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Summary of Approved
Volunteer Service Projects for the
Coastal Prairie Chapter
August 2019
Contact anyone on the VSP Committee if you have questions:
Terri Hurley – VSP Director at [email protected]
Ella Stroupe at [email protected]
Katie Sallean at [email protected]
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
GENERAL INFORMATION ON VOLUNTEER SERVICE PROJECTS
OUR SIGNATURE PROJECT: Seabourne Creek Nature Park
OUR SIGNATURE EVENT: Seabourne Nature Fest
CPCTMN PARTNERS:
Attwater Prairie Chicken NWR Brazos Bend State Park Brazos River Authority Coastal Prairie Partnership Fort Bend County Engineering Fort Bend Museum George Ranch Historical Park Houston Audubon Society James B. Harrison Foundation Katy Prairie Conservancy Long Acres Ranch Monarch Gateway Project Native Plant Society of Texas Rosenberg Development Corporation Rosenberg Parks & Rec Department Sugar Land, City of Texas Commission on Environmental Quality United State Dept of Agriculture-Natural Resources Conservation Services
OTHER APPROVED VOLUNTEER SERVICE PROJECTS:
Ag’Tivity Barn Angler Education Workshops Chapter Business Christmas Bird Counts Community Contact/Conversations Community Nature/Public Access Community Presentations County Recycling Centers Fulshear, City of Great Backyard Bird Count Gulf Coast Bird Observatory Houston Arboretum and Nature Center Houston Museum of Natural Science: Houston or Sugar Land iNaturalist, eBird, other Citizen Science Projects Katy, City of Keep America Beautiful Missouri City Monarch Watch Nature Conservancy in Texas Non-school Youth Outreach Onsite School Education Outreach Rosenberg, City of Texas Parks & Wildlife Department
SEABOURNE CREEK ORGANIZATIONAL LEADERSHIP
VOLUNTEER SERVICE PROJECT PROPOSAL FORM
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COASTAL PRAIRIE CHAPTER OF TEXAS MASTER NATURALISTS (CPCTMN)
GENERAL INFO ON VOLUNTEER SERVICE PROJECTS
Volunteer service is the main mission of our chapter and there are always interesting and meaningful opportunities for you to make a significant contribution to our community. In order to become initially certified and to maintain your annual certification, CPCTMN members must complete at least 40 hours of approved volunteer service each year. These volunteer projects may be a series of short experiences or they may involve the long-term efforts of a volunteer team. They may involve completing an onsite nature-related project or providing outreach to the public at a local event. In fact, there are few constraints for Texas Master Naturalist volunteer projects. Volunteer projects must be approved in advance by the Volunteer Service Director in order to have the hours worked count towards your certification.
Which VSPs have been already been approved?
This document summarizes the Volunteer Service Projects (VSP) that have already been approved by our chapter. For more details on upcoming events or activities, be sure to check the Events Calendar on the CPCTMN website on a regular basis.
Where can I volunteer?
You can volunteer anywhere in the state of Texas. Our chapter’s territory covers Fort Bend and Waller counties. Volunteering in these counties is preferred over any other Texas county. Time volunteering in other counties is limited to 20 hours per year towards your annual certification requirement of 40 hours. Time volunteering in states other than Texas is not allowed under any circumstances.
What is outreach?
Outreach to the public is important to all TMN chapters. There are two types of outreach: indirect and direct. Indirect outreach is when you talk informally, unscheduled to the general public. Several examples of indirect outreach are talking about bats to the visitors at a CPCTMN booth at a festival, or when you are working in one of the SCNP areas and a park visitor asks about what you are doing, and you answer. Direct outreach is when you formally present a scheduled talk to an audience. Examples of direct outreach are giving a talk on monarch butterflies at the general meeting of the Sugar Land Garden Club or teaching a third-grade class about recycling at Colony Bend Elementary.
What if I have an idea for a new VSP?
All VSPs must be approved by the Volunteer Service Project Director in advance of receiving hours for your work. If you have a new project idea that you want to propose, please fill out the “Volunteer Service Project Proposal Form” stored in the “Chapter Forms” section of the CPCTMN website and email it to VSP Director Terri Hurley at [email protected] for evaluation and final determination. Proposed VSPs are evaluated using the following factors:
Is the proposed service project representative of the goals, practices and teachings of the Texas Master Naturalist Program?
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How does the project address a pressing naturalist, natural resource management, chapter and/or partner need for meaningful service or resources?
What is the scope of the project in terms of when it would need to be conducted, where, estimated time needed to complete or maintain per month, how many Members would be needed, etc.?
Is the project within the chapter’s service area and ecological training? Is the project conducted on public or private lands? Consideration by the chapter may be given to a limited number of projects outside the chapter’s service area and ecological training if the project’s service is compatible with the mission, goals and training of the chapter and the TMN Program.
How does the project allow the chapter to focus and/or create visibility, identity and/or recruitment for the chapter? Does the opportunity allow the member(s) to represent the TMN program at all times?
How can the project’s impact on the community and our natural resources be measured?
Does the opportunity include fundraising for an organization other than the chapter or the TMN Program? Fundraising for other organizations is outside of the TMN mission.
Does the opportunity include lobbying, which is not acceptable under the TMN Mission?
Is the opportunity a “good opportunity” for the chapter and TMN program to be associated with?
What counts as volunteer time?
Volunteer hours include time spent onsite at an approved project or event, plus time spent on advance planning of the project at home or other location, research on the project on the internet, library, etc, and for reporting after the event, such as to citizen science databases or filling out Outreach Forms.
Does travel time count for VSP?
Travel time to the VSP site is allowed for credit as VSP, but it is limited to the actual number of hours volunteered. For example if it takes you 30 minutes to drive to Seabourne Creek Nature Park and you volunteer 2 hours in the Demo Garden and then you drive 30 minutes back home, you can record a total of 3 hours VSP (2 hours volunteer time plus 1 hour travel). But if you spend only 30 minutes at the Demo Garden, then you can only record 1 hour of VSP (30 minutes volunteer time plus 30 minutes allowed for travel).
What is a “WOW”?
