National Wildlife Refuge – Kettle Pond Visitor Center In Need Of Volunteers

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The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Rhode Island Headquarters is at the Kettle Pond Visitor Center on Bend Road in Charlestown. This is the headquarters for all of the National Wildlife Refuges in Rhode Island.

The visitor center has exhibits about the species and habitat diversity around us and activities for children.

Outdoors there are trails to discover more of this part of the National Wildlife Refuge. You can hike to the observation tower and get a birds-eye view of Ninigret Pond, or hike to Watchaug Pond or hike the Charlestown Moraine. There is also a native plant garden where you can get ideas for native plants in your own garden.

What is needed?

  • Kettle Pond Visitor Center Volunteers – Visitor Center volunteers are the friendly faces that greet and orient visitors, help maintain a clean and well-stocked facility, and operate the gift shop. Especially needed are volunteers who can cover weekend shifts.
  • Environmental Educators – Are you a retired teacher or naturalist? Environmental Education volunteers help orient school groups and provide a guided walk or lesson at the Kettle Pond Visitor Center.
  • Shorebird Stewards – Shorebird stewards engage with the public about the piping plovers, least terns, and American oystercatchers that nest on our beaches each summer. Summer outreach is needed at beaches in Middletown, South Kingstown, Block Island, and Sandy Point Island.

Requirements:

  • Volunteers must be at least 18 years old
  • Volunteers must work well with visitors and volunteers of all ages and backgrounds
  • Volunteers must contribute at least 36 hours per year

If any of these are a volunteer opportunity that interests you, email the Visitor Center staff at: rhodeislandcomplex@fws.gov and  request a volunteer application