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
Get more out of your experience at Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge, 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
This section will contain information about the Refuge Native Garden. More information coming to this site soon. Thank you for your patience.