WOW stands for Workshop on Wheels. Our chapter has curated several collections of themed display items that are used for outreach purposes. You may check-out any of our WOWs and take them to your outreach event. We also have tablecloths for the WOWs. The WOWs are stored in suitcases in our chapter's TMN office. Currently we have the following WOWs: Skins and skulls, Enviroscape, Birdwatching, Animal Tracks, Backyard Observations, and Bats. For example, the Backyard Observations WOW contains various items that one would use to observe the flora and fauna in one's backyard. We have field guides, binoculars, nets, microscope, camera, specimens such as insects, magnifying glass, etc. Each WOW also contains a notebook full of documents and scripts that can be used to present the WOW to elementary age kids.
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OUR SIGNATURE PROJECT: Seabourne Creek Nature Park
CPCTMN members have worked diligently for years to improve the natural resources, ecology and public enjoyment of the Seabourne Creek Nature Park (SCNP). With a 20-year vision we hope to create an environment for people to enjoy and explore nature, and for native plants and animals to flourish. SCNP is our most important project and we encourage all members to help out on projects there. Leaders of the areas are listed in the back of this document. Contact the leader of the area you want to work in. Unless otherwise noted, workdays at SCNP are held every Wednesday morning and on the first and third Saturdays of the month.
1. Floating Dock Project: We are in the process of installing a new dock in the lake near the Wetlands area. The dock frame has already been constructed and put in place. To complete this project, help is still needed to install the decking, railings and pathway to the ramp.
1. Butterfly Garden: This space is designed to provide host and nectar plants for numerous species of butterflies. Workday is on Monday morning. Help is needed for:
• Garden bed design, installation and maintenance
• Planting and growing out butterfly attracting plants.
• Repair of the irrigation system.
2. Seabourne Lake: A habitat for fish, ducks, water vegetation, and many other species, this 5-acre stocked lake is a perfect place to observe nature or train the next generation of anglers. You can help with:
• Fish stocking
• Maintaining the water level
• Maintaining trees & plants
3. Arboretum: There are dozens of native trees planted in the arboretum and we need to keep them healthy and growing. You can help with:
• On-going maintenance such as watering trees, taking out invasives in the tree lines.
• Tree planting, pruning and other horticultural needs.
• You could also make signage and brochures about the trees or birds or insects that use these trees in their lifecycles.
4. Prairie & Native Plant Demo Garden: This garden is the perfect “learning opportunity” for master naturalists because you will learn about habitat gardens for bees, butterflies, birds and hummingbirds. You learn about which plants are good for the different types of wildlife. Also, you will learn about what you can do to support these critters, such as bee houses, bird houses, bird baths and water features. Here’s how you can help:
• Adopt one of the habitat garden plots.
• Create permanent labels that identify the plants.
• Create informative signs to be placed in the garden such as “Leave the Leaf Litter” or “Leave bare ground for the native bees” etc.
• Plant new plants, ongoing maintenance such as pruning and weeding.
• Help is needed with future design ideas.
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5. Prairie Restoration Area: This 20-acre plot is being managed to return this old cotton field to the original native prairie it once was. Here are some of the projects available:
• Invasive plants need to be controlled with herbicide, also we want to remove other unwanted brush and trees.
• Plant native prairie plant species such as eastern gamagrass and bushy blue stem.
• Help maintain the plants in the greenhouse.
• Help with “bumping up” the plants into larger containers. At present, this is on hold since our nursery is full.
• Periodic prescribed burns are used to promote the growth of native flora.
6. Bird Sanctuary: This area of SCNP is designed to attract all types of birds to the park. To date, 203 species of birds have been seen in the park. Help is needed as follows:
• Maintain the bird feeders and the bird bath.
• Invasives need to be removed and native plants that attract birds need to be planted and maintained.
• Repair the bird blind with painting and roof repair.
• Build a new water feature.
7. Infrastructure: There are several projects that can use your help:
• Organize the work shed.
• Maintain irrigation systems.
• Clean signs throughout the park.
• Mow grassy areas with the riding lawnmower.
• Prairie path maintenance.
• Fix technical issues in the park.
8. Houston Wilderness Pollinator Project: The Houston Wilderness Pollinator Project is a grant that the City of Rosenberg received from Monarch Flyway and which was facilitated by the Houston Wilderness organization. The grant will allow us to install pollinator plants in the prairie. Opportunities include:
• Herbiciding and mowing the area of planting.
• Planting pollinator plants. Watering before and after planting.
• Publicity: we are thinking of asking Rosenberg’s Communications Director to publicize and hope to get a reporter to cover the first day of planting.
• Getting volunteers to help plant the plants.
9. Seabourne Photography: We need a photographer to take high resolution photos to help publicize the park and to document the work achieved by the chapter. Email photos to our Communications Director, web admin, Publicity Director and Facebook admins.
10. Seabourne Nature Walks: We’d like to get these monthly walks restarted. They are held on one Saturday each month. We need someone to be the leader on this project.
11. Edible/Medicinal Garden: This garden was started a few years ago, but development has stalled. We need someone to help get it going again.
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OUR SIGNATURE EVENT: Seabourne Nature Fest
Seabourne Nature Fest (SNF) is an annual event, free and open to the public, that highlights the flora and fauna of SCNP and provides an opportunity for outreach by other nature organizations. This is a major, well-attended event entirely organized by CPCTMN members and new trainees. Each year brings new and exciting demonstrations, booths and entertainment and even food! It is scheduled for the first Saturday in November. We need all hands-on deck to put this event on. It is the largest of its kind in all of the TMN program. There is also a broad publicity campaign for this event and ads appear in all local magazines, newspapers, online and state event calendars, school newsletters, etc.
Help is also needed in advance of the event for the planning committees. Plus, many members are needed onsite the days before, during and after the event.
Areas where you may volunteer on the actual day include welcome area, kid’s crafts, butterfly booth, wetlands booth, prairie booth, forest/bird booth, bat booth, plant booth, wagon masters, parking, give tours of the prairie or the bird sanctuary or the demo gardens, set up, take down, clean up, many others. You can sign up for a shift that is for a few hours or you can stay the entire day. You will be invited via SignUp Genius well in advance. Volunteers get a free lunch too. Maybe even a hat!
