Updated 10/14/19
About
John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum is America’s First Urban Refuge and was established in 1972 for the purpose of preserving, restoring, and developing the natural area known as Tinicum Marsh, to promote environmental education, and to afford visitors an opportunity to study wildlife in its natural habitat.
The refuge houses healthy and productive expanses of freshwater tidal marsh, open waters, mudflats, and woodlands support the hundreds of species that breed, rear their young, rest during migration, or call the refuge home year-round.
The refuge leads by example in the conservation of freshwater tidal marsh within the Delaware Estuary but more importantly, in providing environmental education in Philadelphia and Delaware Counties. Also, given its accessibility and visibility to over 1,700,00 million people living within 10 miles of the refuge and more than 35 million Americans living within a 2-hours drive, the refuge serves as a prominent ambassador of the National Wildlife Refuge System. Its high-quality programs promote natural and cultural resource stewardship, demonstrate wildlife habitat management, encourage compatible outdoor public use, and provide a living classroom to connect both schools and communities with nature and local history.
Volunteer opportunities
All prospective volunteers should download and complete a Volunteer Application and submit it to the refuge’s Volunteer Coordinator, David Stoughton. Forms may be submitted via email to johnheinznwr@fws.gov or in-person. This application will be forwarded to appropriate refuge staff who will determine how your talents can be best used at Heinz Refuge. Training for all positions will be provided.
Volunteer opportunities can be found at: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/John_Heinz/what_we_do/get_involved.html.
Directions on how to get to the refuge can be found at https://www.fws.gov/refuge/John_Heinz/visit/directions.html
Website: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/John_Heinz/
Phone: 215-365-3118
Email: johnheinznwr@fws.gov