With generous contributions from members and donors, the Friends of Malheur develop and support a variety of outreach activities that foster a connection between Malheur Refuge and our local communities. These outreach initiatives are achieved through nature and wildlife programs, educational scholarships, and Refuge internships. Here are just a few of our annual programs.
- Education
- Scholarships
- Internships
Education
Artist in Residence-Youth Wildlife Art Program
In the Spring, Friends of Malheur NWR sponsors the A.I.R. Program which is a dynamic arts and science initiative designed to teach youth about migratory birds, their habitat needs, and to learn a new creative art technique. Ultimately, the program encourages students in kindergarten through 8th grade to observe, understand, and share what they have learned about migratory birds and conservation through art.
Classrooms throughout Harney County are visited by a Malheur Refuge staff member who teaches the students about migratory birds, their habitat needs, and wildlife conservation while the Friends' sponsored A.I.R. instructor teaches creative art techniques to foster a lifelong appreciation for art and wildlife. In recognition of their artistic efforts, the student’s artwork is displayed at the annual Harney County Migratory Bird Festival and in storefronts throughout Burns and Hines.
Program Partners
In rural communities where educational resources can be more limited, the success of special programs such as A.I.R. is the result of collaboration among community partners.
Artist in Residence-Youth Wildlife Art
Support from these Sponsors has helped make this education program possible.
Sponsorships Available
Bird Scouts
Bird Scouts is a collaborative effort to create accessible bird and nature themed educational activities for the youth and families of Harney County. Friends of Malheur NWR and Portland Audubon hosts quarterly Bird Scouts events that provide seasonally appropriate activities and project materials to participants.
- Spring: World Migratory Bird Day
- Summer: Bird Days of Summer
- Fall: October Big Day
- Winter: CBC4Kids
Materials for and additional information about each event can be found seasonally at the Harney County Library. Packets are also provided to Slater Elementary School’s Bird Scouts Afterschool Club. When participants complete an activity module or participate in an event, they earn a new Bird Patch to add to their collection.
In addition to the quarterly Bird Scout events, Explore Packs that utilize learning materials are available to check out at the Harney County Library and the Crane’s Nest Nature Center at Refuge Headquarters.
Program Partners
Together we are working to create more inclusive and accessible nature-themed education and exploration opportunities for Harney County Youth.
Bird Scouts and Explorer Pack Sponsors
Support from these organizations and individual donors has made Bird Scouts and Explorer Packs possible.
Become a Sponser
Scholarships
Supporting Our Student Scholarships
In 2018, the Friends of Malheur established a $1,000 scholarship award to be given to a Harney County High School graduate seeking higher education in Wildlife Biology, Natural Resources, or other Conservation related field of study. The Friends of Malheur believe to secure a future for our public lands, we must invest in future conservationists. Harney County “Support Our Students” manages the application process and along with funds from other local memorial funds, foundations, and organizations makes the annual scholarship awards. Each Spring we celebrate the student that receives our annual scholarship by featuring them in the monthly newsletter.
SOS-Support Our Students Scholarship
Support from these Sponsors has helped make this scholarship program possible.
Sponsorships Available
Become a Sponser
Internships
Summer Internships
Summer is a busy time as it is the peak activity period for most of the Refuge’s field research and visitor services projects. When funding is available the Friends of Malheur sponsors student interns that assist the Refuge staff in conducting a broad array of interesting projects including aquatic vegetation surveys, bird banding and bird surveys, invertebrate inventories, Carp population surveys, and a myriad of other interesting biological and visitor services studies.
Besides providing important help to Refuge staff and the Friends of Malheur, Interns get an opportunity to gain valuable field and Refuge service experience while at the same time furthering their education. As students complete their education in conservation biology, natural resources or other related fields and seek a career, internships play an important role in providing real world experiences necessary to achieve their personal and professional goals. The Friends are proud to part of our intern’s journey.
If you are interested in providing financial assistance to support our internship program, please contact Janelle Wicks, Executive Director at director@malheurfriends.org.
For current internship opportunities visit our job opportunities page.
Interns Past and Present
- Linh Nguyen, Non-Profit Management Intern 2020 (Read about Linh )
- Ryan Robles, Biological Intern 2020 (Read about Ryan)
- Nick Varvel, Biological Intern 2017 (Read about Nick)
- Thomas Meizen, Biological Intern 2016 (Read about Thomas)
- Jess Laney, Biological Intern 2016 (Read about Jess)
Become a Sponser
Be a Malheur Refuge Advocate.
You can become a Malheur Refuge champion by joining the Friends of Malheur and together we can advocate for a secure and more prosperous future for Malheur National Wildlife Refuge and our national wildlife refuge system.
