National Wildlife Refuge – Kettle Pond Visitor Center In Need Of Volunteers
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
February 22, 2026 @ 11:23 am
Fran and I used to take our 2 grandchildren here many times when we were babysitting them pre-kindergarten, they thoroughly enjoyed it and we enjoyed watching them develop a knowledge and love for nature.
The centre needs volunteers to stay open so about 15 months ago I started volunteering as a desk person, the duties are very light and it is a very enjoyable experience. Each day has 2 shifts of a desk person, in the winter each is 2 1/2 hours, in the summer they are 3 hours. Each volunteer does about 2 shifts/month so this is a very light workload but it supports a very worthy activity. I typically do the mornings of the 1st and 3rd Saturdays, and the 5th when there is one. The center opens at 10am, closes at 3pm in the winter and 4pm in the summer. Feel free to stop by any day, Sunday included, look around and have an informal chat with the volunteer at the desk, they are all very nice people.
February 16, 2026 @ 7:42 am
The center relies on volunteers to keep it open to visitors. Thanks to those that volunteer. If you have not visited it please do. You will find good exhibits, scavenger hunt and activities for children or anyone. A peaceful place in the native plant area, interesting trails, and friendly people.