ODFW Volunteer hosts have been a valuable and committed resource for more than 29 years. In 2019, 141 volunteer hosts donated 41,969 hours (the equivalents of $1,489,900.00) incontributions for ODFW. Our departmentis one of Oregon’s largest agencies and touches the lives of nearly all Oregon citizens.As a host, you can help up to protect and manage our native fish and wildlife and their habitats. We are gladyou have decided to get involved.
- Challenging assignments to match your skills and interest
- Educational and rewarding experiences
- Worker’s compensation
- RV sites with hookups and other amenities
The department has 45 sites at fish hatcheries, wildlife areas and district offices throughout the state. Volunteers can choose to help protect and enhance fish and wildlife in unique locations along the coast, in the mountain ranges and valleys or on the high desert.
No two sites are the same and duties may vary for location and season. Here is a sampling of job opportunities:
- Landscaping, gardening and grounds maintenance
- Fish culture- spawning, feeding, releasing fish
- Carpentry, painting and other maintenance projects
- Clerical work – computer data entry, filing and phones
- Farming to benefit wildlife, assisting at check stations
- Public outreach – greeting visitors, leading tours
- Placing nest boxes, banding ducks and geese
- Assisting disabled anglers, helping with public events
Volunteer hosts donate an average of 20 hours per week and need to make a minimum commitment of 30 days at their chosen host site. The length of a host assignment can normally range from 30 – 180 days. Host schedules – including number of hours per day, days per week and length of stay – can vary based on need or preference.
- Be 18 years of age or older
- Have a self-contained RV
- Maintain insurance on RV, personal vehicles and property
- Pass criminal history and drivers check every 4 years
- National criminal history check based on fingerprints
- Oregon Fish and Wildlife Violation check
- Oregon criminal background check
- Driving records check
- Take Required Preventing Discrimination & Harassment Training
- Watch Defensive Driving Video Link
- Read and follow ODFW policies & procedures
- Fill out Registration Form
- Complete & submit paperwork & trainings
- Search for current opening
- Complete & submit site application
- Q & A with Host Coordinator
- Phone Interview with Host Site Supervisor
- Host Assignment scheduled
- Arrival day
Note: Failure to complete any of the actions listed above in a timely manner before your scheduled host assignment may lead to the cancellation of that volunteer assignment.
2020 Site availability at a glance (pdf)
| Host Site |
Description |
Sites Open and Close: |
| HATCHERIES |
| Alsea Hatchery |
Nestled in the Coast Range. Duties include: public interaction, light maintenance |
1/01/2020 - 12/31/2020 |
| Bandon Hatchery |
Near the coast 1 mile east of Bandon. Duties include: fish culture, hatchery tours, light construction, and yard work. |
1/01/2020 - 12/31/2020 |
| Big Creek Hatchery |
Located 17 miles east of Astoria. Duties include: Fish culture activities, grounds care, and construction projects. |
5/01/2020 -10/31/2020 |
| Bonneville Hatchery |
Located 40 miles east of Portland at Bonneville Dam. Duties include: Grounds maintenance, greet pulbic, and fish care. |
1/01/2020 - 12/31/2020 |
| Cascade Hatchery |
Located on beautiful Eagle Creek in the Columbia River Gorge. Duties include: Grounds maintenance, greet visitors, and assist with fish culture. |
4/1/2020 - 10/31/2020 |
| Cedar Creek Hatchery |
Located on the coast 22 miles north of Lincoln City. Duties include: landscaping, light maintenance, assist with fish culture, and give hatchry tours. |
6/01/2020 - 9/30/2020 |
| Cole Rivers Hatchery |
25 miles north of Medford. Duties include: grounds/building maintenance, and fish culture. |
4/01/2020 - 10/31/2020 |
| Fall River Hatchery |
25 miles south of Bend. Duties include: fish culture, light repairs, greet public, assist anglers. |
1/01/2020 - 12/31/2020 |
| Gnat Creek Hatchery |
Located in the forest near the Columbia River. Duties include: Greet visitors, trail maintenance, and providing hatchery tours. |
1/01/2020 - 12/31/2020 |
| Irrigon Hatchery |
40 miles northwest of Pendleton. Duties include: grounds maintenance, light repair, fish culture, and carentry. |
5/01/2020 - 9/30/2020 |
| Klamath Hatchery |
North of Klamath Falls near Crater Lake. Duties include: fish culture, light maintenance and grounds work, and greet public. |
4/01/2020 - 10/31/2020 |
| Klaskanine Hatchery |
12 miles east of Astoria. Duties include: fish care, grounds maintenance, and repair projects. |
4/01/2020 - 12/31/2020 |
| Leaburg Hatchery |
In the Cascade Mountains east of Springfield. Greet public, give hatchery tours, light maintenamce and repairs. |
