Immediate Volunteer Openings

Wanted:  Environmental Educators – If you enjoy interacting with children, we will be super busy with school programs in May. Why not join our great team? There will be opportunities to shadow, assist and lead programs.  Wildlife Excursion Guides – Lead visitors on an adventure through the refuge. Tours are offered Thursdays, June through August.  Gift Shop Manager – A retail sales background and knowledge of Point of Sale software desired.  Wild Wednesdays Activity Leaders (July-August 10:00 am) – Lead a one hour nature activity for 3-6 year olds accompanied by parents or grandparents. Wildlife Surveyors – Good Birders with GPS skills – Assist with the Breeding Bird Atlas. This project documents all breeding birds in MN. There are 3 blocks on the refuge to explore and document bird sightings. Spring surveys include frog and toad surveys, ruffed grouse, bald eagle nest surveys. Trumpeter swan and loon surveys are conducted in June and July.  Volunteers are needed to staff the Festival of Birds which is May 17-19. We need folks to register guests, set up, tear down, host the book signing event, staff the Friends gift shop booth and more. We also need help in planning, set up and hosting the National Trails Day Event (May 31 and June 1).  If you are interested in history, I am looking for someone to do some research and write a couple of articles about the refuge in celebration of our 75^th Anniversary. These articles would be included in the local newspapers as part of a series and in the FOT newsletter. Want to spend time outside? Why not join our maintenance team! We need help mowing and maintaining our public accesses and interpretive sites. Must be available on a regular basis throughout the season.  We also need Aquatic Invasive Species Educators.  You would work in teams at our lake accesses rotating on weekends. Keep in mind the Fall Festival which is October 5. We will need help in planning and staffing this event which will celebrate our 75^th Anniversary. Please contact me if you are interested in any of these positions and spread the word to your friends!  (Janice at 218-847-2641 ext 16 or Janice_Bengtson@fws.gov)