Benton Lake Wetland Management District

Ways to Get Involved

Share a Wild Experience

Imagine banding birds at a National Wildlife Refuge, conducting wildlife surveys, leading a tour, or restoring fragile habitat. You can do this by volunteering at National Wildlife Refuges. Volunteers play a vital role in helping the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service fulfill its mission of conserving, protecting, and enhancing America's fish and wildlife and their habitats.

Volunteering

What Do Volunteers Do?

Volunteers perform a wide variety of tasks, including:

  • Conducting fish and wildlife population surveys.
  • Leading tours and providing information and interpretation to the visiting public.
  • Assisting in biological monitoring; taking part in special projects, such as bird banding.
  • Performing clerical and administrative duties.
  • Working with computers and other technical equipment.
  • Photographing a variety of natural and cultural resources.
  • Assisting Refuge maintenance workers with mowing, repair, sign installation, and vehicle and building maintenance.
  • Assist Refuge staff with management of 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
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  • The amount of time you volunteer is up to you. You may volunteer full-time, a few hours per week or month, or during a particular season.
Who May Volunteer:

No special skills are needed to be a U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service volunteer; however, on the job training is provided, if needed.

While there is no age limit, anyone under 18 years must have written parental approval. Organized group participation is welcomed and encouraged. Individuals under 16 years of age may want to volunteer as part of a supervised group, such as a Scout Troop or 4-H Club.

Volunteers are welcome regardless of race, religion, age, gender, nationality, or disability. U.S. citizenship is not required.

Our Partners

We can’t do it alone! The Benton Lake Wetland Management District works closely with other programs in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, including the Habitat and Population Evaluation Team, the Invasive Species Strike Team, Partners for Fish and Wildlife, and the Realty Program. We also work with many other state and federal agencies, non-governmental organizations, and private landowners.

Partners that help us accomplish important conservation work on the Wetland Management District include:

  • Blackfoot Challenge
  • Boone and Crockett Club
  • County Weed Districts
  • Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation
  • Montana Land Reliance
  • Natural Resource Conservation Service
  • Rocky Mountain Front Weed Roundtable
  • Swan Ecosystem Center