Refuge/Friends Volunteer Opportunities
Want to get involved? Here are some ways you can not only benefit the Refuge but get acquainted with other Friends members:
For more details or to volunteer, contact Nancy Menasco or Jerry Bertrand.
Nancy Menasco
Email: 
or nmenasco@friendsofredriver.org
Phone: 318-868-3255 (Shreveport)
Jerry Bertrand
Email: jeb1954@friendsofredriver.org
Phone: 318-868-3255 (Shreveport)
Immediate Needs:
- Clearing nature trails of sticks and other small debris
- Maintain bird feeding stations at Headquarters
Onsite Projects:
- Staffing Nature Store in Visitor Center
- Conducting wildlife population surveys and studies
- Leading nature walks
- Leading tours and providing information to school groups and other visitors
- Chairing and staffing special events, including annual October Refuge Celebration, Great Backyard Bird Count on the Refuge in February, and International Migratory Bird Day in May
- Maintain bird feeding stations at Headquarters
- Maintaining trails
- Creating interpretative signage for trails
- Constructing trail benches
- Constructing wildlife watering holes on trails
- Planting native trees on the Headquarters and Bayou Pierre Units in late fall-winter of 2011-2012
- Planting native species at Bayou Pierre Unit farmhouse
- Assisting in invasive species control
- Volunteering for periodic refuge workdays
- Building and erecting Eastern Screech-Owl or Barred Owl boxes in appropriate habitat
- Building and erecting Chimney Swift towers in appropriate habitat
- Erecting Purple Martin houses in appropriate habitat
- Maintaining Wood Duck boxes (seasonal)
- Monitoring Wood Duck boxes (seasonal)
Large Onsite Projects:
- Renovating Bayou Pierre Unit farm house
- Planning and/or constructing Bayou Pierre Unit observation towers, blinds, boardwalks
- Planning and/or constructing Headquarters observation towers, blinds, boardwalks
Education and Outreach:
- Assist in implementing the Nature of Learning grant citizen science project in partnership with Bossier Parish schools, Community Renewal International Friendship Houses, and the Red River NWR
- Planning and implementing programs
- Planning, developing, implementing, and evaluating onsite and outreach educational and interpretative programs for children and/or adults
- Creating and/or making classroom presentations
- Making presentations to community groups
- Creating and/or making presentations for children’s programs at the public library or other venues
- Planning refuge events
- Researching history, including natural history, of the Red River NWR lands
- Joining membership meetings program committee
- Providing refreshments for membership meetings
Technology:
- Developing informational and/or educational slideshows for presentations to community groups, schools, and at refuge or area events.
- Working with the Friends webmaster to continue development and maintenance of the Friends of Red River website
- Exploring and implementing ways to use technology to further the mission of the Red River National Wildlife Refuge and the Friends of Red River
Funding Opportunities:
- Participating in Friends fundraising efforts
- Donating funds for exhibits and educational materials for the new Refuge Visitor Center
- Donating funds for Friends/Refuge projects and programs, including funding the hiring of interns to assist with programs
- Donating construction materials for projects
- Donating supplies, food, or door prizes for refuge events
- Researching and writing grants
Design your own project!
Do you have a special interest or talent? We invite you to design
your own refuge/Friends project. All projects must be in accord
with U.S. Fish and Wildlife National Wildlife Refuge policy and must be
approved by our Refuge Manager.