Environmental Education Programs
Turnbull NWR has been connecting people with nature since the 1990s. With the support of Friends of Turnbull, a non-profit organization established in 1997, refuge staff and volunteers have been able to increase environmental awareness throughout the Inland Northwest. Turnbull's Environmental Education (EE) program promotes the development of an educated and informed constituency, proactive in protecting and restoring natural ecosystems. This program has been developed to meet the refuge goal of providing quality environmental education, interpretation, research and wildlife-dependent recreation opportunities compatible with the refuge’s purposes and mission.
The environmental education program is directed by a full-time Visitor Services Manager. The refuge works with AmeriCorps and Student Conservation Association interns as well as volunteers to assist with facilitation and curriculum development.
The Refuge provides facilitated field trips on the refuge and in-classroom outreach programs to local schools which are free.
Please contact the refuge for scheduling all field trips and any other environmental education activities. For more information on the refuge’s environmental education program, please contact contact Ranger Josh at 509-559-3034, or via email at joshua_contois@fws.gov.
Note: There are currently no environmental education programs or field trips being offered at Turnbull NWR. The entire program is being redeveloped with the desired outcome of updating programs to be more inquiry-based, meet Next Generation Science Standards, and allow for a more user-facilitated experience. The anticipated resumption of programs and field trips is Fall 2025.
