Visitor Services Volunteer (LOCAL) - Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge Complex

We're excited you are considering being part of our team at the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge Complex!

We are building back our volunteer program and are seeking local (within 50 miles of the complex) volunteers who are excited about the opportunities to connect with the public out on the refuges and at our new Visitor Center (just south of the town of Willows, about 90 miles north of Sacramento). Fall and winter are the Complex's busiest seasons, supporting hundreds of thousands of migrating birds each year - what an amazing backdrop for volunteering!

Ideally, we're looking for folks who can commit to regular/consistent volunteering - that could be fulfilling a shift (2-4 hours, depending on what they're doing and where they are on the complex) once a week, once every two weeks, or multiple times a week. One of our biggest priorities is recruiting folks to staff the information desk at the Visitor Center (based at the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge), but that's just one of many Visitor Services opportunities across the complex. If you have a passion for connecting with people of all ages and backgrounds, telling stories, plant/animal identification, and more, this could be a great opportunity for you to join us. Below are some of the roles, general time of year they happen, and a brief description of the responsibilities involved.

Does this sound like something you would be interested in? We'd love to hear from you!

Visitor Services volunteer work can include:

Information Desk (year-round): Welcome visitors, provide orientation for wildlife viewing and help answer phones in the Visitor Center

Interpreter (October-March): Provide interpretation for visitors on Auto Tours and Observation Decks

Environmental Education (October-March): Assist with education and interpretive programs for school groups, families, and adults

Outreach (year-round): Assist with special events including festivals and fairs

Hunt Program Support (August-February): Maintain hunting facilities, clean and/or install signs, clean and maintain hunting blinds and islands, help answer and respond to hunting-specific phone calls and emails

Kiosk Maintenance (year-round): Clean and restock kiosks and brochure racks

Bird Feeders (year-round): Clean and restock feeders at the Visitor Center (Sacramento NWR)

Photography (year-round): Photograph wildlife and habitat on the refuges for use on the Complex website and social media (NOTE: Photography equipment is not provided)