Get Involved Friends of the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, Washington State NWR, National Wildlife Refuge, Birding



Volunteer Projects The Friends of Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge support an active volunteer program offering several opportunities for you to help out throughout the year. Read on to see how you can get involved and make a difference on the Refuge.
Gee Creek Restoration Project Make the refuge even more beautiful than it already is! Help restore Gee Creek on the Carty Unit. Come join us as we go into the second planting season of this WSU Clark County Extension supported project. As local agencies team up to restore Gee Creek on and off the refuge, community members from all over the area are getting together to do the really important work, planting trees! This planting project will improve water quality and habitat conditions on Gee Creek as it flows through the refuge and the rest of the watershed. Planting events are select Saturdays from 9am to 12pm and meet in the Carty Unit parking lot. All ages and skill levels welcome. You don’t need to bring any tools, just come dressed for the weather including gloves and water resistant shoes. FIRST EVENT: November 17th. Click here for the 2007/2008 season flier. For more information about the Gee Creek Restoration Project or other refuge volunteer opportunities refer to the following websites: Refuge Volunteer Page: http://www.fws.gov/ridgefieldrefuges/Volunteers.htm Gee Creek Restoration Website: http://clark.wsu.edu/natural/geecreek.html Or contact the Restoration Technician by phone (360) 887-3883 x 18, (360) 624-4430, or email josie_finley@fws.gov This project is a collaborative effort between WSU Clark County Extension, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, The Friends of the Ridgefield Wildlife Refuge – Gee Creek Enhancement Committee, The City of Ridgefield, The Lower Columbia River Estuary Partnership, and private citizens. Extension programs are available to all without discrimination. If you require special accommodation, call 360-887-4106 prior to the event.
Cathlapotle Plankhouse Volunteer Work Projects The Cathlapotle Plankhouse, a full-size replica of a cedar Chinookan plankhouse, has been open to visiors since March 29, 2005, the 199th anniversary of Lewis and Clark's visit to the Native American village of Cathlapotle. Volunteer docents kept the house open in 2006, leading tours every Saturday and Sunday afternoon from spring through fall for over 8000 visitors. Volunteers also work on maintenance projects to keep the plankhouse and surrounding area in good shape. Other projects volunteers are involved in include developing an ethnobotanical walk, childrens' activities, and building a summer shelter. What can You do to Help? Become a Docent and talk with visitors - (no experience necessary). Are you handy with your hands? Help with maintenance or landscaping projects. Do you love children and sharing information with them? Become a part of our educators program - (again, no experience necessary). Want to learn Native American craftwork and share it with others? Attend a workshop and sign up to share your knowledge with others. There are many ways to volunteer. Go to www.plankhouse.org for information on Plankhouse events and volunteer opportunities or contact Catherine Mueller-Wille at Catherine_Mueller-Wille@fws.gov.

Volunteer Projects

The Friends of Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge support an active volunteer program offering several opportunities for you to help out throughout the year. Read on to see how you can get involved and make a difference on the Refuge.

Gee Creek Restoration Project

Make the refuge even more beautiful than it already is!
Help restore Gee Creek on the Carty Unit.

Come join us as we go into the second planting season of this WSU Clark County Extension supported project. As local agencies team up to restore Gee Creek on and off the refuge, community members from all over the area are getting together to do the really important work, planting trees! This planting project will improve water quality and habitat conditions on Gee Creek as it flows through the refuge and the rest of the watershed.

Planting events are select Saturdays from 9am to 12pm and meet in the Carty Unit parking lot. All ages and skill levels welcome. You don’t need to bring any tools, just come dressed for the weather including gloves and water resistant shoes. FIRST EVENT: November 17th. Click here for the 2007/2008 season flier.

For more information about the Gee Creek Restoration Project or other refuge volunteer opportunities refer to the following websites:

Refuge Volunteer Page: http://www.fws.gov/ridgefieldrefuges/Volunteers.htm
Gee Creek Restoration Website: http://clark.wsu.edu/natural/geecreek.html

Or contact the Restoration Technician by phone (360) 887-3883 x 18, (360) 624-4430, or email josie_finley@fws.gov

This project is a collaborative effort between WSU Clark County Extension, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, The Friends of the Ridgefield Wildlife Refuge – Gee Creek Enhancement Committee, The City of Ridgefield, The Lower Columbia River Estuary Partnership, and private citizens.

Extension programs are available to all without discrimination. If you require special accommodation, call 360-887-4106 prior to the event.

Cathlapotle Plankhouse Volunteer Work Projects

The Cathlapotle Plankhouse, a full-size replica of a cedar Chinookan plankhouse, has been open to visiors since March 29, 2005, the 199th anniversary of Lewis and Clark's visit to the Native American village of Cathlapotle.

Volunteer docents kept the house open in 2006, leading tours every Saturday and Sunday afternoon from spring through fall for over 8000 visitors. Volunteers also work on maintenance projects to keep the plankhouse and surrounding area in good shape. Other projects volunteers are involved in include developing an ethnobotanical walk, childrens' activities, and building a summer shelter.

What can You do to Help?

Become a Docent and talk with visitors - (no experience necessary).
Are you handy with your hands? Help with maintenance or landscaping projects.
Do you love children and sharing information with them? Become a part of our educators program - (again, no experience necessary).
Want to learn Native American craftwork and share it with others? Attend a workshop and sign up to share your knowledge with others.

There are many ways to volunteer. Go to www.plankhouse.org for information on Plankhouse events and volunteer opportunities or contact Catherine Mueller-Wille at Catherine_Mueller-Wille@fws.gov.