1/01/2020 - 12/31/2020 |
| McKenzie River Hatchery |
In the Cascades on the banks of the scenic McKenzie River. Duties include: fish culture activities, grounds maintenance, may assist with spawning in the Fall. |
4/01/2020 - 10/31/2020 |
| Metolius Pond |
15 miles west of Sisters. Duties include: assisting with fishing events, habitat restoration, and pond maintenance. |
4/01/2020 - 10/31/2020 |
| North Nehalem Hatchery |
25 miles southeast of Seaside. Duties include: fish culture activities, assisting anglers, and facility maintenance. |
1/01/2020 - 12/31/2020 |
| Oak Springs Hatchery |
Located near Maupin. Duties include: grounds and equipment maintenance, fish culture activities. |
3/01/2020 - 10/31/2020 |
| OR Hatchery Research Center |
37 miles west of Corvallis. Duties include: light maintenance, fish feeding, and public outreach. |
1/01/2020 - 12/31/2020 |
| Roaring River Hatchery |
18 east of Albany. Duties include: fish culture, light maintaineance, and conducting hatchery tours. |
1/01/2020 - 12/31/2020 |
| Rock Creek Hatchery |
On the Umpqua River near Roseburg. Duties include: landscaping, fish culture, light maintenance, hatchery tours. |
6/01/2020 - 10/31/2020 |
| St. Louis Ponds |
Near the town of Gervais. Duties include: Mowing, greeting public, and assisting anglers. |
3/01/2020 - 12/31/2020 |
| Salmon River Hatchery |
Near the coast 5 miles north of Lincoln City. Duties include: facility and grounds maintenance, carpentry and painting. |
5/01/2020 - 11/30/2020 |
| Trask River Hatchery |
Located near Tillamook. Duties include: Grounds maintenance, fish culture projects, greeting the public. |
1/01/2020 - 12/31/2020 |
| Wallowa Hatchery |
One mile west of Enterprise. Duties include: fish culture activities, landscaping and small improvement projects |
05/01/2020 - 07/31/2020 |
| West Fork Millicoma Center |
25 miles south of Coos Bay. Duuties include: assist with educational activities, conduct tours, and grounds maintenance. |
1/01/2020 - 12/31/2020 |
| Willamette Hatchery |
In the Cascades near Oakridge. Duties include: landscaping, museum operations, public tours, and fish culture projects. |
3/01/2020 - 10/31/2020 |
| Wizard Falls Hatchery |
20 miles noth of Sisters. Duties include: fish culture, hatchery tours, interpretive displays, and light maintenance. |
4/01/2020 - 10/31/2020 |
| REGIONAL OFFICES |
| Bend Region Office |
Located in Bend. Duties include: landscaping, clerical, public education and outreach, assist fish and wildlife biologists. |
5/01/2020 - 10/31/2020 |
| La Grande Region Office |
Located in La Grande. Duties include: building maintenance, equipment repair, assist biologists, and light clerical. |
4/01/2020 - 9/30/2020 |
| Clackamas Region Office |
Located in Clackamas near Portland. Duties may include:rounds and building maintenance, computer data entry, wildlife projects. |
1/01/2020 - 12/31/2020 |
| Corvallis District Office |
8 miles north of Corvallis. Duties include: grounds/building maintenance, clerical, help with outreach events, assist biologists. |
1/01/2020 - 12/31/2020 |
| WILDLIFE AREAS |
| Denman Wildlife Area |
Located in the Rogue Valley north of Medford. Duties include: landscaping, assist biologists in field activities, and greet public. |
1/01/2020 - 12/31/2020 |
| EE Wilson Wildlife Area |
10 miles north of Corvallis. Duties include: showbird care, assist with bird hunts, greet public, various farming projects. More about EE Wilson Wildlife Area |
3/01/2020 - 10/31/2020 |
| Jewel Meadows Wildlife Area |
Located in the northern Coast Range. Duties include: grounds care, habitat projects, and minor repairs. |
1/01/2020 - 12/31/2020 |
| Klamath Wildlife Area |
6 miles south of Klamath Falls. Duties include: assisting biologists with field projects, light maintenance, farm work, and interpretive tours. |
1/01/2020 - 12/31/2020 |
| Ladd March Wildlife Area |
6 miles from La Grande. Duties include: assist with waterfowl projects, public outreach programs, grounds maintenance. |
4/01/2020 - 9/30/2020 |
| Sauvie Island Wildlife Area |
Located at the junction of the Willamette and Columbia Rivers. Duties include: yard work, greeting visitors and hunters, farming activities. |
1/01/2020 - 12/01/2020 |
| Summer Lake Wildlife Area |
75 miles north of Lakeview, remote. Duties include: habitat improvement, greet public, wildlife field surveys. |
1/01/2020 - 12/31/2020 |
| White River Wildlife Area |
45 miles south of The Dalles. Duties include: grounds maintenance, farm work, habitat projects, light construction. |
1/01/2020 - 11/30/2020 |
VOLUNTEER WITH US!
Host Volunteer Program Coordinator
Donna Schultz
SWWD Office - Corvallis
7118 NE Vandenberg Avenue
Corvallis, OR 97330
(541) 757-5255
donna.l.schultz@state.or.us |
