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.
- Landowners: Learn how you can partner with the Fish and Wildlife Service to voluntarily restore land.
- 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
Friends Group
Friends organizations and community partners are valuable allies of the Refuge System. These groups are vital to fulfilling the Refuge System’s mission and goals. Each year they give generously of their time, expertise and resources and play important roles in conserving wildlife and their habitats along with serving the more than 45 million visitors who enjoy our refuges.
The Friends of Forsythe is a non-profit, 501(c)3, tax-exempt corporation that works closely with the Refuge. Friends are the bridge between the Refuge and the community, and contribute to its future by helping people understand that their actions today determine the legacy we leave for tomorrow.
We invite you to join. You can serve on the Board of Directors, assist as members of Advisory Committees, work in the Visitor Information Center and Nature Store, or provide your support by being a member. Please share your interest and experience. For more information, please go to https://friendsofforsythe.org/.
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 Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge enters into agreements with a wide range of organizations. These agreements are intended principally to encourage cooperative projects that benefit the National Wildlife Refuge System and the nation's wildlife resources. It allows organizations to contribute funds for facilities, projects or materials to benefit refuge visitors and to improve wildlife habitats. It will also allow refuges to take advantage of the expertise and personnel of the various organizations in cooperative efforts ranging from habitat management to information and education programs focused on conservation and ethical use of natural resources.
Outreach
The Refuge, supported by the Friends of Forsythe, provides numerous educational programs. These initiatives are held both on- and off-site. Volunteers, many of whom are Volunteer Master Naturalists, present these programs and are often assisted by staff members. Contact the Friends of Forsythe for more information on these programs.
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.
Biological Internships: Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge has valuable and stimulating internship opportunities for the upcoming summer season. Interns will work side by side with educated professions as they learn the ins-and-outs of the wildlife management field. Many opportunities exist for you to join other interns and observe what they are doing as well. Something new is happening at the refuge just about every day, so why not take advantage of this great learning experience? An internship at Forsythe is the perfect way to start off an exciting and rewarding career! Free, newly remodeled dormitory style housing is available. Click here for more details.
Career Discovery Internship Program (CDIP): Founded in 2008, the Career Discovery Internship Program (CDIP) was created in partnership with the US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) to prepare the next generation of wildlife professionals by introducing college freshman and sophomores to conservation careers. Interns attend a week-long orientation held in May and serve in summer internships tailored to various FWS career tracks. Summer internships are available in a variety of fields, including visitor services, education, resource management – and many more! Click here for more details.
Youth Conservation Corps (YCC): The Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) is a paid summer youth work program in federally managed lands. The National Park Service, US Forest Service, US Fish and Wildlife Service and Bureau of Land Management employ teens each summer to participate in the YCC. The YCC has introduced young Americans to conservation opportunities in public lands since the program was created in 1970. Youth Conservation Corps programs are conducted for 4–10 weeks during the summer. Participants must be between 15–18 years old at the start of the program, though the age limits can vary locally. Click here for more info.
Junior Refuge Manager Programs: Forsythe has a lot to offer for children of all ages. We welcome you to come explore as a family.
We have a Junior Refuge Manager program where you can earn a badge! Please print the booklet from the links below, complete the booklet, and when it's complete, return it to the Visitor Center to receive your badge!
Junior Refuge Manager Ages 4-7
Questions?
Please contact Vinny Turner, Wildlife Biologist, about biology internships via 609-382-7644 or vinny_turner@fws.gov.