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 at 
or 318-868-3255 (Shreveport) or Jerry Bertrand at jeb1954@friendsofredriver.org or 318-868-3255 (Shreveport).
Immediate Needs:
- Clearing nature trails of sticks and other small debris
- Maintain bird feeding stations at Headquarters
Onsite Projects:
- Conducting wildlife population surveys and studies
- Leading nature walks
- Leading tours and providing information to school groups and other visitors
- Staffing visitor center on weekends
- Staffing special events, including annual October Refuge Celebration, Great Backyard Bird Count on the Refuge in February, and International Migratory Bird Day in May
- Maintaining trails
- Mapping trails using GPS
- Marking trails
- Creating directional signage for trails
- Creating interpretive signage for trails
- Constructing trail benches
- Constructing wildlife watering holes on trails
- Planting red cedar breaks along fence line at Headquarters
- Volunteering for periodic refuge workdays
- Maintaining bluebird boxes (seasonal)
- Monitoring bluebird boxes (seasonal)
- Maintaining Wood Duck boxes (seasonal)
- Monitoring Wood Duck boxes (seasonal)
- Build and erect Eastern Screech-Owl or Barred Owl boxes in appropriate habitat.
- Assisting in invasive species control
Large Onsite Projects:
- Planning for and/or 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 project in conjunction with an area school and the Red River NWR
- Planning, developing, implementing, and evaluating onsite and outreach educational and interpretive 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
- Planning refuge events
- Staffing Friends/Refuge booth at community events, such as Earth Day, Bayou Bodcau Wildlife & Forestry Festival, or Stonewall Bee Gum Festival
- Writing articles for The Red River Raft, the Friends of Red River newsletter
- Submitting photographs taken on one of the refuge units for The Red River Raft, the Friends of Red River newsletter
- Researching 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
- Working with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in designing, updating, and maintaining the official Red River National Wildlife Refuge 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 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.