Volunteering
Volunteering for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is fun and rewarding in many ways. Master new skills. Meet new friends. Enjoy a sense of accomplishment from doing your part to further wildlife conservation for the pleasure of generations to follow.
The refuge’s diverse programs utilize volunteers of all ages and abilities. Common volunteer activities include staffing the visitor centers, helping with guided tours, developing outreach and informational materials, and maintaining grounds, trails, and signs. At times, volunteers may be invited to help with biological surveys or other one-time volunteer events. Whether the jobs are labor intensive projects for scout or church groups, full-time internships, or regular weekly or monthly assistance, there are always needs in the various refuge program areas. Even if you can't come to one of the refuges in person, you might be able to help by being a Volunteer from a Distance. There may be web-related or non-internet related writing projects that need assistance. Contact Sarah Toner, sarah_toner@fws.gov to learn more!
Resident Volunteers
Alligator River NWR has space for RVs (Resident Volunteers) who live in their own recreational vehicle on pads we provide on the refuge. We provide water, electric, sewage hook-up and laundry facilities. In return for these provisions, a couple must commit to 24 hours of service per week or a single person must commit to 32 hours of volunteer service per week. For more information, contact Sarah Toner, sarah_toner@fws.gov.
Internships
Refuges in the Coastal North Carolina National Wildlife Refuge Complex offer a variety of internships. In addition to internships at Alligator River NWR, Pocosin Lakes NWR and Mattamuskeet NWR also offer internship experiences.
Alligator River and Pea Island NWR Internships
The refuge’s intern program provides unique experiences for college students and graduates geared towards careers in the environmental sciences. Internships expose interns to many aspects of managing a refuge by rotations through different program areas. Interns assist with visitor services, biological monitoring, and maintenance activities. Interns present public outreach programs such as guided canoe tours and open-air tram tours as well as educational programs on species such as black bears and sea turtles. They also help staff visitor centers as needed. Biological duties include installing beach nesting bird protection areas, mapping and treating invasive plant species, sea turtle monitoring, shorebird surveys and water level monitoring. All interns assist with refuge maintenance duties, including mowing, trimming, trail work, sign maintenance, stocking refuge brochures, trash and recycling collection and assisting other staff with a variety of projects.
Interns will receive on-the-ground training for all duties, including the safe operation of ATV/UTV's, mower use, and field safety. Interns work independently, in pairs, or with refuge staff or volunteers. Physical requirements can include the ability to lift and paddle canoes, carry up to 40 pounds in the sand, and walking miles in the sand with outside air temperatures in the upper 80’s in humid conditions.
All applicants must possess a valid driver’s license and have maintained it for at least one year. A refuge vehicle will be provided for work duties. A personal vehicle is required for transport from housing to the refuge office.
We seek enthusiastic team members! It is more important for us to find candidates with good references and positive attitudes than previous technical experience.
The internship runs from May 18th through August 7th, 2026. Interns will be expected to commit for the full 12 weeks. In your application, please state your dates of availability if different from the internship dates. Extended periods of leave during the internship term may not be granted.
Interns typically work 40 hour weeks. Weekend work will be required; however, interns are guaranteed two days off a week.
We may ask one or two of our summer interns to extend through October to assist with fall biology work and the Wings Over Water Wildlife Festival.
To Apply
Summer 2026 applications are currently being accepted. Applications will be accepted until January 6, 2026, or until 100 applications are received, whichever occurs first.
You will increase your chance of being selected if you’re open to internships at any of the three duty stations in eastern North Carolina (Alligator River and Pea Island National Wildlife Refuges, Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge, and Mattamuskeet National Wildlife Refuge). In most cases, to be considered for an internship position, an applicant must be able to stay a minimum of three months.
Internships are volunteer positions. Housing and a living allowance are provided. The living allowance consists of $200 per week (paid biweekly) and an additional $1200 paid upon completion of the full 12 weeks of the internship.
To apply, mail a resume, contact information for three references, and a cover letter indicating your specific interests and dates available to Sarah Toner, sarah_toner@fws.gov. In your application, indicate your specific interests and describe your background and experience relating to the following:
- Wildlife identification and surveys
- Outdoor field work
- Public interpretive programs and presentations
- Communication with a range of audiences
- Navigating outdoors and orienteering
- Canoeing
- Operation of ATVs & UTVs
- Maintenance (trail and other)
- Using hand tools, power tools, and riding mowers
Make sure to provide your dates of availability!
Volunteer Opportunities
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.
