youth must be a permanent resident of the United States or its territories or possessions.
3. Youth must have a Social Security number.
4. Youth must want to work outdoors and be involved in the development and maintenance of natural resources.
5. Youth must not have a history of discipline problems.
6. Youth must obtain satisfactory medical certification confirming physical suitability for work assignments.
7. Youth must have parental or legal guardian consent to enroll.
8. Youth must be able to commute daily to Refuge headquarters.

 

Volunteering

Volunteers support Refuge staff by assisting with special projects, public programs, and a variety of routine tasks. Volunteer help is especially valuable during the field season, from May through September, when many projects are underway. Individuals and groups are invited to take part in efforts that help maintain the natural beauty of the Refuge.

 

Friends

More than 200 non-profit 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.

 

Partnerships

Nature does not recognize human‑made boundaries, so conserving natural and cultural resources requires working together across those boundaries. Partnerships allow us to collaborate, share expertise, and develop creative solutions to complex conservation challenges.

The Partners Program boasts projects in all 52 counties of North Dakota, in cooperation with 2,753 farmers and ranchers, who themselves have donated over $0.6 million in direct payment and hands-on work to develop new habitat and to initiate conservation-oriented agricultural practices that benefit wildlife.

The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service is committed to working with private landowners to conserve natural resources and maintain the economic viability of farming and ranching. To assist landowners in meeting this goal, the Service has programs that may interest you.

We provide cost share for grass seeding to be used for grazing or haying, cross fence and water development for grazing systems, boundary fence on expired CRP and cropland seeded to grass, along with many other types of projects. Funding is available on a first come, first served basis. The length of the agreement is a minimum of 10 years and you control the hunting access.

If you would like to discuss a particular type of project or if you are interested in learning more about our program, please contact Dan Duchscherer at 701-768-2548 x 112.

 

Questions?

If you have questions or would like to learn more about opportunities at J. Clark National Wildlife Refuge, feel free to contact the Refuge.