During the summer, regular weekly programs are conducted for the general public. Other times, special conducted programs are offered for school groups. Guided canoe tours are conducted for a fee March through November each year, both as educational tools and as a means of creating a funding base for other Refuge needs. These tours are jointly sponsored by the Refuge and by the Coastal Wildlife Refuge Society. Often, volunteers who conduct programs are local folks who can devote a day or more each week, or interns who are available on a full time basis.
All refuges have an on-going maintenance program for trail work and signs.
Alligator River is no exception. A research project that examined the regeneration of stands of Atlantic white cedar that dominated this land before logging has recently been completed. A great deal of biological, management, and maintenance activities occur on the Refuge year-round. Assistance can be used with surveys, banding, administrative, and maintenance work. It's a great way to learn about the many facets of both Alligator River and Pea Island Refuges.