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 and fish and wildlife 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.
Volunteers: Gain new experiences and meet new people while helping to advance wildlife conservation.
Friends: Join neighbors in helping refuges restore habitat and expand access to green space.
Local Groups: Find out how communities can work with refuges better for wildlife and people.
Youth: Explore paid and unpaid opportunities to learn and develop leadership skills.
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. Master new skills. Meet new friends. Enjoy a sense of accomplishment from doing your part to further wildlife conservation for the pleasure of generations to follow. Check out our station's latest volunteer opportunities on volunteer.gov! Volunteers assist with environmental education programs, visitor services, maintenance projects, special events, community outreach, and biological surveys. Here are some ongoing projects at out refuge:
Visitor Center
Provide the public with refuge information.
Open on Saturdays and Sundays - 9am - 5pm.
Open Monday through Friday - 8am - 4 pm.
Environmental Education Program
Conduct programs for school and scout groups.
Set up environmental education programs (outdoor classroom/habitat studies, prepare equipment, etc.).
Design interpretive brochures.
Conduct refuge tours and interpretive walks.
Provide bird walks and a bird identification station.
Water quality testing.
Maintenance Program
Post boundary signs.
Litter clean-up.
General building cleanup.
Vehicle maintenance (wash).
Landscaping maintenance.
Removing brush/weeds from spillway.
Trail maintenance.
Paint observation towers and buildings.
Clean Visitor Center.
Install information and Interpretive signs.
Office
General office work.
Computer work.
Proofreading.
Friends of Bombay Hook Cooperative Association
Officers or board members.
Refuge Store operation.
Membership drives and fundraising.
Writing challenge grants.
Biological Program
Repair nesting boxes.
Bird surveys.
Database entry.
Volunteer Opportunities
Our Partners
Nature does not recognize human-made boundaries. In order 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.
- U.S. Geological Survey
- U.S. Department of Agriculture
- Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, www.dnrec.delaware.gov
Education Programs
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.
Learn more about national wildlife refuge , fish hatchery or other Fish and Wildlife Service site, you’re bound to come away with new insights and excitement about conservation.
What is the Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) Program?
The Youth Conservation Corps (YCC), is a summer employment program for young men and women ages 15 through 18, who work, learn, and earn together on projects that further the development and conservation of the United States. The three objectives of the program include:
- To accomplish needed conservation work on public lands
- To provide gainful employment for 15- through 18-year-old males and females of all social, economic, ethnic and racial backgrounds
- To develop in participating youth an understanding and appreciation of the Nation's natural environment and heritage
What are the Requirements for Enrollment?
- Be at least 15 years of age, and not have reached 19 years of age during the term of employment.
- Be a permanent resident of the United Stated or its territories or possessions.
- Have a Social Security number, or have applied to obtain one.
- Have a desire to work in the out-of-doors and become involved in the development and maintenance of the Nation's natural resources.
- Have no history of serious criminal or anti-social behavior that might create safety problems.
- Be able to participate in the various work and training projects of the YCC program. Handicapped youth who with reasonable accommodations can perform the essential functions of the YCC program are also eligible.
- Have a work permit as required under the laws of the State in which the program will be carried out.
- Be able to obtain parental or legal guardian consent to enroll in the program.
- Be able to provide the proper type and amount of work clothing, such as long sleeved shirts, jeans, work boots.