info@friendsofthe500th.org
About Us
The Friends of the 500th was established in 1996 as a nonprofit corporation that supports the Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge. We work with the US Fish and Wildlife Service and our local community to meet wildlife and biological management objectives, recreational and educational goals, and to support diverse programs related to the Refuge.
We are part of a network of over 250 Friends groups committed to supporting, protecting and improving National Wildlife Refuge resources.
donatE/join
Whether by becoming a member or a one-time donor, you financial contribution is crucial to our to the success of our organization and to our continued support of projects and educational programs at the Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge.
We use Zeffy to process our donations and membership, and 100% of your contribution goes directly to the Friends of the 500th. Zeffy automatically adds a tip to each transaction, which is used to cover Zeffy’s fees. The tip is optional, and you have the ability to change the amount or remove it. The Friends of the 500th appreciates any tips you give to Zeffy as they help keep Zeffy’s service free for us.
volunteer Opportunities
The Friends of the 500th offer many opportunities to get involved with events that support both the Friends and the Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge. Currently, we are looking for help with the following activities:
Wild School Chaperones
Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge is seeking three volunteers to assist with the Wild School field trip as chaperones for the student groups on Wednesday, May 13 from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. Wild School is an annual 6th grade program focused on wetland education. During the field trip, student groups rotate through educational stations reinforcing lessons taught in the classroom about the function of wetlands and their importance. As a Volunteer Chaperone, you will be assigned to a student group of up to 12 students and will make sure that the students rotate through their stations on time. The field trip takes place at the refuge Visitor Center on Wednesday, May 13 from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. A pizza lunch is provided to volunteers by the Friends of the 500th. If you are interested and available to help out during this event, please send an email to Ranger JJ at william_yarley@fws.gov.
Appalachian Fly Fishing Festival
Help to “man” the Friends of the 500th table at the Festival and chat with Festival attendees about the Friends organization. The table will share space with the Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge, so Refuge staff will also be available. Talking points literature as well as membership information will be provided. Use the Signup Genius link to volunteer. https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F4CA9A928A57-63743910-2026
Visitor Center Volunteer Orientation Days
Are you interested in helping visitors find their adventure in Canaan Valley? Ranger JJ will be leading a series of Visitor Center Volunteer Orientation Days throughout June this summer. These orientations are catered to those that volunteer or are interested in volunteering at the Visitor Center. Each orientation involves a thorough review of Visitor Center operations followed by the fan-favorite tour to all the trailheads across the refuge where JJ will share talking points and better equip you to connect visitors with all that the refuge has to offer.
Each orientation runs from 9AM-4:30PM. While it is a full day, it is a very fun one where you get to meet other volunteers and go to places on the refuge you may not have been before. So, whether you’re new to volunteering at the Visitor Center or have done so for years and have attended past orientations, all are strongly encouraged to take part. Please check out the dates in the chart and send an email to JJ at william_yarley@fws.gov with the date you’d like to attend.and help sustain its work on biology, conservation, and education by volunteering. The Friends of the 500th offers many opportunities to contribute to the Refuge and our community through volunteering.
master naturalist PROGRAM
The West Virginia Master Naturalist Program is a statewide volunteer training program sponsored by the WV Division of Natural Resources (WV DNR). The Canaan Valley chapter of the state Master Naturalist program is a committee of the Friends of the 500th. Classes are generally held at the Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center and usually include a lecture and field portion. Participants generally say the program is a great way to learn about the area’s nature and to meet others with similar interests.
To become a state-certified Master Naturalist, you must complete 62 hours of instruction and 30 hours of approved nature-related volunteer work. Class topics include: Aquatic, Wetland and Terrestrial Habitats, Mammals, Insects, Wildflowers, Fish, Geology, Trees, Amphibians and Reptiles, Habitat Improvement for Wildlife, and many others. The Canaan Valley program is designed so that you can complete the coursework portion of the program in 5 full weekends held during the spring, summer, and fall months, but you have up to 4 years to complete coursework and volunteer hours. There are no tests.
The cost of the program is $175 which includes all classes until you are certified (up to 4 years). Scholarships are available.
2026 Canaan Valley Master Naturalists classes begin on Friday, April 24. For more information, contact Andrea Dalton at AndreaDalton64@gmail.com, or 304-704-2476. The cost of the program is $175 which includes all classes until you are certified (up to 4 years). Scholarships are available.
bookstore/visitor Center
The Friends of the 500th manages a wonderful bookstore, located in the Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center. The bookstore is stocked with a wide selection of books on local flora and fauna, publications by local authors, and nature-related reference materials. Gifts, children’s toys and books, and refuge apparel are also featured.
The bookstore is run entirely by Friends of the 500th volunteers. These volunteers also back up the refuge staff in the Visitor Center, including answering questions from visitors to the Refuge and offering suggestions to visitors on how to make the most from their visit to the Refuge and surrounding areas.
Money earned at the bookstore is used to finance native tree planting on the Refuge, offer local students educational field trips in our annual Wild Schools, and support two AmeriCorps members who assist the Refuge staff in biological research and other areas.
environmental education
The Friends of the 500th Environmental Education (EE) Committee assists the Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge in carrying out its educational, interpretive, and public use missions, particularly in the face of persistent under-funding in the federal budget.
The EE Committee supports a number of programs serving communities in Tucker and Randolph County, with a particular focus on youth.
Some of the programs the EE Committee supports are the 1st Saturday “What’s Blooming” walks, 2nd Saturday Bird walks, 3rd Saturday “Wild Wonders” programs, 4th Saturday “Busy Beaver” walks, Wild Wednesdays, Canaan Valley Master Naturalists, outreach to local schools in the area and other local events. See the Events section for the current schedule and more information on these and other programs.
Wild School
The Wild School program is an annual sixth-grade program focused on wetlands that engages all the sixth-grade students in Tucker County. Each spring, the refuge goes to the classrooms to talk about wetland functions and the wildlife that depend on them. To close out the program, all the schools come out on a field trip to the refuge sponsored by the Friends of the 500th. During the field trip, students explore the largest wetland in West Virginia and rotate through educational stations that take a deep dive into wetland plants and animals, recreational opportunities, and ways they can help wetlands. The EE Committee provides volunteers and bus funding for this program.
If you have any additional questions or would like to volunteer for any of the Environmental Education programs, please contact Jackie DeScisciolo at jdescisciolo@gmail.com.
tchhep PROGRAM
Tucker County Highlands History and Education Project, or TCHHEP, is a committee of the Friends of the 500th. TCHHEP has contributed over 100 history-focused articles to the Friends newsletter, The Timberdoodle. More information coming to this site soon. Thank you for your patience.
Native garden
The Canaan Valley Wildlife Refuge (CVWR) Visitor Center Native Gardens highlight the unique and diverse plants of the Canaan Valley. Located at the Visitor Center, the gardens are open to visitors during daylight hours seven days a week.
The gardens are curated by volunteers and are constantly being upgraded. They serve as a resource for gardeners, Master Naturalists, and nature lovers to learn about the vital relationship between local plants, ecosystems, and the “inhabitants” of the wetlands on the CVWR.
Work in the garden is primarily conducted between April and November. If you are interested in learning about refuge plants, want to establish your own native garden, or just enjoy gardening, please join us.
Elizabeth Olmo is the lead gardener and can be reached by text at 703-869-9856 or via email at olmoed57@gmail.com. Please include “CVWR Native Garden” in the subject line of any inquiries.Refuge Native Garden. More information coming to this site soon. Thank you for your patience.