Ways to Get Involved
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.
Volunteering
All those interested in volunteering should complete a Volunteer Services Agreement, and drop it off at the refuge office. We utilize volunteers for educational and interpretative programs, youth hunts, biological data collection, and general refuge maintenance.
Our Partners
The refuge continues to work with many partners at the local, state, and federal level. We also work with non-government groups.
One of our biggest support groups is The Friends of Clarks River NWR. The Friends Group was established in 1999. It is a group of citizens from all walks of life that recognize the refuge’s benefits to the community and are dedicated to it's goals. The group holds monthly meetings to discuss how they can help support the refuge though volunteering time and/or through monetary support of various projects and goals.
Education Programs
Outdoor experiences are essential for good mental, physical, and emotional development. Time spent outside fosters creativity, heightens sensory skills, and teaches us to pay more attention to the world around us. Come visit Clarks River National Wildlife Refuge for a classroom without walls!
The Environmental Education and Recreation Area (EERA) is one of the most popular locations on the refuge for hiking, wildlife viewing, and fishing. It is the premiere location to bring your group for educational programs!
You can find educational tools and the Clarks River National Wildlife Refuge Curriculum Guide to help inspire young minds in our library.
Kentucky Junior Duck Stamp
A great way to get kids involved in the outdoors is through the Junior Duck Stamp Art and Writing Contest! The Junior Duck Stamp contest teaches students about wetlands, migration, conservation, waterfowl, and land stewardship. This program has been used in not just art and science classes, but writing, history, geography and gifted classes as well.
The contest is a great learning experience for beginners and the more experienced artist as well! Recognition is given to winners in many forms including cash, ribbons, certificates, etc. If you know someone in grades K-12 who would be interested, please give them the opportunity to show their talent.
If you would like more information, or would like to schedule a time for staff to speak with your students virtually or in-person, contact refuge headquarters. You can also like us on Facebook!
General Information for JDS Art:
Entries should have a postmark date no later than March 15th.
The name on the entry form is what will appear on the certificate. Please make sure the handwriting is readable or type the name.
If mailing by USPS send to: P.O. Box 89, Benton, KY 42025
If sending by FedEx or UPS send to: 91 US Hwy 641 North, Benton, KY 42025
When sending art in a soft envelope, please remember to include stiff cardboard in the envelope with your art and write "DO NOT BEND" on the outside.