Volunteers are needed for Education Programs and new Community Nature Center

RIDGEFIELD – Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge Complex, which includes the Ridgefield, 

Steigerwald Lake, Franz Lake, and Pierce National Wildlife Refuges, have opened sign-ups for new volunteers for 2026, with Orientation set for early Spring. 

Volunteers have the opportunity to help in education and other visitor-focused programming, welcoming visitors and supporting the community in the conservation of their local refuges. Those interested can sign up on the Get Involved page of the RNWRC website, email RidgefieldVolunteer@fws.gov, or call (360) 887-4106. 

As refuge programming continues to regrow after COVID, volunteers are becoming increasingly invaluable. 

Spring is the time of field trips, and school kids will be visiting the Ridgefield and Steigerwald Lake NWRs ready for engaging interactions with those who know and love our environment best. These trips require many volunteers to be able to support the number of schools who reach out wanting to bring their students. 

At Ridgefield NWR, with the upcoming opening of the new Community Nature Center, volunteers will become crucial for creating a welcoming and engaging visitor experience. This is a new space for the community, and volunteers will be essential in setting it up as a learning and engagement space for everyone.

On the habitat side, volunteers heavily support the work on and around trails in public use areas, which increases the value of the land for wildlife and the community.

Opportunities are open for any skill level, as long as volunteers are dedicated to the mission of conservation and community connection. Volunteer Orientation in early spring will give volunteers all the information needed to feel comfortable in these roles.

Our greatest needs for volunteers are in these two categories:

Refuge environmental educators

Support communities in learning about nature exploration at the Refuge and in their backyards.

• Lead or assist with activities during school field trips

• Prep materials for education programs

• Lead guided walks and on-site programs

• Engage with people at local community events

Refuge ambassadors

Welcome visitors, answer questions, and communicate about projects and plans happening within the Ridgefield NWR Complex

• Engage visitors at Ridgefield and Steigerwald Lake NWRs on trails, in the new Nature Center, and at the contact station to answer questions

• Provide customer service, site orientation, and facilities upkeep

• Speak with visitors about current and future developments with the Nature Center and obtain feedback and community vision for programming and facilities

If you are interested in helping with trail and habitat maintenance, there will be a monthly work party to start soon.

About the Refuge

The mission of the National Wildlife Refuge System is to administer a national network of lands and waters for the conservation, management and, where appropriate, restoration of the fish, wildlife and plant resources and their habitats within the United States for the benefit of present and future generations of Americans.

The Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge Complex is a part of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and is comprised of four refuges along the lower Columbia River: Ridgefield NWR, Steigerwald Lake NWR, Franz Lake NWR, and Pierce NWR. 

Staff and partners strive to work with the community to restore and conserve Oregon oak 

woodlands, pastures and wetland habitats. These lands provide the perfect environment for state and federally protected species such as Columbian white-tailed deer, Sandhill cranes and other wildlife. Staff and partners also work together to engage the community in education about the Refuge and local habitat conservation and management.