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 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. 

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, or reach out to us at BosquedelApacheNWR@fws.gov

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. 

The Friends of Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge is a non-profit organization supporting Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge. In addition to operating a nature store in the visitor center and online, the Friends apply for and administer grants that benefit wildlife, help host popular events such as the Festival of the Cranes, and organize volunteer efforts. 

Outreach

Community science projects provide a way for anyone to share observational data with others, including scientists. Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge uses data from eBird and iNaturalist to help inform visitors about where and when observations are taking place and to help document species on the refuge. 

Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge offers free guided programs seasonally. Check with the Visitor Center for program availability.  

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 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service site, you’re bound to come away with new insights and excitement about conservation. 

Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge annually recruits interns to assist with projects on the refuge. Recently, a Intergovernmental Internship Cooperative (IIC) intern has led summer surveys for the endangered New Mexico meadow jumping mouse.