volunteer

Volunteer to plant and mulch trees throughout the Arboretum. Curator Martin Nicholson will be on hand to lend his expertise and guide the work party.

Wear work clothes such as pants and boots. Be sure to dress for the weather, and bring water and a snack. Gloves and tools will be provided.

Meet at the Visitor Center, no registration required!

Join us for a community service day! All volunteers are welcome! Kids under 14 with parental supervision and teens under 16 with parental permission. Snacks and tools provided. Please bring sturdy shoes, appropriate outdoor work clothing, a water bottle, and your enthusiasm for helping the community! To sign-up or for more information, email volunteer@columbiasprings.org, or call 360-882-0936 ext. 230. For more information on Columbia Springs, visit www.columbiasprings.org. Invite your friends on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/524105057628147/.

The Refuge is blooming! Join us for a morning of habitat maintanence activities. A great chance to view wildlife and assist with our stewardship goals. This will be our last restoration work party until bulrush pulls begin in June!

Gloves and tools will be provided. Come prepared to work in all weather clothing and waterproof shoes. 

April 16&17 9am-3pm.  

The Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge is seeking new volunteers to join thier team of environmental and cultural educators. 

Every year the refuge hosts over 4,000 students, along with hundreds of teachers and parents to learn about the rich natural and cultural resources of the area. The Refuge only has one staff person and one Friends employee that are dedicated to public cultural and environmental education programs, and they just cannot do it all themselves.  Luckily, it is not only fun but easy to engage youth in this beautiful outdoor classroom!  We will start off at the Fire Station by the Ridgefield/I5 junction for indoor presentations and activities, then move to the refuge in the afternoon. 
 
NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY!  Learn how to work with youth of many ages and backgrounds, the basic ecological concepts that they are learning and can see on the refuge, and the cultural and natural resources that make this place a thriving historical and natural destination.

To register or for more info contact Josie Finley at (360) 887 4106 or josie_finely@fws.gov

Check out the flyer here: http://www.fws.gov/ridgefieldrefuges/ridgefield/pdf/Education%20Training...
 

New volunteer orientation April 13th, 9am - 3pm.

The Cathlapotle Plankhouse is a full-scale Chinookan Plankhouse located on the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge. It was built based on archaeological evidence from the Cathlapotle archaeological site located on the refuge property. This archaeological site is what remains of the town of Cathlapotle, a Chinookan town encountered by Lewis and Clark on their expedition.

The Plankhouse and the objects inside of it offer a tangible link to those who lived here in the past and provides a unique site for the interpretation of the natural and cultural heritage preserved on Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) in Washington.

We are looking for new people to join our team of amazing docents that staff the Plankhouse during the weekends or help us teach school groups during the week. Open to everyone, there is no special experience needed, just a desire to learn and share the natural and cultural history of the refuge with others. By the end of the orientation you will understand what our docents do, learn more about Chinookan lifeways and archaeology, and be ready to take the next steps to become a part of the team. For more info or to RSVP please contact Sarah Hill at sarah_hill@fws.gov or call (360) 887-4106 . 

No Experience necessary. We provide training, reading materials, ongoing volunteer support, and opportunities for professional development. If you can't make the training, but still want to get involved, contact Sarah Hill at sarah_hill@fws.gov and she can arrange an alternate training plan. 

Check out the PDF: http://www.fws.gov/ridgefieldrefuges/ridgefield/pdf/PH%20Volunteer%20fly...(1).pdf