U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Logo on the left; Volunteer logo on the right. Navy blue bar with the words U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in white lettering between the two logos


  Photographs of volunteers. Volunteers are welcome in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service! With more than 36,000 volunteers contributing in excess of 1.4 million hours of their time, skills and talents, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's (FWS) volunteer program is robust and continuing to grow. The tireless efforts of our volunteers complete more than 20 percent of the work conducted on national wildlife refuges alone. Volunteers play a vital role in helping the FWS fulfill its mission of conserving, protecting and enhancing America's fish, wildlife and plants and the habitats on which they depend. We hope you will consider spending time with us to help us help wildlife.

What Is The Volunteer Program?
The volunteer program within the FWS was formally initiated in 1982, and began receiving congressionally appropriated funding in 1991. The program is as diverse as the individuals who comprise it. Whether volunteers are working at national wildlife refuges, fish hatcheries, wetland management districts, regional offices, or ecological service offices, each one helps the National Wildlife Refuge System and other FWS programs reach their full potential. The volunteer program provides people with hands-on opportunities to engage in wildlife conservation and be involved on lands that belong to them.

What Authorizes the Service to Accept Volunteers?
The Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956 (16 U.S.C. 742), as amended by the Fish and Wildlife Improvement Act of 1978 (Pub. L. 95616) and the National Wildlife Refuge System Volunteer and Community Partnership Enhancement Act of 1998 (Pub. L. 105242), authorizes us to accept volunteer services.

Two children and two adults working outdoors with shovels. Who Are Our Volunteers?
Our volunteers are individuals who want to give back to their communities, parents who want to be good stewards of the land and set examples for their children, retired people willing to share their wealth of knowledge, concerned citizens of all ages who want to learn more about conservation, and passionate people who enjoy the outdoors and want to spread the word about America's greatest natural treasures.

What Do Our Volunteers Do?
Volunteers perform a wide variety of tasks. Some volunteers work full time, some a few hours a week or month or during a particular season or special event. Some typical volunteer opportunities may involve:

  • conducting fish and wildlife population surveys
  • leading tours and providing information and interpretation to the visiting public
  • assisting with laboratory research
  • taking part is special projects, such as bird banding
  • assisting with habitat improvement projects, such as re-establishing native plants to a river bank
  • performing clerical and administrative duties
  • working with computers and other technical equipment
  • photographing a variety of natural and cultural resources

    Generally, no special skills are required to be a volunteer. Any on the job training will be provided if needed. Individual talents and skills are matched with volunteer interests and work opportunities.

    Girl and two men working in a lake How Do I Find Out About Volunteer Opportunities?
    Volunteer opportunities with the FWS can be found at www.Volunteer.gov/gov, an interagency Web site of national volunteer opportunities. At this site, prospective volunteers can also apply to opportunities of interest by using the application link at the bottom of each volunteer position description. Should you be unable to find a volunteer opportunity of interest or at a location where you would like to volunteer, contact us directly at volunteers@fws.gov to see what other opportunities may be available.

    The Take Pride in America logo which is a U.S. flag shaped like the United StatesThe U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service encourages volunteerism and supports the Take Pride in America program, which recognizes outstanding volunteers.




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    Page last updated: September 2003

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