Ways to Get Involved
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 for you to help your community and fish and wildlife by doing what you love.
National wildlife refuges partner with volunteers, youth groups, landowners, neighbors and residents of urban and coastal communities to make a lasting difference.
Find out how you can help make American lands healthier and communities stronger while doing something personally satisfying.
Volunteering
The refuge supports and encourages an active volunteer program. Depending on their skills, interests, and available time, volunteers can assist with the biological, outreach, maintenance, public use, educational or administrative tasks on the refuge. If you have the time and the willingness to make a commitment, we'd love to talk to you about your interest in volunteering with us.
There are five general volunteer job descriptions available at the refuge. For more details on each job, including the education/skills needed, availability, time and commitment requirements, click on the highlighted link
Office Assistant – Volunteers may do a variety of clerical, organizational, or administrative tasks; computer graphic design; data base management; a variety of writing tasks; and/or staffing the visitor information desk.
Environmental Education Volunteer – Duties may include giving presentations to students, greeting visitors at the Visitor Center, designing/producing educational material, assisting with special events, and contacting group leads and other program management assistance.
Naturalist Interpreter Volunteer - preparing and presenting interpretive programs, helping to create exhibits, caring for collections, assisting with special events, greeting visitors at the Visitor Center, writing articles, trail maintenance.
Biological Assistant – Experienced persons can help with habitat maintenance or restoration, wildlife surveys, 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 control, mapping, and/or data management.
Maintenance Assistant – Skilled volunteers may help with minor vehicle and equipment maintenance, maintaining buildings, gates, and signs; trail maintenance, mowing, managing gardens, snow removal, and, and carpentry projects.
Please know that the descriptions above are general job descriptions. If you have a particular skill or talent that you believe may be useful to the Refuge, but it doesn’t seem to fall under one of the descriptions above – don’t assume that we can’t use you. Every now and then, a potential volunteer appears who has a talent that we didn’t even know we needed until we took a closer look!
To begin, get in touch with logan_sauer@fws.gov about your particular interests for volunteering.
Another way to get involved at the refuge is through The Friends of Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge, Inc. The friends group is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to increasing public awareness of the Iroquois Refuge and to helping the community understand its mission and goals. The Friends sponsor and support many of the Refuge’s special events, activities, and projects including Spring into Nature and the Swallow Hollow Trail boardwalk. Visit the FINWR website for more information.
We look forward to hearing from you! Thank you for your interest in volunteering at Iroquois Refuge!
Our Partners
The refuge has partnered with many different organizations for to habitat restoration, interpretation programs, youth orientations, special events and much more. We provide a lot more to visitors and recreationist because of this and can not thank them enough. Below is a list of partners that contribute to the mission and goals of Iroquois Refuge:
- Friends of Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge, Inc.
- Buffalo Audubon Society
- New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
- Ducks Unlimited
- Lake Plains Waterfowl Association
- Western New York and Finger Lakes Waterfowl Association
- Iroquois Job Corps Center
- Youth Conservation Corps
- American Conservation Experience
- Student Conservation Association
Outreach
Interpretive Programming
Interpretive programming is can be run by staff, interns, volunteers, and/or co-sponsored by Friends of Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge, Inc. Programming includes, but isn’t limited to, birding, nature exploration, canoe trips, hands on activities, photography classes, guest speakers, and much more! All programs are free and open to the public! Programs are year round. Check out our events page or our Facebook for the latest programs available!
Special Events
The Refuge partners with several organizations to be able to provide special event opportunities to the public free of charge. Our annual events include Spring Into Nature - a celebration welcoming spring back to the swamps, Youth Fishing Derby - children under 16 learn and show off their fishing abilities, and Veteran Family Fishing Day - a free fishing day for veterans and their families.
Outreach
Outreach events help to inform and remind the public about the Refuge purpose and opportunities they can enjoy the Refuge. You may see us at a fair, public exhibition, or festival spreading the word of Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
If you would like for us to attend your event, contact us for availability.
Education Programs
YCC
The Youth Conservation Corps Program (YCC) is a summer employment program for young men and women from all segments of society, who work, earn, and learn together doing outdoor conservation projects at Iroquois Refuge. The work is planned to provide enrollees with a better understanding of their environment and the management of our natural resources. Typical work includes trail maintenance, painting, 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 removal, bird banding, landscaping and weed control and trash pickup. Unfortunately, there will not be a YCC program for summer of 2024.
Student worker programs
The refuge offers seasonal student worker positions through American Conservation Experience and Student Conservation Association. Positions vary.