Volunteer with ODFW

Teach

Teach hunter education, help families learn to fish, support workshops and mentor others.

‌If you're an avid hunter, angler, marksman or dog handler, then you already know how much those activities have enriched your life. Consider sharing your expertise, passing on those traits by teaching people how to hunt, introducing families to the fun of fishing, or mentoring new hunters with your bird dog to build the next generation of hunters and anglers. Help ODFW reactivate seasoned hunters and anglers to refresh their skills and focus on advanced techniques for a more successful harvest.

• Support events with setup, tear down, gear and material prep.
• Become a fully vetted Volunteer receiving certification training to instruct all ages:
  • in hunter safety curriculum, firearm and range safety.
  • in angler education on the fundamentals of fishing.   
• This could be your legacy, helping to create a new generation of safe, ethical hunters, anglers and outdoors people!

Find an opportunity

Restore

Plant streamside vegetation, build bird nesting boxes, monitor and help boost fish and wildlife populations.

In many areas, human activity has created severe challenges for fish and wildlife species. Overfishing, degraded habitats, the introduction of invasive species – all make it harder for native creatures to survive and thrive. As an ODFW volunteer, you can help us restore these native landscapes and re-establish natural processes by restoring fish populations and managing healthy wild and game animal populations. Pitch in and help us leave Oregon a better place than we found it.‌

• Gardeners, hikers and other people who like to work with their hands and be outdoors will enjoy this work. An appreciation of nature and wildlife is a definite plus, as is a willingness to help ODFW biologists restore the woods, fields and waters that offer critical habitat to Oregon's native species.
• Volunteers on restoration projects may work inside preparing for projects, or outside where most of the restoration work occurs.
• Fully vetted Volunteers even take fish eggs into classrooms where they are raised by students and released into a nearby waterway. Training is provided for most ODFW Volunteer Opportunities.

Find an opportunity

Study

Help biologists learn more about wildlife behavior by trapping, monitoring or recording animal patterns and activity. ‌

To help protect and conserve fish and wildlife species, we need to know more about them to better understand their benefits and needs. ODFW studies the life history, habits, migratory patterns and distribution of species that live in habitats as diverse as ocean beaches to desert canyons to high alpine mountains. Our biologists and scientists rely on volunteers to help them collect data and document animal behavior. For volunteers it's a chance to observe some of Oregon's most unique species up close and in their natural environments.‌

• This is a good fit for people who are interested in learning more about Oregon's wildlife species and are willing to hike or ride along with biologists to record findings and observations. ODFW biologists study a variety of mammals, birds, amphibians and even some plants that provide important habitat. Some opportunities are designed to fit into your individual hiking adventures, such as looking for certain signs, dens or other evidence of their presence including woodpeckers, foxes, porcupines and other studied species.
• Research takes place both indoors and outdoors working in a variety of conditions. ‌

Find an opportunity

Host

Host at a hatchery or wildlife area in your own RV. Duties may include landscaping, welcoming visitors, or other duties aligned with your skills and interests. ‌

Volunteer hosts and RV hosts are asked to make at least a 30-day commitment and to provide 20 hours per week in service to support various ODFW needs. RV Hosts receive a site with full hookups, at no charge, during the time of their volunteer service. Hosts may be asked to welcome visitors and participants to ODFW properties and events or to maintain grounds near or adjacent to their site location. Host volunteers may also help set up and take down at events, register participants, help track volunteer hours, or a variety of other duties, as agreed, to fit your skills and personality. Volunteer RV hosts live onsite at ODFW hatcheries and wildlife areas at a beautiful, remote location.‌ There are over 30 beautifully unique locations across Oregon relying on support from RV Hosts. Sign up now!

• RV owners who enjoy traveling to and around Oregon, staying in beautiful remote locations. RV Hosts must have good driving records and clean backgrounds. Hosts may work independently or as part of a team depending on needs at the local facility. Most ODFW RV hosts are retired, semi-retired or otherwise have the flexibility to be onsite as needed. RV Hosts may be from Oregon or from anywhere that has a highway leading to Oregon.
• Work and live in beautiful remote locations. Hosts may work on a variety of indoor and outdoor tasks.
• Some RV Host or host assignments are as short 30 days, but others could be longer depending upon the needs of ODFW and the availability of the host some lasting several months at a time. Many ODFW RV hosts return time and again!

Find an opportunity

Build

Assist with clean up at fish hatcheries, build wildlife area signs or help maintain equipment.

ODFW encourages volunteer carpenters, metal workers and other craftspeople to help create, build and maintain. Contribute your time and expertise in a community-driven effort to visually improve public spaces, foster community pride and create a more pleasant environment for visitors.

• through actions like natural landscaping, enhancement and beautification projects (kiosk construction and informational sign installation).
• monitor wildlife populations (construct traps to capture birds for banding and assessment)
• transform its facilities into cleaner, greener, and more vibrant places. (wildlife area office repair or hatchery maintenance).‌
• Skilled craftspeople and people who love working with their hands.

Email to inquire about this opportunity

Communicate

Spread the word as a subject matter specialist offering interpretive tours in a variety of settings, showcase Oregon's amazing wildlife through art, videography and photographs, partner and promote fish and wildlife events. Bilingual encouraged to apply.

• Provide information to others on fish and wildlife found in Oregon.
• Offer your professional talents by capturing and submitting imagery with your art, videography or photographic skills.
• ODFW partners with like-minded groups to introduce and encourage people to explore and recreate in the outdoors. 

Email to inquire about this opportunity