COASTAL PRAIRIE CHAPTER PARTNERS
CPCTMN partners consist of local or state non-profit organizations whose interests align with the goals of our chapter. We may call upon our partners for advice from time to time and they may support our chapter with financial or in-kind sponsorships for special projects or events. Partners provide this resource to us in exchange for our volunteer service. In special cases, partners can also be national non-profit or governmental organizations, but VSP hours are approved only for projects completed in the state of Texas. Each chapter partner has myriad opportunities for volunteers; just a few are listed here.
1. ATTWATER PRAIRIE CHICKEN NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE
Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge (APC-NWR) is a federally protected refuge with one of the largest remnants of coastal prairie remaining in southeast Texas and home to one of the last populations of the critically endangered Attwater's prairie chicken. The refuge needs help with maintenance and construction projects, computer/technology projects, biological surveys, administrative work, environmental education programs and visitor services. All volunteers are expected to sign a volunteer agreement and commit to a minimum of 40 hours per year of volunteer work individually, or in combination with a group. Volunteers are most needed during the spring, summer, and fall.
The APC-NWR also hosts the Booming and Blooming Festival held the second weekend in April and this event always needs volunteers.
For more information, contact Brandon Milton, assistant biologist at the refuge who coordinates with the TMN chapters.
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Contact Details for Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge:
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 519, Eagle Lake, Texas 77434
Physical Address: 1206 APC-NWR Road, Eagle Lake, Texas 77434
Phone: (979) 234-3021
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://attwater.org/
2. BRAZOS BEND STATE PARK
Brazos Bend State Park (BBSP) has 35 miles of trails and 5000 beautiful acres of protected land and is one of our chapter’s main partners. The BBSP Volunteer Organization offers a wide array of volunteer opportunities, any of which can be used for your 40 hours of VSP. Most will require that you complete BBSP’s own volunteer training program prior to participation, a 3-week course (Saturdays only) offered in September and February. Several Coastal Prairie Chapter members are active BBSP volunteers. The hours are flexible and there are myriad opportunities available.
Volunteer opportunities requiring BBSP training include leading formal scheduled hikes, trail interpretation and patrol, and nature center staffing. Master naturalists can give interpretive talks, guide hikes and interpret informally along trails. The next training class for volunteering at the BBSP will be held on Saturday Sept 14 and Saturday, September 21, 2019. Advance registration is required.
Volunteer projects that do not require training include trail maintenance, summer season water delivery to dry points in the park, woodyard work, fire ant treatment and Chinese tallow treatment.
Contact Sharon Hanzik at 979-553-5123 or David Heinicke at 979-553-5124 for more information.
Contact Details for Brazos Bend State Park Volunteer Organization:
Physical Address of BBSP: 21901 FM 762, Needville, Texas 77461
Phone: (979) 553-5101
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.brazosbend.org
3. BRAZOS RIVER AUTHORITY
The Brazos River Authority (BRA) exists to develop, manage and protect the water resources of the Brazos River basin. Today, the BRA’s staff of 250 develop and distribute water supplies, provide water and wastewater treatment, monitor water quality, and pursue water conservation through public education programs. Additional volunteer information will be published on our website when events or projects are announced.
Contact Details for the Brazos River Authority:
Physical Address of Central Office of BRA: 4600 Cobbs Drive, Waco, Texas 76710
Public Information Office Phone: (254) 761-3248
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.brazos.org/
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4. COASTAL PRAIRIE PARTNERSHIP
This organization works to save prairies in the coastal prairie region, mostly within the Beltway. Volunteer activities include maintenance of many local prairies or seed-collecting from native plants on the prairies. You can join their new Urban Prairies Team, a.k.a. the UP Team and help create and maintain a constellation of pocket prairies in Houston. These prairies are pivotal in building public understanding and to support wildlife. You can set your own volunteer schedule. View their Coastal Prairie Events Calendar for the many on-going volunteer opportunities.
Contact Details for the Coastal Prairie Partnership:
Mailing Address: PO Box: 540342, Houston, Texas 77254
Phone: (713) 581-0818
Email: [email protected]
Website: Prairiepartner.org
5. FORT BEND COUNTY ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
The Engineering Department provides comprehensive planning, design, mapping, and management services to ensure quality construction of private development, public roads, and public infrastructure to enhance public safety and quality of life in Fort Bend County. Currently there are no volunteer opportunities for this partner. If you are interested in volunteering for this group, contact Terri Hurley, VSP director.
Contact Details for the Fort Bend County Engineering Department:
Physical Address: 301 Jackson Street, 4th Floor, Richmond, Texas 77469
Phone: (281) 633-7500
Website: https://www.fortbendcountytx.gov
6. FORT BEND MUSEUM
The Fort Bend Museum opened its doors in 1972 and is owned and operated by the Fort Bend History Association, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to sharing and preserving Fort Bend County history. You can volunteer with this organization by joining their Docent Society and becoming a docent for the museum. You can help give house tours, lead school programs or help them with administrative work. You can dress up as a pioneer or help them with bulk mailings.
The museum hosts the Brazos Cultural Heritage Festival in March of each year and our chapter has an outreach booth presenting any one of our nature displays. You may also volunteer for their “Digging into the Past” field trips for school children. Students encounter archeology and delve into our community's history by learning the basics of archeology, viewing artifacts and taking part in a simulated dig. Contact volunteer coordinator Anna Alicia Estrada for more information.
Contact Details for the Fort Bend Museum:
Physical Address: 500 Houston Street, Richmond, Texas 77469
Phone: (281) 342-6478
Email: Anna Alicia Estrada at [email protected]
Website: https://www.fortbendmuseum.org/
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7. GEORGE RANCH HISTORICAL PARK
The George Ranch Historical Park is a 20,000-acre working ranch and living history site that authentically preserves and interprets the four-generation story of the Mamie and Albert George family. The ranch home where the Georges lived for most of their lives has been restored by The George Foundation and furnished with much of the family’s furniture and personal belongings.
