Carl Zenger receiving Interagency Volunteer Pass from Anthony Leger, Regional Chief NWRS, Region 5.

Carl Zenger of Lockport, New York, became the first volunteer at Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge, and the first in the Northeast Region, to receive the new Interagency Volunteer Pass on April 14 at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Northeast Region Friends Conference held in Philadelphia, PA.  Anthony Leger, Chief of Refuges for the Service's Northeast Region, presented Carl with the pass in recognition of accumulating 500 volunteer hours at the refuge since January 1, 2007.  The Interagency Volunteer Pass is one of four new passes established under the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act passed by congress in December 2004.

Carl began volunteering at the refuge in 1996 and has accrued over 6000 hours.   A member of the New York Blue Bird Society, Carl organizes and trains other volunteers to help monitor and maintain approximately 80 blue bird nest boxes throughout the summer.   He also assists in habitat management projects, carpentry, building maintenance and many other areas.  Carl is one of the founding members and current president of the Friends of Iroquois NWR, Inc. (FOINWR).  FOINWR is a non-profit organization that works to support wildlife conservation and education programs on Iroquois NWR.  The founding members of the organization were refuge volunteers who saw the need to increase awareness of the refuge, to advocate and to generate funds for refuge programs.

Volunteers are an integral part of accomplishing the goals of the refuge.  Volunteers help with public use programs including programs for school groups, junior hunters, trail maintenance, special events, staffing the visitor contact station and managing the Flyway Nature Shop.  Some volunteers assist with management projects such as habitat and water management.