Volunteering with the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources is a rewarding way to support wildlife, connect people to the outdoors, and give back to your local community!
Volunteering is a great way to get involved with DWR. DWR offers a variety of indoor and outdoor volunteer opportunities, from hunter education and outreach events to trash pickup and habitat management projects.
You can choose how to volunteer based on your schedule, location and skills, but to ensure meaningful contributions, we request a minimum commitment of 15 volunteer hours annually.
Consider applying to be a Virginia DWR volunteer today! Thank you for your interest in contributing to the conservation of Virginia’s wildlife through volunteer work.
Volunteer Opportunities Include:
- Archery Education
- Boating & Paddling Education
- Events/Exhibits/Shows
- Fish Stocking
- Fishing Education
- General Maintenance at Wildlife Management Areas & Hatcheries
- Habitat Management
- Hunter Education
- Hunting Mentorship
- Invasive Species Management
- Public Presentations
- Trash Pickup
- Wildlife Survey
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the requirements of becoming a volunteer?
Volunteers must be 18 years or older to apply.
What does the volunteer application process look like?
Interested parties must sign up by creating a volunteer profile. Next, you will need to review and sign off on the policies & procedures as well as a brief background form. Once the background form is submitted, the process normally takes 5-10 business days to get clear, and then volunteers are approved and notified by email and mail.
Can I get community service hours at Virginia DWR?
Volunteers have the ability to download and print a “volunteer resume” from their profile with all hours/mileage submitted, which can be used as recognition of community service hours.
What volunteer opportunities are available near me?
Opportunities vary per region.
Who is the regional volunteer coordinator in my area?
The Regional Coordinators for the DWR Volunteer Program are:
- Region 1 – Joe Koch, joe.koch@dwr.virginia.gov, 757-236-7618
- Region 2 – Leonard Hart, leonard.hart@dwr.virginia.gov, 804-629-4560
- Region 3 – Steve Gregory, steve.gregory@dwr.virginia.gov, 276-791-0270
- Region 4 – Thomas Goldston, thomas.goldston@dwr.virginia.gov, 540-295-3039
Not sure which region you are in? View a map of DWR’s Regions.