Annual Volunteer Training at Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge
Next Volunteer Information Session: The Refuge offers an annual Volunteer Information Session in August. This year's session is on Monday, August 19, 2024. Current volunteers are welcome to come to this free event (lunch provided by Friends of Blackwater) and people interested in learning about volunteer opportunities are also welcome to come. Learn more about what you can do to support Blackwater NWR.
Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) has a large and active volunteer program, but there is always a need for volunteers to assist with a variety of programs. Over 180,000 visitors from all over the world visit Blackwater NWR each year to photograph wildlife, hike trails, paddle waterways, and enjoy the scenic landscapes. Established in 1933 as a refuge for migratory birds, the Refuge has one of the highest concentrations of nesting bald eagles on the Atlantic coast and the largest native population of Delmarva fox squirrels, which were once endangered. With over 28,000 acres of rich tidal marsh, mixed hardwood and pine forest, managed freshwater wetlands and several hundred acres of cropland, Blackwater NWR supports a diversity of wildlife. If you love wildlife and wild places, consider volunteering at Blackwater NWR and come make a difference with us!
Current volunteer needs include:
- Information desk/gift store
- Environmental education for schoolchildren and adults
- Spotted turtle assessment
- Wildflower planting in Nanticoke unit
- Butterfly garden maintenance
- General maintenance and carpentry
- Operation of heavy equipment
- New hunter mentoring
- Graphic design for outreach materials
- Event and festival support
- Resident volunteers (RV pad on-site)
Training is provided to volunteers, so consider trying something new. Volunteers at the Refuge enjoy special events, such as an annual crab feast, awards for hours/years served, and special trips to thank them for their service.
To learn more about the volunteer program at Blackwater NWR or to register for an upcoming Volunteer Information Session, please contact Michele Whitbeck, Refuge Volunteer Coordinator, at 410-221-8157 or michele_whitbeck@fws.gov. If you need directions to Blackwater NWR, visit our Frequently Asked Questions. Come help make the Refuge a better place for wildlife and people alike!
