Volunteer to make a meaningful contribution to prairie conservation.
Volunteers play a vital role in supporting American Prairie’s conservation efforts. Whether it's removing fences, monitoring bison calves, or assisting at the National Discovery Center, volunteers actively restore habitat and educate the public about the importance of Montana’s short-grass prairie ecosystem.
Looking for a remote, virtual way to volunteer?
Identify wildlife spotted by trail cameras on prairie lands! This citizen science project supports our Cameras for Conservation program and is hosted on the Zooniverse platform.
You can volunteer virtually from any location through our new wildlife identification citizen science project! By analyzing photos captured by trail cameras for our Cameras for Conservation program, you can help identify the diverse wildlife of the prairie. A simple tutorial will guide you through identifying species like bighorn sheep, badgers, wolves, and bobcats. Click here now to start identifying, using the Zooniverse platform.
Absolutely! We encourage individuals of all backgrounds to apply for our fieldwork opportunities. While the projects can be physically demanding, American Prairie staff will provide comprehensive training to ensure you can complete the work safely and efficiently. If you have questions or concerns about a project, please email our Volunteer Manager.
For some volunteer projects, such as fence removal and prairie dog dusting, lodging in the form of tent sites, cabins, or bunk rooms may be provided to volunteers. The type of accommodations depends on the location of fieldwork and will be shared with all volunteers prior to the trip.
No, transportation to the field sites is not provided by American Prairie. Volunteers will meet at a given location on the prairie to begin the fieldwork project. Any travel that is required on site after arrival will be provided by staff in American Prairie vehicles. If the cost of travel to field sites presents a barrier to participation, please email us to discuss special circumstances.
Depending on the trip, some snacks and an evening meal may be provided to volunteers. This information will be shared with all volunteers ahead of time. However, volunteers are generally responsible for bringing their own food on fieldwork trips. Since our field sites are in remote locations, we strongly recommend that volunteers bring all necessary food with them from home or purchase supplies in Lewistown, MT before heading to the field.
You are welcome to bring a pair of work gloves if you have them. Otherwise, all tools and equipment will be provided.
Anyone interested in joining the fieldwork trips must apply individually, but we strongly encourage families and friends to apply together. Given the physical nature of fieldwork, we recommend that volunteers be at least 14 years old. Please note that, due to limited lodging space, we are unable to accommodate individuals who are not accepted volunteers on the trip. If your family wishes to book separate lodging with American Prairie and stay nearby to sightsee, they are welcome to do so.
For more general FAQs on American Prairie and our work, please visit our main FAQ page. For anything else, please email us.
