For many of the projects available, volunteers may come and work anytime the Refuge is open, and for as many or as few days/hours as they have available. We also encourage groups (scouts, churches, service groups, clubs, etc.) to volunteer together for many of our projects.
Here are some ways you can help:
Special Events - Earth Day, Bison Days, and other events at the Refuge need volunteers to greet visitors, staff kids’ craft tables, lead visitor activities, event set-up and clean-up
Second Saturday Stewardship - Monthly activities include trail maintenance, seed collection, seed cleaning, and other maintenance and improvement tasks.
Seed Handlers – harvest and clean prairie seeds; harvesting is outdoors in the summer/fall, and cleaning is indoors nearly year-round
Seedling Caretakers – transplant seedlings in the greenhouse, and later plant them in the prairie; goal is to enrich existing prairie plantings with rare or hard to grow plants; transplanting is indoors and planting is outdoors, during the spring and early summer
Prairie Stewards – use hand tools to cut non-native or undesirable trees and shrubs, then pile them for later burning; pick up trash along roads and trails; work is done outdoors nearly year-round
Invasive Species Monitor– locate and remove invasive plants using clippers, spades, or other hand tools; work is done outdoors during the growing season
Tallgrass Trailkeeper – walk one or more of the Refuge’s hiking trails once a week, and cut any overhanging grasses with clippers; perform light maintenance on trails; work is done outdoors during the growing season, and trail lengths range from ½ mile to 2 miles
Nature Store and Information Desk Attendant – greet and provide information to visitors about the Refuge and Friends of Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge; open and close the Prairie Point Nature Store, operate the cash register and assist customers; work is done indoors and shifts are available year-round. Sign up for a shift each week or even just once a month, or whatever works for you!
Environmental Education and Interpretation – assist the Refuge’s Visitor Services Specialists with providing education and informational programming to school groups and the general public; work is done indoors and outdoors, primarily during the spring, summer and fall
Maintenance Assistant – help maintenance staff with a variety of projects, including mechanical repair, mowing, sawing, etc.; many tasks require special training; work is done indoors and outdoors throughout the year
Office Assistant – help office administrative staff with a variety of projects, including mailings, brochure folding or ordering, etc.; work is done indoors throughout the year
Other special projects are available throughout the year, such as data entry, bird nest spotting, breeding bird surveys, photography and many others. If you have an idea for how you can use your special skills to help the Refuge, contact us and we can talk about it. We create new positions each year, and always have space for something special.
Do you love the refuge? Volunteer!
The volunteer program is an active and vital part of Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge. Annually, dedicated volunteers contribute thousands of hours to assisting the Refuge with a wide variety of projects. Our volunteer program recruits people of all talents, ages and backgrounds who have an enthusiasm for volunteering and an interest in the tallgrass prairie. Volunteer projects will vary according to the needs of the Refuge, ability, and personal interest; yet all have one thing in common – they are vital to your Refuge’s success.