You can help with their special events such as Texian Market Days, or their Saturday Spotlights or you can volunteer on a regular basis at the ranch. You can help with the group’s special events by being a story-teller about the wild animals that lived on the ranch years ago, or what the prairies looked like back then, or tell about the edible native plants the Georges and their ranch staff might have eaten or how they could have lived off the land with hunting and fishing. You could staff an outreach booth during these events that promotes our chapter and displays some of our nature exhibits. You could be one of their Historic Artisans and use skills you already possess or wish to learn – native plant gardening, rangeland ecology and management, archeology– and use them to improve the Ranch.
There is a volunteer form to complete on the group’s website. When needed, George Ranch will reach out to our chapter for help and details will be on our calendar.
Contact Details for the George Ranch:
Physical Address: 10215 FM 762, Richmond, Texas 77469
Phone: (281) 343-0218
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.georgeranch.org/
8. HOUSTON AUDUBON SOCIETY
Houston Audubon Society (HAS) is a conservation, education and advocacy non-profit that focuses on protecting the natural environment for birds and people. A significant part of their work is owning and managing nature sanctuaries to protect habitat for birds and provide people recreational opportunities in nature.
You can volunteer in one of many ways:
1. Community Relations/Development Volunteers: assist with donor events, contribute to social media postings, write press releases.
2. Sanctuary Volunteers: High Island Workdays, planting events at any of their urban or coastal sanctuaries, coastal prairie restoration projects, Bolivar Beach clean-ups, High Island spring kiosk volunteers, beach nesting monitor and steward, assist the HAS staff with gardening and conservation projects.
3. Edith Moore Nature Sanctuary Volunteers: Audubon docents for youth and family programs, workdays, Tuesday Trail Crew, work in the HAS office with administrative tasks, library, greeting visitors, and answering birding questions, special events.
4. Raptor and Education Center Volunteers: assist the HAS education team with programs both at Sims and other outreach events, help at the Sims Nature Store or Sims Gardens.
5. Festival and Booth Volunteers: HAS is constantly in demand at nature festivals and events throughout the Upper Texas Coast. Lots of help is needed.
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6. Citizen Science: Calling all birders! Help is needed for bird counts, surveys, and field trips.
There is an application form to be filled out and a volunteer orientation meeting held once a month. Contact Lauren Miheli for more information.
Contact Details for Houston Audubon Headquarters at the Edith L Moore Sanctuary:
Physical Address: 440 Wilchester Blvd, Houston, Texas 77079
Phone: (713)932-1639
Email: Lauren Miheli at [email protected]
Website: https://houstonaudubon.org/
9. JAMES B HARRISON FOUNDATION
James Burr Harrison created this foundation to benefit the citizens of Fort Bend and Wharton Counties. Jim loved the land and put extraordinary effort into stewardship, conservation and restoration. Jim planted and nurtured thousands of trees and created, improved and restored a variety of habitats. The James B Harrison Foundation currently offers two charitable use properties: one in Fort Bend and one in Wharton County.
The Foundation offers these properties as a venue for organizations involved in education and research for land and wildlife conservation, appreciation of nature and sustainability.
The types of volunteer projects offered include leading or assisting nature and bird walks, wildlife and fisheries projects, boy and girl scouts badge requirements, youth camping, bird and wildlife counts, conservation or land management workshops or field days and research by non-profits and school groups.
Many special events are offered throughout the year and you can volunteer at just about any of them: Christmas Bird Count, iNaturalist City Challenge, Spring and Fall Bird Counts, Ducks Unlimited Conservation Days, Colonial Water Bird Surveys. Information on these events will be posted in our Events Calendar. Or contact Hannah Meugge, Charitable Activities Director, by email.
Contact Details for James B. Harrison Foundation:
Physical Address: 8200 Whaley-Long Point Road, Richmond, Texas 77469
Email: Hannah Meugge at [email protected]
Website: https://www.jbhfound.org/
10. KATY PRAIRIE CONSERVANCY
The Katy Prairie Conservancy (KPC) is a non-profit group whose mission is to conserve land for nature in the Katy Prairie. Volunteer opportunities that our members have participated in have included working in the KPC plant nursery, helping with family events, removing invasive plants, handyman type work, seed collecting, growing prairie plants at home.
They always need help with tasks like the physical labor of removing invasive species and planting all year round in the KPC prairies. It is demanding, but can be rewarding, for those able to participate. The nursery has undergone irrigation improvements and some general refurbishing recently. Much of that work was completed with help from some wonderful Coastal Prairie volunteers. They will have plenty of work for volunteers to help grow the many plants they need to continue restoring the public preserves and prairies.
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In addition to the above activities, which are constant throughout the year, they have other volunteer activities that occur on a more sporadic basis. They have added monthly walking tours as a volunteer option. A guide training program is in the works to be led by Alisa Kline who helps at the Buffalo Bayou Park. They have several public outreach opportunities such as events like the KPC morning at the Houston Botanic Garden. KPC offers speakers on topics such as “Plants for Pollinators” and “Birds of the Katy Prairie” which can sometimes use an extra pair of hands to facilitate, depending on the venue and expected attendance. There is a volunteer application form on the KPC website.
Contact Details for Katy Prairie Conservancy Field Office:
Physical Address: 31975 Hebert Road, Waller, Texas 77484
Phone: (713) 523-6135 Ext 4032
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.katyprairie.org/
11. LONG ACRES RANCH
Long Acres Ranch (LAR) is a privately-owned venue spanning 768 acres and 2.5 miles of undeveloped land along the Brazos River in Fort Bend County. The property serves primarily as an outdoor learning laboratory or venue for area educators, scouts, and other organizations involved in environmental, earth science and related educational programs with similar missions. It is available by reservation only.
The LAR Ambassador Volunteer Program has been created to allow volunteers opportunities to gain education, and achieve personal development, and leadership skills while being part of the larger purpose and mission of LAR. Examples of volunteer opportunities at LAR in the past have included leading or assisting with scout or school nature events, providing lessons to students in the STAAR Blitz days in April, demonstrating their Rainfall Simulator to school children, helping with maintenance and restoration of the property, helping to design new trails. Contact Project Coordinator Scott Lightle by email for more information.
