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.
Mattamuskeet NWR is seeking enthusiastic, friendly volunteers to work in the refuge's Visitor Contact Station and assist with general grounds and facilities maintenance during the work week and on weekends throughout the year. Thousands of people visit the refuge every year, especially on weekends to view the wildlife, and to fish and crab.
Resident Volunteers (RVs) live in their own recreational vehicle on pads provided by the refuge. Water, electric, sewage hook-up and laundry facilities are provided in exchange for volunteer service. A couple must commit to 24 hours of service per week. A single person must commit to 32 hours of service per week.
If you have a talent or skill, and some time and energy to spare, come by the office or call us. For more information, contact mattamuskeet@fws.gov or call (252) 926-4021.
Internships
The refuges in the Coastal North Carolina National Wildlife Refuge Complex offer a variety of internships. The primary purposes of the intern program are to introduce students and young professionals to work in wildlife conservation and the National Wildlife Refuge System. For this reason, internships are usually filled by college students or recent graduates. Having an interest or goal of future employment with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is not a requirement for those applying to be refuge interns.
Mattamuskeet National Wildlife Refuge Internship
Mattamuskeet National Wildlife Refuge Internship
The refuge’s intern program provides unique experiences for college students and graduates geared towards careers in the environmental sciences. This internship is an opportunity to work & gain experience in many aspects of 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 operations on the 50,000-acre Mattamuskeet National Wildlife Refuge. Projects include water quality monitoring and general refuge maintenance.
Work assignments with refuge maintenance could include mowing, trimming, trail work, sign maintenance, light carpentry, trash collection and pickup. Biological work could include collecting water quality measurements, mapping and treating invasive plant species, and assisting with refuge biological projects. Less frequent assignments may include greeting visitors, answering questions, presenting/assisting with educational programs, restocking brochures across the refuge and occasionally assisting in the visitor center.
All applicants must possess a valid driver’s license and have maintained it for at least one year.
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 will work independently or with refuge staff or volunteers. Interns typically work 40h weeks; weekend work may be required.
Mattamuskeet National Wildlife Refuge is a remote and rural site. Interns stay in refuge housing with moderately fast internet and a full kitchen.
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. However, in rare cases, slightly shorter internships have been scheduled.
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 mower
Make sure to provide your dates of availability!
