Volunteer & Support

The Friends of Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge depend on the generosity of our members, sponsors, and volunteers to accomplish our goals around the Refuge.

Join the Friends

If you would like to support the Friends of the Ridgefield NWR, consider becoming a member, business member,  sponsor, or a volunteer, and help us share this natural and cultural legacy with others.

Support us while you shop with your Giving Assistant account, Fred Meyer Rewards card or through AmazonSmile, or simply send a donation online or through the mail.

No matter how you get involved with the Friends, your support is crucial to the continued success of the Refuge.

Volunteer Opportunities

Volunteering at the Refuge does not require previous experience. Bring your enthusiasm and passion the outdoors, connecting people with nature and culture and we will teach you all you need to know.

The following are upcoming volunteer opportunities. Contact Josie Finley at 360-887-4106 x 130 Or email RidgefieldVolunteer@fws.gov

Whether you want to work with students and the public to spread the conservation message, teach about local indigenous culture, or get your hands dirty doing habitat work, we just may have a volunteer opportunity for you to join our community.

Email RidgefieldVolunteer@fws.gov for more information on how you can get involved.

If you are also interested in volunteering at our Refuges in the Columbia River Gorge, email Jared_Strawderman@fws.gov or Mesha_Wood@fws.gov

  • Habitat Restoration

    volunteers habitat jan18

    Volunteers get to see the most beautiful places on the refuge while helping to ensure that native wildlife have food and shelter. Summer work is focused on maintaining winter plantings and controlling invasive plants that threaten to take over habitat.  Fall and winter work is focused on planting and maintenance. Crews meet on most Wednesday mornings. Other dates often available, find out more here, on our Habitat Restoration page.

  • Refuge and Trail Greeters

    SpottingScope-WVTipsPromo150x118-SteveHillebrandUSFWSOver 120,000 visitors flock to the refuge annually to enjoy nature through participation in wildlife observation, photography, environmental education, cultural interpretation, hunting, and fishing. Volunteers help to make their experiences meaningful. Share your enthusiasm for nature and make the Refuge a welcoming place for people walking our trails, stopping at the Visitor Contact Station and driving the AutoTour.

    Contact Josie Finley at josie_finley@fws.gov or 360-887-4106 x 130

  • Education

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    Help us inspire the next generation. Kids of all ages need hands-on learning and inspiration in the great outdoors as part of a well-rounded education. We need your help to make their visit to the Refuge fun and memorable. Field trips take place during the weekdays starting in April.

    Contact Josie Finley at josie_finley@fws.gov or 360-887-4106 x 130

  • Help Represent the Friends & the Refuge at Community Outreach events!

    FRNWR-2014smWe are looking for a few dedicated volunteers who love the refuge and would like to help others discover what makes this place special. Outreach volunteers are needed to help staff Friends and Refuge booths at events in our community from Ridgefield to Portland. Outreach volunteers work alongside Refuge and Friends staff to answer questions about the Refuge, provide information about what visitors can do at this Refuge, and act as ambassadors for one of our region’s best kept secrets. Interested in learning how to get involved? Contact us at contact@ridgefieldfriends.org.

  • Join the Board!

    Join the Friends of Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge Board for their monthly meeting. Meetings start at 5pm every second Monday of the month (barring holidays or special circumstances) at the Port of Ridgefield Meeting Room.

    Email contact@ridgefieldfriends.org to let us know if you would like to attend!

    Board meeting dates can be found here.

Volunteer Sign-Up

We are working on getting a better sign up form made. Until then, check out the pages for the programs you would like to volunteer with, as contact information for program leads can be found there.

We are always looking for help with:

Habitat Restoration

Field Trip Volunteers

Trail Stewards

Outreach/Tabling

BirdFest & Bluegrass

Board Committees

Join the Board, and more!

Does your employer offer a matching gift program?

Many companies not only encourage their employees to give to and volunteer time to nonprofits in their communities, but also will match those efforts with dollars and other means of support.

Employee Matching Gifts are donations an employer makes to match its employees’ charitable contributions. Usually associated with corporate grantmakers, employee matching gifts often are dollar-for-dollar, but some companies will give double or even triple the original donation. Some may also give matching gifts for employees’ volunteer efforts. For example, when an employee participates in a walkathon or other type of fundraising event, their employer may match the money they raise through sponsorships or other donations.

Volunteer Support Programs  – sometimes called “Dollars for Doers” – can take various forms. Also known as individual volunteer grants, these programs essentially reward employees who take time to donate their time to a nonprofit.

Find out if your employer offers these programs to maximize your giving today!

Support While You Shop

We need your support to grow Friends programs – nature education, wildlife habitat restoration, and a new naturalist corps! Please become a member and receive eNews and newsletters, come to the annual membership meetings, participate as a volunteer, and help the Refuge community grow. Now is the time. Thanks for your support. Your credit card or PayPal are welcome. Click here for a membership form or call (360) 887-9495

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Fred Meyer Community Rewards

fred-meyer-community-rewardsSign up for the Community Rewards program by linking your Fred Meyer Rewards Card to Friends of Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge. You can search for us by our name or by our non-profit number 89824.

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Upcoming Events

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Support While You Shop

When Amazon removed AmazonSmile, we lost our Amazon Wishlist access. Now, we have finally started one back up! Shop for items that the Friends and the Refuge Complex need to help with everything from habitat restoration to events like BirdFest & Bluegrass, and help support wildlife in little and big ways.

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Sign up for the Community Rewards program by linking your Fred Meyer Rewards Card to Friends of Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge (PK822). For more information, please visit the link below.

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