Contact Details for Long Acres Ranch:
Physical Address: 2335 Richmond Parkway, Richmond, Texas 77469
Phone: (281) 239-7998
Email: Scott Lightle at [email protected]
Website: https://longacresranch.org/
12. MONARCH GATEWAY PROJECT
Monarch Gateway Project (MGP) is a non-profit organization headquartered in Fort Bend County which partners with the US Fish & Wildlife Service to collect information on a range of practices that benefit pollinators, with a focus on the monarch butterfly. The group’s goal is to create contiguous Monarch Host Gardens on city and municipal properties along central and coastal monarch migratory flyways. Research is being performed in Chicago, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Kansas City, and Austin to determine if cities can help increase monarch populations by creating friendly habitat.
Volunteers can help with manning booths at festivals, updating the MGP website, organizing special events, and installing butterfly gardens – just to name a few. Register to volunteer with MGP by completing an online volunteer interest form.
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Contact Executive Director Barbara Willy through the email forms on the MGP website for more information. Website: http://www.monarchgateway.org/
13. NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY OF TEXAS
The Native Plant Society of Texas (NPSOT) wants to protect our state’s native plant heritage and preserve it for future generations. They are a non-profit organization, run by volunteers, sponsoring educational programs, workshops, demonstration gardens and many other types of projects. Their monthly programs are free to the public. The programs include topics such as bird migration, native bees, native plant information and sharing of seeds. They are always looking for speakers at their meetings and if you have a special knowledge of any nature-related topic, they would be happy to meet you.
You could also volunteer to lead one of their field trips, help on workdays at the Native Plant Garden at the Houston Zoo.
Every year NPSOT-Houston chapter hosts a Wildscape Workshop in September which needs many volunteers. Wildscapes Workshop is a one-day, not-to-be-missed educational event and local native plant sale. Each year’s event will involve featured speakers providing up-to-date information on the relationship between native plants and our local wildlife and environment.
Contact Details for NPSOT – Houston Chapter:
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 131254, Houston, TX 77219
Phone: (281) 239-7998
Email: Wally Ward, President, at [email protected]
Website: https://npsot.org/wp/houston/
14. ROSENBERG DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
The Rosenberg Development Corporation (RDC) is an economic development corporation funded by a one-half cent sales tax. Its role is to promote projects related to job creation. The RDC sponsors our signature project at SCNP through a grant of $50,000 per year to our chapter that we use to improve the SCNP. You can volunteer with the RDC by attending board meetings and representing the CPCTMN.
IMPORTANT: You must fill out two forms beforehand with the City of Rosenberg. One is a criminal history check and the other is a volunteer form for single day events.
Contact VSP Director Terri Hurley at [email protected] if you want to help with the RDC.
15. ROSENBERG PARKS & REC DEPARTMENT
There are many parks in Rosenberg, and they all need volunteer help. You can organize a trash pick-up, lead a nature tour at one of the parks or help in any of their nature-related special events such as Fishtastic, Earth Day, July 4th and Boo-berg Children’s Halloween Festival. Fishtastic takes place in the SCNP in February. The lake is stocked with fish a week before the event and then kids and their families come out and spend time fishing. Chapter members set up an outreach booth and welcome the public to the event and display one of our WOW kits for education as well.
IMPORTANT: You must fill out two forms beforehand with the City of Rosenberg. One is a criminal history check and the other is a volunteer form for single day events.
Keep an eye out in our calendar and your emails for more information as it becomes available.
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Contact Details for Rosenberg Parks & Rec Department:
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 32, 2110 4th Street, Rosenberg, TX 77471
Phone: (832) 595-3520
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://rosenbergtx.gov/development/parks-and-rec/
16. SUGAR LAND, CITY OF
The City of Sugar Land has cultural events throughout the year, and we need volunteers to organize outreach booths representing the CPCTMN during these events. Information on these events will be sent to the membership as they occur.
Another focus of volunteering for the City of Sugar Land is participating or organizing a park cleanup for the Parks & Rec Department at any of the Sugar Land parks. These include the Cullinan Park, Brazos River Park, City Park on 7th St, Colony Bend Park, Covington West Park, Eldridge Park, First Colony Park, Highland Park, Oyster Creek Park, or the Sugar Land Memorial Park among many others.
You may have to fill out a volunteer form first to become a volunteer at the City of Sugar Land. The form is available online on the city’s website.
You may also choose to get involved with Cullinan Park on Hwy 6 and the Cullinan Park Conservancy (CPC) events or serve on the organization’s board. The CPC is a non-profit group charged with the promotion, enhancement and protection of Cullinan Park for the use and enjoyment of wildlife and human visitors alike. CPC hosts Big Sits, park cleanup days and bird hikes. Contact Angie Wierzbicki, Executive Director for more information.
Contact Details for the Sugar Land Parks & Rec Dept:
Physical Address: 10405 Corporate Drive, Sugar Land, Texas 77478
Parks & Rec Dept Phone: (281) 275-2825
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.sugarlandtx.gov/110/Parks-Recreation
Contact Details for the Cullinan Park Conservancy:
Physical Address: 12414 Hwy 6 S, Sugar Land, Texas 77478
Phone: 281-275-2825
Email: Angie Wierzbicki at [email protected]
Website: https://www.cullinanparkconservancy.org/
17. TEXAS COMMISSION ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) is the environmental agency for the state. They have approximately 2,800 employees located in their central office in Austin and 16 regional offices around Texas.
Volunteer opportunities include joining one of their many advisory groups on air issues, water issues, pollution prevention initiatives, or rulemaking. You could also volunteer at one of their environmental conferences or get involved in the TCEQ permitting process.
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Contact Details for TCEQ headquarters:
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 13087, Austin, TX 78711-3087
Phone: (512) 239-1000
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.tceq.texas.gov/
18. UNITED STATE DEPT OF AGRICULTURE – NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICES
The USDA-NRCS provides financial and technical assistance to America’s farmers, ranchers and forest landowners wanting to make conservation improvements to their land or wanting to put wetlands, agricultural land, grasslands and forests under long-term easements.
