Volunteer

Volunteering for the Refuge

Volunteering with the Friends of Ridgefield NWR

The Friend’s mission is to champion the protection of wildlife and their habitats by broadening public understanding of and engagement in the natural and cultural resources of the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge.

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!

Volunteers can support the Refuge by working with the Friends group to:

1. Refuge Communicators
   Help share the stories and conservation work of the refuge and our partners
   • Write educational articles for the E-Newsletter
   • Create content for social media
   • Take photos of refuge programs and visitor uses
   • Post flyers for refuge events in the community
2.  Friends Board Members
3. BirdFest Committee Members
4. BirdFest Event Support
5. Event Tabling both on and off-refuge
6. Administrative and/or Website Support

For these opportunities, Email the Friends to express interest in any of the above, and your information will be shared with Staff in charge of the related program, thank you!

Oaks-to-Wetlands Trail Work Parties with Washington Trails Association

Volunteer with Washington Trail Association for a fun and rewarding way to give back to the places you love to hike. Trails across Washington need our help more than ever, including Ridgefield NWR’s Oaks to Wetlands Trail. WTA will be working with the refuge to re-do our trail network after large-scale restoration efforts that have obliterated much of the old trails. WTA has several days scheduled out here to build the new trails — depending on the day, expect to clear new trail corridor, create new tread, or fine-tune temporary trails into actual tread surface (as well as learn about sustainable trail alignment). This is a great project to see a new trail come to life!

What it Takes to Do This Work Party:
No experience is necessary—just bring a great attitude for working with a team! WTA provides the training and tools you need. Expect to be physically active at your own pace for up to 6 hours on uneven terrain.
Recommended for ages 10 and older; under 14 must be accompanied by an adult and a parental consent form must be signed for anyone under 18
Wear: Boots, long pants and shirt, rain wear, and plenty of warm layers. Shorts and sneakers are not allowed.
Pack: a lunch, water and bag to carry it in about a mile, over even terrain.

RIDGEFIELD NWR
Oaks to Wetlands Trail (Carty Unit off Main, follow detour signs to the Refuge)

Space is Limited. Sign Up at: www.wta.org
For More Info, Contact WTA at volunteer@wta.org or 206.625.1367

Does your employer offer matching gift or volunteer support programs?

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!