Ways to Get Involved

Since 1903, the National Wildlife Refuge System has owed its very existence to concerned citizens eager to protect America's natural resources. 

More than 200 nonprofit Refuge Friends organizations support national wildlife refuges, whether they work with a single refuge, a refuge complex or an entire state.  Friends members are crucial to conserving and protecting our nation’s wildlife and teaching millions of Americans that their actions today determine the conservation legacy of tomorrow.  

More than 42,000 people volunteer their time and ideas each year to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Whether they work on the land, in a visitor center or with youth, they contribute to the conservation mission that reaches back more than a century. Become a volunteer or Refuge Friend to contribute your strength on behalf of America’s natural resources.

Volunteering

Make a Difference, Become a Volunteer!

Ash meadows National Wildlife Refuge is looking for volunteers! As the largest remaining oasis in the Mojave Desert, the rare and unique habitats of the refuge are home to a least 26 species of plants and animals that exist nowhere else in the world. The refuge and our visitor center receive thousands of visitors a year. Be a part of connecting visitors from all over the world to the wonder of Ash Meadows. 

There are many exciting volunteer opportunities to choose from:

  • Visitor Center Information Desk
  • Refuge Maintenance
  • Environmental Education 
  • Restoration Projects
  • Litter Clean up

Resident RV spots with full hookups are available for long-term volunteers. Check out our listings here.

Local-area volunteers are also encouraged to apply! 775.372.5435

Volunteer Opportunities

Visitor Center Hosts needed for Spring 2025!Ash Meadows is the Galapagos of the Mojave DesertAsh Meadows National Wildlife Refuge [AMNWR] is an internationally recognized site for the conservation of 26 endemic plant and animal species that live amongst the 50 springs and seeps in the largest oasis...

Our Partners

Nature does not recognize human-made boundaries. To conserve our natural and cultural resources effectively, we must work with others to bridge these boundaries. Partnerships foster creative solutions to challenging situations and often the results are greater than the sum of the parts. Learn more about our local partners.

Education Programs

Ash Meadows provides exceptional opportunities to observe and learn about diverse desert habitats, water conservation, and the protection of endangered species. We provide on-site fieldtrip programs, virtual programs, and teacher trainings upon request.

Field Trips

A field trip to Ash Meadows is a free field-based adventure that supports Next Generation Science Standards. During a two-hour fieldtrip, your students will marvel at the beauty of a sapphire blue spring, immerse themselves in diverse desert habitats, and encounter the endangered Ash Meadows Amargosa Valley Pupfish. We can serve up to 60 elementary school students per visit. Our state-of-the art visitor center provides clean restrooms and a calm, sheltered picnic area that seats 54+ students with a mesmerizing view of a wild landscape. Travel grants for school field trips are available through Nye County’s Department of Water.

On-site programs

  • Intro to Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge
  • Project Wild Science Activities 
  • Science, Art, Language programs available

  

In Class visits

  • Every Kid in a Park
  • Federal Junior Duck Stamp Program
  • Project Wild Science Activities
  • Ash Meadows introduction
     

Reserving a day for your Ash Meadows adventure is as easy as clicking here and filling out our field trip request form.