Since 1985, the USDA-NRCS has operated an Earth Team Volunteer program which provides a valued source of talent and enthusiasm to the USDA-NRCS. Every day, these dedicated volunteers work with conservation professionals on private lands to improve soil quality, conserve water, improve air quality and enhance wildlife habitat. The Earth Team provides a variety of opportunities: full- or part-time; outdoor or indoor activities; and as an individual or part of a group. There is something for everyone including conservation education, natural resource inventories, water monitoring, computer assistance, surveying, clerical assistance, administrative, soil science.
Examples of experiences available in the past have included organizing and cataloging the NRCS photo gallery, becoming unofficial ambassadors for conservation, staffing NRCS exhibits at conventions, providing technical assistance using the volunteer’s work experience, taking inventories of natural resources on private lands, planning and implementing sub-committee goals such as for the Pollinator Committee, helping with field days, workshops and events.
Contact USDA-NRCS Texas Volunteer Coordinator Melissa Blair for more information on volunteer opportunities in Texas. There is a Volunteer Interest and Placement Summary form to be filled out.
Contact Details for USDA-NRCS Earth Team Volunteer Program in Texas Zone 3:
Phone: (361) 248-3851
Email: Melissa Blair at [email protected]
Website: https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/tx/people/volunteers/
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OTHER APPROVED VSP OPPORTUNITIES
1. AG’TIVITY BARN – FORT BEND COUNTY FAIR
The Fort Bend County Fair is the annual site of the Texas AgriLIFE Extension Service’s Ag’Tivity Barn. Each year hundreds of children take school field trips to see the booths within the Ag’Tivity Barn. As its name implies it is mainly about things agricultural…. but just because it’s agricultural doesn’t mean there’s no nature out on the farm.
Each year the Coastal Prairie Chapter puts together a booth based on a specific Texas nature topic that coordinates with the overall theme of the year. “Path to the Plate” is the theme for this year’s Ag’tivity Barn. We will exhibit our new “Bats: Friends of Gardeners and Growers” display. Bats are amazing little creatures. They are important pollinators for certain species of fruit such as bananas and agave. They are mammals so they have belly buttons like humans.
Each round of students hears a 7-minute presentation on each booth then they move on to the next exhibit. There will be a training session on bats conducted by Linda Lourim, the creator of our bat exhibit. A suggested script will be provided so you can easily give a quick 7-minute lesson on bats. Keep an eye out for the date of this training session.
This year the Ag’tivity Barn will be open on weekdays only on September 27 and 30, October 1-4 …a great opportunity to get lots of VSP hours! Sign Up Genius will be used by our members to volunteer for the various shifts. Keep an eye on your emails and the Events Calendar for more information.
2. ANGLER EDUCATION WORKSHOPS
Give workshops on Angler Education to the general public and teach fishing skills to kids and adults in our community. The goal is to increase participation in recreational fishing and teach youth and adults how to be safe and ethical anglers. Our SCNP lake is the perfect location to offer this workshop.
In order to lead an Angler Ed workshop, you must first become a certified Texas Parks & Wildlife (TPWD) Angler Education Instructor by attending the TPWD training sessions which are offered several times a year. The next training class is August 24, 2019 in Pearland.
3. CHAPTER BUSINESS
You can get really involved in the successful operation of our chapter by volunteering to assist on a committee or even to step up to be an elected officer or committee director. Officers include: President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer. The annual election is held each December. Committees include: Advanced Training, Publicity, Communications (newsletter, weekly bulletin, Facebook, website, blogs), Membership, Database Manager, Programs, New Class Director, Volunteer Service Projects and Outreach, New Class Rep, Seabourne Creek, State Rep, Photographer.
The volunteer hours that can be counted for chapter business include, but are not limited to, attending chapter meetings, all officer-related duties, all committee tasks, attending and prepping for board meetings, recruiting, photographing our chapter events, hours-keeping, research, training, hospitality, fundraising and initial training class support. Contact VSP Director Terri Hurley if you are interested in volunteering for the chapter.
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4. CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNTS
Get volunteer hours while birding in National Audubon Society’s annual Christmas Bird Count at various locations across the state. Local counts include the Brazos Bend State Park, Long Acres Ranch and Long Point Ranch. You may also attend any other Christmas Bird Count in the State of Texas but note the limitation of 20 hours per year towards certification for hours outside our chapter’s territory of Fort Bend and Waller Counties. All you need to do is to sign up for each count in advance through the Houston Audubon Society website.
5. COMMUNITY CONTACT/CONVERSATIONS
This is a type of “indirect outreach”, where you talk informally, unscheduled to the general public while they are free to come and go. This is not a scheduled, planned event; it’s casual conversation. For instance, this category would apply when you are performing another volunteer activity and a member of the public asks you a question about what you are doing, and you answer their question.
For example, you are working in the Prairie Demo Garden one day when a parent and child walking through the garden ask you about the bees flying around the garden. You then tell them all you know about bees and you also tell them to keep an eye out for information on our chapter’s monthly programs because the topics are always wildlife and nature related. You have educated the public and promoted our chapter at the same time. This activity qualifies for VSP hours.
6. COMMUNITY NATURE/PUBLIC ACCESS
You can participate in field-based activities within public properties on projects that serve to improve and manage the public's access to natural areas or resources. Examples of these tasks include creating and/or maintaining nature trails at a nature preserve or designing wildscapes or interpretive areas at a city park. You can also work on developing new nature areas such hiking trails, interpretive gardens, wildlife viewing blinds, interpretive hikes. In the past, we have volunteers who have worked at the Butterfly Garden at Cross Creek Ranch, picked up trash at Matagorda Beach, added bird feeder stations at a community nature park, and cleared yaupon at Kleb Woods, established a butterfly garden at Katy’s Willow Fork Park, trash pickup at Cullinan Park. Keep an eye out for similar projects on our Events Calendar.
7. COMMUNITY PRESENTATIONS
These talks are representative of “direct outreach”. They include formal presentations that are scheduled in advance and have an audience in attendance. You can give presentations at community events or meetings on various Master Naturalist topics. Hours needed for research and creation of PowerPoints are allowed. You can give talks to any Master Naturalist or Master Gardener chapter, all types of environmental organizations or garden clubs, etc. Contact VSP Director Terri Hurley if you are interested in volunteering.
