Malheur National Wildlife Refuge Volunteers

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VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR JUNE - OCTOBER

Volunteer Opportunities

Friends of Malheur National Wildlife Refuge serve many roles that support the Refuge's mission, and the breadth of their work could not be accomplished without volunteer's participation, enthusiasm, time, and talents. Volunteers helping at Malheur will be ensured they are supported in their assignments through the Friend's Executive Director and Crane’s Nest Manager.

The Volunteer Program at Malheur consists of program areas with various assignments.

• Visitor Center Volunteers: The Visitor Center is often the very first place a visitor will experience at Malheur. Volunteers will welcome visitors and offer them a safe experience of the Refuge's outstanding features and provide casual visitors and beginning to advanced birders with a variety of opportunities to view and photograph wildlife. As a result, visitors will leave the Refuge with a memorable experience that fosters a connection between themselves and nature, and with an appreciation of the Refuge's unique resources and the importance of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Refuge System.
• Crane’s Nest Nature Center and Store Volunteers: Volunteers are tasked with welcoming and orienting visitors to the Refuge with added responsibilities. In this specific role, volunteers will handle transactions for the store, answer questions about store products, and process transactions on a cash register. This work makes up a small percentage of the overall duties of this volunteer role.
• Maintenance Volunteers: The Refuge needs all levels of volunteers. There are many types of volunteer opportunities suitable for the talents and skills of a maintenance volunteer to provide an enjoyable experience and best fulfill the mission of the Refuge. A maintenance volunteer job description may include a variety of tasks, such as lawn care, conducting general maintenance, keeping facilities and equipment clean, monitoring garbage and restroom facilities, maintaining signs, installing and de-installing temporary art exhibitions, and assembling and moving furniture for events.
• Education Program Volunteers: Volunteers are important to the Refuge and educational groups of all types. The Refuge and these groups rely on volunteers, who are often currently working as Visitor Center and Nature Store volunteers, to teach a variety of topics. Volunteers take on a crucial role by leading educational activities with youth when the Refuge hosts annual school field trips in May and June. Other educational opportunities may also occur including tabletop naturalist talks throughout the year or supporting the annual Artist-in-Residence program in March and April.
• Historic Sod House Ranch Volunteers: The 1880s historic site is open to the public annually from August 15th to October 1st. Visitors benefit when there is a docent on-site to connect the hearts and minds of visitors with the places and resources the Refuge protects and enlightens visitors' experiences about historic and natural resources, and the importance of conservation and stewardship. This is a unique assignment requiring a minimum 1.5-month commitment.

A Little Bit About Malheur National Wildlife Refuge "An Oasis in Oregon’s High Desert"

Malheur National Wildlife Refuge is one of the crown jewels of the National Wildlife Refuge System. The Refuge protects over 187,000 acres of prime habitat in the high desert. The Refuge is an important stop along the Pacific Flyway as a resting, breeding, and nesting area for hundreds of thousands of migratory birds and other wildlife. Famous for its tremendous diversity and spectacular concentrations of wildlife, Malheur is a mecca for birdwatchers and wildlife enthusiasts and well-loved by its visitors, many returning year after year.

For more information about Malheur NWR, please visit the following:

• Official Website: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/malheur/
• Friends of Malheur Website: https://malheurfriends.org/

Why Volunteer at Malheur National Wildlife Refuge?

• RV pad with full hookups, Wi-Fi, laundry facility, shower facility, a community room with extra sitting space, smart TV, and a small, fully-equipped kitchen
• Based on availability, fully furnished 2-bedroom living quarters that may be shared with another volunteer
• One-month commitment is required, but more is welcomed
• Work three or four, 8-hour consecutive days per week
• Enjoy sightings of more than 340 bird species and 67 mammal species, including rare and incidental birds
• Rural atmosphere, open spaces, beautiful landscapes, dark skies and so much more
• Engaging staff

Start Date - 2025-03-01

End Date - 2025-10-31