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. Wetland management districts provide many opportunities for you to help your community by doing what you love. Wetland management districts 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.
Volunteers at Minnesota Valley Wetland Management District provide their talents and energy to help in many different ways. From 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 to collecting seeds, volunteers are invaluable to us for all of the support they provide! By volunteering you'll gain knowledge about the district and its purpose and will become part of a community of people dedicated to the stewardship of wildlife and natural landscapes.
If you have questions about the district’s volunteer program, please contact the volunteer coordinator at MinnesotaValley@fws.gov.
To start the process of getting involved, please complete the Natural Resources Volunteer Application and email it to the Volunteer Coordinator at MinnesotaValley@fws.gov or mail it to: Minnesota Valley WMD, Attn: Volunteer Coordinator, 3815 American Blvd. East, Bloomington, MN 55425. Once received, we will be in touch with you to schedule a volunteer interview to get to know you a little more, discuss interests, and see where the best match may be.
Our Partners
In order to conserve our natural and cultural resources and serve our communities we must work with others to provide effective conservation and education. 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.
Minnesota Valley Refuge Friends
The mission of Minnesota Valley Refuge Friends is to assist the refuge and district with its mission to “work with others to conserve, protect, and enhance the fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefits of the American people.”
The Minnesota Valley Refuge Friends also manage a Nature Store at the Education and Visitor Center in Bloomington, welcoming visitors and answering questions about refuge lands and programs, fundraising to support refuge environmental education programs both on and off-refuge, promoting refuge programs and advocate for local environmental issues and building capacity for youth from under-served communities to engage with nature.
Minnesota Valley Trust
District lands gradually increase through a unique partnership with the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge Trust, Inc. The trust is acquiring new lands, which will eventually be donated to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and managed by the district.
Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program provides technical and financial assistance to solve land management problems, identify partners and coordinate restoration work on private lands. The district works with private landowners to protect privately-owned wetlands and prairies through the voluntary Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program.
Outreach
Minnesota Valley Wetland Management District staff attend a variety of public events each year and visit schools to share about natural resources management.
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.
Visit USAJobs.gov to see and apply for open positions. We also partner with youth employment organizations such as Hispanic Access Foundation, Student Conservation Association and American Conservation Experience to offer internships.