IMAGINE banding birds at a national wildlife refuge, raising fish at a national fish hatchery, conducting wildlife surveys, leading a tour, or restoring fragile habitat.

With close to 42,000 volunteers contributing in excess of 1.5 million hours, our volunteers perform a wide variety of tasks. Some work full-time, some just a few hours a week or month, or during a particular season or special event.

WHO ARE OUR VOLUNTEERS? 
Our volunteers are individuals who want to give back to their communities, parents who want to be good stewards of the land and set examples for their children, retired people willing to share their wealth of knowledge, concerned citizens of all ages who want to learn more about conservation, and passionate people who enjoy the outdoors and want to spread the word about America's greatest natural treasures.

National Public Lands Day Is September 24
You still have time to join almost 30 national wildlife refuges that have already registered to hold events for the 23rd annual National Public Lands Day on Saturday, September 24. The event, sponsored by the National Environmental Education Foundation, is the largest, one-day volunteer effort for public lands. 

At St. Marks Refuge, FL, volunteers will be working on milkweed propagation gardens across the refuge and cleaning pollinator gardens in preparation for Monarch Month (October) and the 27th Annual Monarch Butterfly Festival.  There is a free luncheon and a refuge volunteer training seminar after lunch for all interested volunteers.

Find a National Public Lands Day event near you here.  Register an event here. Get a site manager toolkit here.

For more information, contact Deborah Moore in the Branch of Visitor Services (703-358-2386; Deborah_Moore@fws.gov).