8. COUNTY RECYCLING CENTERS
The Fort Bend County Recycling Center (FBCRC) provides a regional center for general and Household Hazardous and Waste (HHW) recycling for Fort Bend County residents. The center is committed to protecting the environment by promoting recycling, reducing and reusing in order to
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ensure a safe and healthy community for current and future generations by keeping items out of landfills.
Volunteer at the FBCRC to support the county’s environmental efforts. The FBCRC is located at 1200 Blume Road in Rosenberg. The hours of operation are Monday: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM, Tuesday: 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM, Thursday-Saturday: 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM, closed Wednesdays, Sundays and county holidays. Phone the office at 281-633-7581 in advance to let them know you will be volunteering.
9. FULSHEAR, CITY OF
The City of Fulshear has many volunteer opportunities for our chapter. You can volunteer in their butterfly garden at the Irene Stern Community Center. You could set up a booth at the Fulshear Farmers Market and promote our chapter. You could help replant the Community Vegetable Gardens at City Hall and the Irene Stern Community Center. Volunteers pick up roadside debris, plant native plants in public spaces and help with special events in the spring and fall. Our own AT Director, Ramona Ridge, is the contact for volunteering in Fulshear. Contact Ramona by phone at 713-703-4129 for more information.
10. GREAT BACKYARD BIRD COUNT
The Great Backyard Bird Count is an annual 4-day event hosted by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Bird watchers of all ages count birds to create a real-time snapshot of where birds are. For credit for VSP hours, you should report sightings of birds from public property or parks only. Sightings in your own backyard are discouraged.
11. GULF COAST BIRD OBSERVATORY
The GCBO is a non-profit organization whose mission is to support a healthy ecosystem with abundant space for birds to survive and thrive around the Gulf of Mexico and beyond. The staff and volunteers have conducted a significant number of large conservation projects, including migration studies, habitat enhancement, land acquisition, regional habitat mapping. It is headquartered in Lake Jackson. The GCBO hosts several special events throughout the year in addition to bird-banding once a month.
Volunteer jobs available include helping with the office, data entry, outreach events, education efforts, GCBO-hosted events, research and surveys, webpage, maintenance and repair of buildings and reserves, flower beds, native plant nursery, workdays, workshop leaders, and their online auctions. GCBO also owns the Quintana Neotropical Bird Sanctuary along the coast and this preserve needs help all the time.
All volunteers must attend one of their quarterly orientations before beginning work at GCBO. This allows you to learn more about the organization, their needs, and their goals. There is a volunteer application to fill out and email to Jennifer Horton at [email protected]. Their next orientation will be August 31, 2019 from 9 am to 11 am.
12. HOUSTON ARBORETUM AND NATURE CENTER
The Houston Arboretum & Nature Center (HANC) is a 155-acre non-profit urban nature sanctuary that provides education about the natural environment to people of all ages. HANC is a private non-profit educational facility that operates city land.
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Training can be done on-the-job for some volunteer positions, while others require attending a training session and possibly shadowing staff or an experienced volunteer. Opportunities are available both weekends and weekdays.
There are five categories of volunteer opportunities at HANC: administrative/clerical, conservation programs, education programs, groups (corporate, religious, school, service), special programs and events.
Volunteer applications will open August 26, 2019.
13. HOUSTON MUSEUM OF NATURAL SCIENCE – HOUSTON OR SUGAR LAND
You can volunteer at either location. HMNS Sugar Land is recruiting adult volunteers throughout the year, to help with school field trip visits, present the museum’s ‘touch carts’, give hall tours, assist with ‘Science on a Sphere’, work in the butterfly garden and so much more! To get the latest information on volunteering at HMNS-Sugar Land, send an email to [email protected].
To volunteer at HMNS-Houston, you will need to attend an orientation session, as well as complete 12 hours of training before you are able to become a volunteer. Volunteers are then asked to make a one-year commitment of at least 4 hours of volunteering a month. The next training session will be in August. Contact Kavita Self, program manager at HMNS-SL at 218-313-2277 ext. 104 for more information. Fill out the application form on the website at http://www.hmns.org/support-hmns/volunteer/get-started/.
14. iNATURALIST, eBIRD, CITIZEN SCIENCE PROJECTS
Get involved in the many citizen science projects which help to advance the knowledge of the natural world. One example is the iNaturalist app which you can use to record observations of all flora and fauna in public property or parks in the state of Texas. The iNaturalist City Challenge in April is a world-wide contest to see which city reports the most species. Another example is eBird, to which you report sightings of birds you see on public property or parks in the state of Texas. There are other citizen science projects you can get involved in such as monarch butterflies, invasive plants, hummingbirds, and weather. For credit for VSP hours, you should report sightings on public property or parks only. Sightings in your own backyard are discouraged.
15. KATY, CITY OF
The City of Katy hosts many community events and activities, and there are many volunteer opportunities available throughout the year that qualify for VSP hours. Check their web page for more information and watch your emails and the Events Calendar on the CPCTMN website.
In the past, CPCTMN members have volunteered to plan a butterfly garden at Beckendorf Junior High and host nature-related events at the new Willow Fork Park. You could staff a CPCTMN outreach booth at any Katy festival and promote our chapter and display any of our WOWs.
16. KEEP AMERICA BEAUTIFUL
Many of the larger towns in Fort Bend and Waller Counties have branches of the Keep America Beautiful organization. These include Keep Fulshear Beautiful, Keep Katy Beautiful and Keep Sugar Land Beautiful. The Missouri City Green organization is the Keep America Beautiful affiliate for Missouri City. You may volunteer for any one of the events hosted by these groups. Yearly events
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include Keep Texas Beautiful Trash Off, Trees Across Sugar Land and the America Recycles Day. You may also get involved in their storm drain monitoring or roadside Adopt-a-Spot. Check the various Keep America Beautiful chapter websites to get more information.
