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. Contact the refuge office to learn more.

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. There are many seasonal opportunities for volunteering with the refuge including educational programs, maintenance, special events and many more. We invite you to learn from firsthand experiences. There may also be student volunteer internships available at the refuge. Contact the refuge office to learn more about volunteer opportunities.

Learn more about volunteering at the district opportunities on volunteer.gov.

Our Partners

Nature does not recognize political boundaries. In order to conserve our natural and cultural resources effectively, we must work with others to bridge human made boundaries. The National Wildlife Refuge System is committed to building partnerships which encourage conservation and protection of our natural and cultural resources. We encourage you to learn more about our local partners.

  • Apostle Islands National Lakeshore
  • Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest
  • David R. Obey Northern Great Lakes Visitor Center
  • University of Wisconsin Extension
  • Wisconsin Historical Society
  • Trout Unlimited
  • Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission
  • Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources

Outreach

Whittlesey Creek National Wildlife Refuge partners with the David R. Obey Northern Great Lakes Visitor Center to conduct a variety of educational and outreach events. This includes the opportunity to participate in hands-on interpretive programs and citizen science.

The Chequamegon Bay Birding and Nature Festival, held in May each year, is a great opportunity to experience guided tours in the local area. Learn more about the latest festival information by visiting the David R. Obey Northern Great Lakes Visitor Center website.

Education Programs

National wildlife refuges serve many purposes and is one of our most important outdoor classrooms to teach about the natural world. Our education program focuses on increasing understanding of the ecological significance of the area and connecting local students with the incredible resources on the refuge. All activities are free, and many are in partnership with other agencies at the David R. Obey Northern Great Lakes Visitor Center. Contact the refuge to schedule a program.

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.

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, you’re bound to come away with new insights and excitement about conservation. There may be high school and college student internships available at the refuge. We invite you to learn from these firsthand experiences. Contact the refuge for more information about these exciting opportunities.