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 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
Discover for yourself what tens of thousands of volunteers have learned: Volunteering for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is fun and rewarding in many ways. Learn new skills, meet new friends and enjoy a sense of accomplishment from doing your part to further wildlife conservation for the pleasure of generations to follow.
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. Learn more about our local partners.
Friends of Loess Bluffs
Friends of Loess Bluffs is a non-profit dedicated to promoting the refuge and its conservation activities, organizing events and providing volunteer resources for refuge activities. Friends have helped fund programs through the refuge since 2000. Profits from the Nature Shop, membership dues and generous donations help the friends accomplish their mission.
All refuge Friends organizations share the same primary mission: the support of a refuge, complex of refuges or program of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Other partners include:
- Missouri Department of Conservation
- Midland Empire Audubon Society
- Burroughs Audubon
- Missouri Master Naturalists – Loess Hills Chapter
- Missouri Master Naturalists – Osage Trails Chapter
- Missourians for Monarchs – Northwest Chapter
- Missouri Western State University Student Chapter of The Wildlife Society
- Northwest Missouri State University Student Chapter of The Wildlife Society
Outreach
Refuge staff are available to come and speak to your group. Programs are available on a variety of topics concerning the refuge, plants and animals living in the area or other topics.
Education Programs
Open the door to a potentially life-changing experience. If you land a student internship, a fellowship or a volunteer opportunity at a national wildlife refuge national wildlife refuge
A national wildlife refuge is typically a contiguous area of land and water managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for the conservation and, where appropriate, restoration of fish, wildlife and plant resources and their habitats for the benefit of present and future generations of Americans.
Learn more about national wildlife refuge , fish hatchery or other U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service site, you’re bound to come away with new insights and excitement about conservation.
Youth Conservation Corps
2023 YCC Application due Friday, April 14th, 2023
The Youth Conservation Corps is a summer youth employment program that engages young people in valuable hands-on work experiences to help develop and maintain the natural resources of the United States on national wildlife refuges, national parks, national forests and fish hatcheries.
You must be a hard worker between the ages of 15 to 18 to qualify for this program. This eight-week program pays minimum wage and starts in early June and run through the end of July.
Participants will work 40 hours per week, Monday through Friday. Crew members will learn about the different jobs in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the conservation of natural resources. Projects include but are not limited to: trail maintenance, building and grounds maintenance, biological 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 and environmental education. Participants will do hard physical work outdoors and may be exposed to insects, poison ivy, adverse weather and difficult working conditions, but it is an overall rewarding experience!
Questions? Call the refuge office at 660-442-3187. Applications must be received or postmarked no later than 5:00 p.m. Friday, April 14, 2023 at Loess Bluffs National Wildlife Refuge. Four applicants will be selected for employment. All applicants will be notified by mail after selections
Mailing Address for Completed Applications:
Loess Bluffs National Wildlife Refuge
ATTN: William Kutosky
P.O. Box 158
Mound City, MO 64470
Summer Junior Naturalist Program
Looking for some outdoor fun for your family and school-aged children? Loess Bluffs National Wildlife Refuge offers summer junior naturalist programs with refuge staff and volunteers twice a month during evening hours from June through August! These fun programs will get kids outside and connect them with nature and wildlife through hands-on learning and experiences at a national wildlife refuge. All are welcome to attend but the programs will focus for kids Kindergarten through 6th grade. All programs will be outside; please dress appropriately to be outdoors, wear sturdy shoes and bring insect repellent and plenty of water. Families are encouraged to join or a parent or legal guardian must accompany youth at all times. All programs are free of charge and start at the refuge auditorium.
Eagle Days
The annual Eagle Days at Loess Bluffs National Wildlife Refuge is held each year during the first full weekend in December. See wildlife like bald eagles, trumpeter swans, snow geese and ducks! The event is hosted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at Loess Bluffs National Wildlife Refuge near Mound City, in collaboration with the Missouri Department of Conservation and other partners. Activities throughout Saturday and Sunday include live captive eagle programs, free guided bus tours and eagle viewing stations staffed by our volunteers to view eagles up close with our spotting scopes. There will be special eagle exhibits on display and volunteers will be on hand for kids crafts.