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.

"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. 

 

Volunteers: Gain new experiences and meet new people while helping to advance wildlife conservation. 

Friends: Join neighbors in helping refuges restore habitat and expand access to green space. 

Landowners: Learn how you can partner with the Fish and Wildlife Service to voluntarily restore land. 

Local Groups: Find out how communities can work with refuges better for wildlife and people.

Youth: Explore paid and unpaid opportunities to learn and develop leadership skills.

Volunteering

Volunteer assistance is generally requested during the May through October time periods on the refuge. Work often involves outdoor activities and includes assistance with 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, trail maintenance and improvements, public events and activities, grounds maintenance and light landscaping, facility janitorial work and waterfowl banding.

Volunteer contact is Refuge Manager, Ken Sturm (ken_sturm@fws.gov). Prospective volunteers will need to complete a Volunteer Services Agreement and other entrance paperwork requirements depending on the duration and type of volunteer work requested.

Our Partners

The Friends of Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge was established in 2002. The mission of the group is to promote a better awareness, appreciation, conservation, and responsible utilization of the Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge. The Friends group has a number of goals all related to promoting the Refuge system and elevating responsible use and stewardship of the refuge system by the visiting public. The Friends group has a Board and a number of committees to help with its mission and goals. Click here to visit The Friends of Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge's website.

Education Programs

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 Missisquoi National Wildlife 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.