Summer-Fall 2026 RV Volunteer - Maintenance

Volunteer your time at one of the most magnificent and extraordinary places on the planet!

The Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge

Maintenance volunteers are needed May 2026-October 2026. A minimum of 3 months is preferred and longer commitments of up to 6 months may be considered. Start and end dates may be flexible.

Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge is located about 8 miles southwest of Folkston, GA. Folkston has a small downtown area with several restaurants, a public library, convenience stores and a grocery store. The larger towns of Waycross, Kingsland, and St. Marys, GA are 45 minutes away. Jacksonville, FL is about one-hour away. Many other recreational opportunities exist within a 1-1.5 hour drive, including Cumberland Island National Seashore, Jekyll Island, St. Simons Island, and Amelia Island.

The refuge is home to over 400,000 acres of wetland prairie and water-filled cypress forest teeming with wildlife and plant life including wading birds, water lilies, turtles and, of course, alligators. Recreational opportunities on the refuge include 120 miles of water trails to explore by canoe, kayak or motorized boat, several miles of walking and biking trails, a 0.75-mile boardwalk to an observation tower, and an historic homestead from the late 1920’s. Visit the Okefenokee NWR website to learn more about the refuge.

Maintenance volunteers assist refuge staff with critical tasks to maintain the refuge and conserve wildlife habitat. Tasks may include:

• General property maintenance to include custodial upkeep of restrooms, and grounds, trash collection, mowing grass, trimming bushes, and planting native vegetation.
• Performing upland and water trail maintenance, using hand tools, pole saws, weed eaters, brush cutters.
•  Assist with building/repairing/maintaining visitor facilities like boardwalks, platforms, fences, directional/informational signs and kiosks.
• Tasks may also involve metal work and wood routing.
• May perform a variety of other duties depending on skills and interest.

Housing: Onsite RV volunteers must provide a suitable motorhome or travel trailer in good repair and must have a separate vehicle available for their personal use in order to leave the site for non-work related purposes. Refuge vehicles must not be used for personal use. An RV pad with electric, water, sewer and propane is provided in exchange for 24 hours/week of service per person for couples and 32 hours/week for individuals. Laundry and gym facilities are provided onsite. WiFi is available at the RV sites. Cell coverage is good depending on the service provider. Pets are permitted but, while outdoors, must be kept on a 10' leash and be accompanied by their human. Pets must not be left outside by themselves at any time for any reason. Pet waste must be picked up and disposed of properly. Pet food and household trash cannot be left outdoors.

When applying, please provide contact information for three references. Two references should be professional. If applying as couple, please fill out separate applications.

Please contact Joy_Campbell@fws.gov if you have questions.