Earlier this year we shared an overview of programming, projects and work that APF is committed to each year. As we continue to share our mission, we want to dive deeper into these aspects and provide as much information as possible to help you get involved with making our parks, trails and green spaces better!
Here at Austin Parks Foundation we have various ways to get involved – volunteering, adopting a park or donating financially. All of these are great options but may not be right for you.
Maybe you want to be involved more than a volunteer role allows, but you don’t have enough time to adopt a park. No problem! The APF Ambassador Program may be exactly what you’re looking for!
The Ambassador Program allows you to play a pivotal role in strengthening our city’s parks.
About the APF Ambassador Program:
APF Ambassadors are trained volunteers who serve as representatives of Austin Parks Foundation. Our ambassadors allow us to expand our capacity to participate in community events across the city, address needs in diverse communities, and increase awareness about APF and the resources we offer.
Ellen Beaman, an Ambassador since March 2021, was drawn to the program due to her love of playing in parks during her childhood. The impact parks had on her as a child stuck with her, and she was looking for a way to give back.
Ellen Beaman enjoying a night with fellow Ambassadors during a happy hour.
“Volunteerism is really important to me, and becoming an APF Ambassador provided a great opportunity to connect with other volunteers who want to support the stewardship of Austin’s amazing parks system.”
Beaman is excited to get more involved as the program continues to grow. She says she’s realized there’s more to APF than meets the eye, and enjoys educating the public on how they can get involved as an advocate for parks.
As more events come back into our parks, our Ambassador group becomes more important than ever. As an organization, we have the ability to spread out and create a presence across the city with Ambassadors tabling and volunteering.
Ambassadors are required to participate in a minimum of four outreach or tabling events per year. These events range from advocacy to It’s My Park Day project leads and beyond. As an Ambassador you also receive early access to volunteer for APF-related events, like Party for the Parks, Austin City Limits Music Festival and more.
For Bob Foster and his wife, Lois, becoming Ambassadors just made sense. Bob and Lois have been involved with APF since the early ‘90s! They were part of park projects long before It’s My Park Day was created. For the Fosters, becoming Ambassadors allowed them to expand their efforts to support parks.
“Just like Austin, there is a diverse group of Ambassadors, and you will learn so much more about all the various parks and activities available in Austin.”
Bob Foster and fellow Ambassador, Lorna Lewis, catch up at Cosmic Coffee during an Ambassador Happy Hour.
For more information on how you can join the Ambassador Program – contact Alejandro Hernandez-Gonzalez, Community Engagement Manager at ambassadors@austinparks.org or visit austinparks.org/become-an-ambassador.