Volunteer

The many projects and programs of the Austin Parks Foundation can use your help! Volunteers of all skills and interests are always needed. Sign up for our volunteer list to receive notice of special projects and time-sensitive volunteer openings.

Upcoming Events

Saturday, July 12, 8:30 AM to 12:00 PM
Wild Basin Preserve
Land Management Work Day
Help out Wild Basin with trail maintenance, invasive plant removal, revegetation, erosion control, and other land management projects. For more details, e-mail hike@wildbasin.org or call 512-327-7622, ext 17.

Saturday, July 12, 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Mayfield Park and Preserve
Monthly Gardening Project
Enjoy beautiful Mayfield Park and help keep the gardens in tip-top shape at monthly volunteer days. Bring a trowel, gloves and garden clippers if you have them. Contact Barbara Watt at 477-6031 or prskid3@aol.com if you have questions.

Saturday, July 19, 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Homedale Access Trail @ Barton Creek Greenbelt
Volunteer Workday with the Greenbelt Guardians
We’ll be doing the invasives removal jive and entry trail grading and prep for the granite/poly mix to be laid in October. RSVP to Gleeful (at) earthlink dot net

Sunday, July 20, 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Shoal Creek Greenbelt - Lower
Mini Night Crawler - Clear Gravel from Trail
Join us for a mini-night crawler event on Sunday, July from 7 to 9 pm. There's gravel and slit covering portions of the trail south of 5th St on the east side. We'll meet at the West Ave Bridge, just south of 5th St at the trail ramp. We'll supply shovels, gloves, water jugs, bring a water bottle.

Saturday, July 26, 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Hornsby Bend Bird Observatory
Ecological Literacy Day at Hornsby Bend
Combining volunteer work with learning about local ecology, the day begins with several hours of outdoor work - ranging from trail maintenance to habitat restoration to work in the native plant nursery - and ends with at least an hour of learning about local ecology - birds, bugs, and more! Wear boots and work clothing, and be sure to bring your binoculars. For more information contact: Kevin Anderson at Kevin.Anderson@ci.austin.tx.us or 512-972-1960

Saturday, July 26, 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Beverly S. Sheffield Northwest District Park
Pond Clean Up
Volunteers will remove algae and trash in and around the fishing pond. Volunteers of all ages are welcome, but if you're planning on getting wet (no swimming!) dress appropriately. Bring your kayak or canoe if you have one,leaf rakes, pool skimmers or any other tool that might help pull the algae off the pond’s surface. This is right by NW Pool, so pack a swim suit for a post-clean up swim! RSVP to Malcolm.jr@gmail.com or me@linneakay.com

Saturday, August 9, 8:30 AM to 12:00 PM
Wild Basin Preserve
Land Management Work Day
Help out Wild Basin with trail maintenance, invasive plant removal, revegetation, erosion control, and other land management projects. For more details, e-mail hike@wildbasin.org or call 512-327-7622, ext 17.

Saturday, August 9, 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Mayfield Park and Preserve
Monthly Gardening Project
Enjoy beautiful Mayfield Park and help keep the gardens in tip-top shape at monthly volunteer days. Bring a trowel, gloves and garden clippers if you have them. Contact Barbara Watt at 477-6031 or prskid3@aol.com if you have questions.

Saturday, August 23, 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Hornsby Bend Bird Observatory
Ecological Literacy Day at Hornsby Bend
Combining volunteer work with learning about local ecology, the day begins with several hours of outdoor work - ranging from trail maintenance to habitat restoration to work in the native plant nursery - and ends with at least an hour of learning about local ecology - birds, bugs, and more! Wear boots and work clothing, and be sure to bring your binoculars. For more information contact: Kevin Anderson at Kevin.Anderson@ci.austin.tx.us or 512-972-1960

Ongoing Volunteer Opportunities and Events

Escape from Your Desk (and See Your Boss Sweat)

Did you know Austin Parks Foundation offers park volunteer days for corporate and civic groups? Give us a call and we'll set up a weekday or weekend workday for you and your ~~closest friends~~ coworkers. Ask for Rosie or Charlie at 477-1566. Get some fresh air and make a difference for Austin's parks.

Be a Park Superhero!

Want to be a superhero? You don't have to be bitten by a radioactive spider to get started! We're looking for individuals with the skills and motivation to:

Adopt one of Austin's 209 parks
Provide on-site guidance to neighborhood or community groups working on their neighborhood parks

Ready to get started ? Call us at 477-1566 to talk park power.

Preserve Preserves!

Volunteer opportunities at 15 different preserve areas include: ecological restoration, construction of trails, invasive species research and suppression, educational programs, biodiversity research, wildlife and habitat monitoring, native plant propagation and native plant rescues. To learn more, contact Rene Barrera or visit www.ci.austin.tx.us/cepreserves/vol_opty.htm

Volunteer at Texas State Parks

A list of upcoming volunteer opportunities at State Parks can be found on the Texas Parks and Wildlife website.

Support Farmers at the Austin Farmers' Market

Volunteers are needed for a wide variety of Market tasks on Saturdays. Visit www.austinfarmersmarket.org for more information.

Make a Move for Giant Chess

Knee-High Chess is available for public use at Wooldridge Square on Saturdays, from 12:30pm-3:30pm(subject to availability of the park). Volunteers are needed for set-up and monitoring on an ongoing basis (chess skills not required, but welcome!). To volunteer or find out more, contact Scott Johnson (447 - 4595) or Chris Riley

Be a Land Manager - or Just Look Like One!

If you or a group you belong to would like to volunteer on Balcones Canyon Land Preserve or Water Quality Protection Lands (Prop2 lands) e-mail Gail McGlamery, Austin Water Utility's Wildland Conservation Division volunteer coordinator, or call 263-6437.

Get to Know the Animals at Austin Nature and Science Center

Volunteers are needed year round for the Austin Nature and Science Center. Volunteer Opportunities at the ANSC include working with the horticulturist on the ANSC's 15 acre site and assisting with care and feeding of the animals. Call or email Kathy Maddox at 327-8181 to sign up. Visit the City of Austin Parks & Recreation Department's Austin Nature and Science Center home page for more information.

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