Volunteering
Volunteer Opportunities
Visitor Center operations - Opening/closing, raising and lowering flag, greeting and assisting refuge guests in person and via phone, resource interpretation, restocking of center literature and restroom supplies.
Facility Maintenance - Removal of garbage, sweeping/mopping, replace light bulbs, minor installations/repairs, window cleaning; Grounds Maintenance-mowing, weed-eating, sign installation/repairs, carpentry, and painting;.
General Refuge Assistance - Assist staff within all refuge program areas as needed.
Volunteers/Interns are most needed at the SW Louisiana National Wildlife Refuges during busy fall/winter (mid-August to mid-December) and spring/summer (mid-February to mid-June) seasons. Recreational Vehicle pads are available for resident volunteers committing to a minimum of a 2 month period and volunteering 24 hours/week per individual. Refuge housing may be available to qualified interns.
Our Partners
Partnerships are very important to help the refuge achieve its goals, objectives, and strategies, leverage funds, minimize costs, and bridge relationships with others. These partnerships make it possible to create and improve refuge resources; conduct research; support public awareness and outreach; create and/or improve refuge public use facilities; assist visitors; and provide increased opportunities for visitors to learn more about National Wildlife Refuges, local culture, and other local amenities.
If your group or agency would like to partner with a wildlife refuge for the benefit of the resource, and/or the public it serves,
please contact our office at 337-589-2216.
Partners
- Creole Nature Trail All American Road, https://www.visitlakecharles.org/creole-nature-trail/
- Lake Charles Visitors and Convention Bureau, https://www.visitlakecharles.org/
- Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, https://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/
- Louisiana Department of Natural Resources, http://www.dnr.louisiana.gov/
- Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development, http://wwwsp.dotd.la.gov/Pages/default.aspx
- US Army Corp of Engineers, https://www.usace.army.mil/
- US Geological Survey Wetlands Research Center, https://www.usgs.gov/centers/wetland-and-aquatic-research-center-warc
- USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/site/national/home/
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, https://www.noaa.gov/
- City of Lake Charles, https://www.cityoflakecharles.com/
- Cameron Parish Police Jury, https://cameronpj.org/
- McNeese State University, https://www.mcneese.edu/
- Louisiana State University, https://www.lsu.edu/
- Ducks Unlimited, https://www.ducks.org/
- Texas Parks and Wildlife, https://tpwd.texas.gov/
- North American Wetlands Conservation Council, https://www.fws.gov/birds/grants/north-american-wetland-conservation-act/north-american-wetland-conservation-council.php
- Miami Corporation
- Sweet Lake Land and Oil
Education Programs
Youth 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.
Limited on- and off-site refuge education and interpretive programs are available for visitors and the community.
Refuge staff and trained volunteers provide interpretive programs by invitation as available.
For more information about what programming may be available call 337-598-2216.