Want to make a real impact in raptor conservation?
Volunteer Opportunities
At the International Raptor & Falconry Center, every volunteer plays a vital role in the mission in making the world a better place for raptors. Our volunteers prepare diets, help maintain enclosures, support live education programs, greet participants and even work toward advanced opportunities in bird care and public education.
Because volunteers join IRFC with different goals, we offer two distinct pathways.
Raptor Conservation & Falconry Leadership Track
Designed for individuals seeking a long-term career in raptor conservation, falconry, environmental education and nonprofit leadership. This selective track provides mentorship, professional development, and a pathway to advanced responsibilities and potential paid employment within IRFC.
Please review both opportunities carefully and apply for the track that best aligns with your goals, interests and level of commitment.
IRFC is in a stage of active growth, which means the individual who steps up, proves themselves, and is committed to building this into a career will have significant opportunity for advancement. There is no ceiling.
A Note About the RCFL Track
The RCFP Track is designed for individuals who are serious about building a career in raptor conservation, falconry and environmental education.
Although IRFC has secured funding for a part-time paid position, with a real goal of hiring our first paid person, this is not an entry-level job posting. Rather, it is a pathway for identifying and developing the right person for that role.
Working with birds of prey requires specialized knowledge, sound judgment and experience that cannot be learned in a few weeks or months. Those skills are developed through mentorship, hands-on experience, self-directed study and a demonstrated commitment to doing things the right way.
For that reason, participants begin as volunteers while they develop the knowledge, skills, and professional habits necessary for success. During this time, they receive mentorship and real-world experience that is simply not available through a traditional classroom or degree program.
The part-time (full-time future) paid position will be offered to the individual who consistently demonstrates the temperament, work ethic, reliability, initiative and professionalism required to become an integral part of IRFC. The transition to paid employment may occur quickly for the right person, (that is our hope) but it is based on demonstrated readiness; not simply time served.
This track is built on mutual investment. IRFC invests significant time, mentorship and expertise into developing the right individual. In return, participants are expected to invest in themselves through hard work, independent learning, and a long-term commitment to professional growth.
IF THIS IS YOUR TRACK, PLEASE SCROLL DOWN TO GET MORE INFORMATION!
Core Conservation Volunteer
Ideal for individuals who want to make a meaningful contribution to raptor conservation through education programs, events, facility support, fundraising, administration and other essential behind-the-scenes work. This track is perfect for those who want to give back to the conservation community while supporting IRFC's mission but doesn’t want to make a career out of it.
Core Conservation Volunteers are the backbone of IRFC. They help make every educational program, public event and conservation effort possible.
Volunteer opportunities may include:
Supporting live education programs and public events
Assisting with participant check-in and guest services
Preparing diets and enrichment
Assisting with the day-to-day needs of training and caring for a team of raptors
Cleaning and maintaining mews and facilities
Administrative support
Fundraising and special projects
Photography, videography, graphic design, writing, marketing and social media
Facility improvement and maintenance
Transportation and event logistics
No previous raptor experience is required.
We are looking for dependable individuals who enjoy meaningful work, value teamwork and want to contribute to raptor conservation. While some volunteers may eventually progress into additional responsibilities, the primary goal of this role is supporting IRFC's mission through reliable service.
If you simply want to make a difference for raptors and conservation, this is the perfect place to start.
The onsite location is ~30 mins outside Flagstaff. We are planning to move to the Sedona area in the future.
For this track please apply here:
*If you apply and don’t hear anything for a few days; please send a follow up email! I receive a tremendous amount of emails and SPAM so, your application could have been unintentionally buried. If it is during the flying season (Sept - March), I could be in the field and haven’t looked at email in who knows how long.
Raptor Conservation & Falconry Leadership Track
What You Gain
Volunteering at IRFC is not simply “helping out” - it is an opportunity to gain access to knowledge, training and mentorship that cannot be found in any formal degree program.
Falconry, raptor handling and professional raptor education are fields learned through direct mentorship and experience, not classrooms. At IRFC, you will be working alongside a Master Falconer, PhD scientist and Educator with over 20 years of experience, gaining insight into raptor behavior, care, training and conservation at a level far beyond typical volunteer roles.
This is a mutual exchange: your time, effort and reliability in return for exposure to a highly specialized field, real-world experience and the opportunity to develop skills that can lead to future roles in conservation, falconry and wildlife education.
Those who show dedication and initiative will gain access to deeper learning, increased responsibility and opportunities that are simply not available elsewhere.
Growth & Opportunity
All roles at IRFC begin as volunteer positions. However, IRFC has secured funding for a part-time paid position, which will be filled from within the volunteer pool.
This position will be offered to the individual who demonstrates strong potential early on as well as someone who shows reliability, discipline, initiative and the ability to work independently without constant direction. The right person may move into this role quickly once they prove themselves capable of meeting IRFC’s standards.
Training and mentorship are provided, but self-directed learning is required. Individuals are expected to actively seek out knowledge, study and improve on their own time without prompting.
Due to federal permitting requirements, individuals who are actively pursuing (or wanting to) falconry and working toward becoming a falconer may be given priority, as this aligns with the pathway required to become a subpermittee under U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service regulations.
These opportunities are not given, they are earned through:
Consistent performance and follow-through
Demonstrated reliability and independence
A willingness to go above and beyond expectations
Initiative in learning and improving outside of scheduled time
IRFC invests deeply in the right people. If you are driven, disciplined and committed, there is no ceiling to what you can build here.
The onsite location is ~30 mins outside Flagstaff. We are planning to move to the Sedona area in the future.
*If you apply and don’t hear anything for a few days; please send a follow up email! I receive a tremendous amount of emails and SPAM so, your application could have been unintentionally buried. If it is during the flying season (Sept - March), I could be in the field and haven’t looked at email.