17. MISSOURI CITY, CITY OF
Missouri City offers many volunteer opportunities. In the past, CPCTMN members have volunteered at the annual Urban Forestry Tree Planting event at Buffalo Run Park in February, and park cleanups. You could plan a cleanup in any of their city parks. You could make a presentation or staff a booth on any nature-related topic at one of their festivals. Missouri City has a volunteer application. Contact [email protected] for more information.
18. MONARCH WATCH
To promote protection of monarch habitats throughout North America, you may volunteer for any of the projects in the Monarch Watch (MW) organization. These include creating a monarch waystation on public lands, and the monarch tagging program. You can also participate in butterfly counts, plant milkweed, or design butterfly gardens on public lands for MW.
More information is on the MW website at https://monarchwatch.org/
19. NESTWATCH CORNELL
NestWatch (NW) Cornell is a nationwide monitoring program designed to track status and trends in the reproductive biology of birds, including when nesting occurs, number of eggs laid, how many eggs hatch, and how many hatchlings survive. To volunteer, you would first become a certified NestWatcher by watching training videos online. Then you find active nests to monitor, visit the nest every 3 or 4 days and report your data to the NestWatch online database. The NW website is https://nestwatch.org/
There is a Fulshear chapter of NW. The coordinator is Pat Mollere at 281-533-9124. You could get involved in that chapter.
20. NESTWATCH PURPLE MARTIN
NestWatch – Purple Martin is part of the NestWatch Cornell project, but the work is focused on aiding purple martin nesting sites. You get VSP hours for installing and maintaining purple martin houses on public lands. In the past, CPCTMN volunteers have installed purple martin houses in the Del Webb Sweetwater Community and next to the Double Lakes in Lakes of Austin Park.
21. NON-SCHOOL YOUTH OUTREACH
This includes outreach to youth in events not related to their school system, such as Boy or Girl Scouts or church groups or festivals. In the past CPCTMN members have volunteered to teach the Leave No Trace Behind course to scouts, host an outreach booth in the Richmond Pecan Festival in the kids’ zone, help in the Master Gardener’s Kids Camp, help in other festivals in the children’s areas. Keep watch on our Events Calendar for upcoming events.
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22. ONSITE SCHOOL EDUCATION OUTREACH
This opportunity includes outreach on nature-related topics to youth in public or private schools. In the past, CPCTMN members have volunteered at the Commonwealth Elementary Nature Club, presented a WOW to the WIDE school 4-H club, presented a honeybee exhibition at the Katy ISD Folklife Festival, talked to the Cinco H.S. Environment Club on life cycle, habitat, environment for Monarchs, etc. You can volunteer at the school of your choice. Your presentation or booth must be nature related. Keep watch on our Events Calendar for upcoming events.
23. NATURE CONSERVANCY IN TEXAS
You can volunteer at any of the 38 Nature Conservancy (NC) properties in the state of Texas or for any NC project in the state of Texas. This includes Nash Prairie, Texas City Prairie Preserve or Colombia Bottomlands Project or their river projects. You could volunteer for their open days, workdays, Feathered Fridays, bird surveys, etc. Check out their website for more information.
24. TEXAS PARKS & WILDLIFE DEPARTMENT
Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (TPWD) offers many volunteer opportunities for us. You can help with flora and fauna surveys on privately held lands. The owners of these lands are applying to get a Wildlife Evaluation for property tax exemptions, and they must complete a 1-D-1 Wildlife Management Plan which is to include a list of the wildlife found on their property. We help the owners by completing the survey on their land and then we report back to them. VSP hours are approved for preparing for the survey, the actual survey itself and for reporting after the survey is completed.
You can also volunteer for any state park in the TPWD system. You can help with property restoration and maintenance, work inside the nature centers, present talks on nature-related topics, or lead nature hikes. Check to see if there is a “friends of” group for the state park you are interested in and contact the volunteer coordinator of that group.
You can help with conservation education at TPWD events, or staff a CPCTMN booth at TPWD expos. You can become a Texas Nature Tracker (TNT) and report sightings of wild populations of plants and animals throughout Texas. There are many TNT projects you can join including herps, mollusks, birds, mammals, rare plants, whooping cranes, milkweeds for monarchs, fishes, etc.
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SEABOURNE CREEK NATURE PARK
ORGANIZATIONAL LEADERSHIP
Seabourne Project Leader – Karl Baumgartner [email protected]
Seabourne Director-
Jerry Trenta [email protected] Arboretum – Pauline Zinn [email protected] Garrett Engelhardt [email protected] Birding Hikes –
Bob Schwartz [email protected] Carol Schwartz [email protected] Mark Scheuerman
Bird Sanctuary - Bill Johnson [email protected] Boy Scout Activities – Rick Adams [email protected] Butterfly Garden –
Diane Russell [email protected] Bert Stipelcovich [email protected]
Seabourne Lake –
Garrett Engelhardt [email protected] Sal Cardenas [email protected] Prairie Restoration –
Karl Baumgartner [email protected] Jim Butcher [email protected]
Jerry Trenta [email protected] Mark Morgenstern [email protected] Prairie Plant Nursery --Lynn Trenta [email protected] Prairie Demo Garden – Andrea Morgenstern [email protected] Mark Morgenstern [email protected] Seabourne Nature Festival –
Bert Stipelcovich [email protected] Jim Butcher [email protected]
Seabourne Volunteer Communication Lynn Trenta [email protected]
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Proposal submitted by:
Date submitted:
Project/Activity Name:
Partner Organization or
Sponsor (Name and
Contact Information:
CPC Contact:
Date:
Time:
Location:
Project Description:
Number of Volunteers
needed:
Supplies Needed:
Degree of Difficulty:
Maximum VSP Hours:
Project Appoved:
Committee Members:
Texas Master Naturalists, Coastal Prairie Chapter, Inc.Volunteer Service Project Proposal Form
All Volunteer Service Projects must be submitted on this form. Please answer all questions. Submit to the Volunteer Service Project committee for approval. Volunteer Service Hours will only be given for time spent on approved activities/projects.
Yes No
Reason for decline: (under separate cover)
Feel free to submit additional sheets for further explanation.
Total amt. of approved hours available:
Do not write below this space:
