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

Friday, September 5, 8:30 AM to 12:00 PM
Copperfield Nature Trail
Litter Cleanup, United Way's Day of Caring
United Way's event begins with speakers and a breakfast at 8:30. The nature trails cleanup will begin at 8:30 am with a second shift begins at 10 so that anyone wanting to attend the kickoff breakfast can do so. Find out more about this project and register online.

Saturday, September 6, 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM
Shoal Creek Greenbelt-Central
Tree work at Shoal Creek Greenbelt
Join us to help do a little proactive maintenance on the 40 plus trees planted this spring. We'll be weeding and mulching these trees, removing some invasives that have sprouted up and if time permits, mulching some other portions of the greenbelt.

Saturday, September 13, 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, September 13, 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.

Friday, September 19, 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM
AAA All Parks
Park(ing) Day
Turn a parking space into a temporary park - Austin Parks foundation will be joining in on the fun this year in Austin. Don't forget to feed the meter! Find out more what's going on around the country at www.parkingday.org

Saturday, September 20, 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Convict Hill Quarry Park
Waterfall Project Completion
Help the Eagle Scouts finish their waterfall and pond building project at lovely Convict Hill Quarry Park. For more information contact Jim at drjet@austin.rr.com.

Saturday, September 27, 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, October 11, 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, October 11, 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, October 11, 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM
AAA All Parks
Community Sculpture Wash
Meet to wash and wax public art! Meet at the Austin Museum of Art community room. RSVP to meghan.turner@ci.austin.tx.us

Sunday, October 12, 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM
AAA All Parks
Austin Oyster Urban Adventure Race
Volunteer for the most creative race in town! Time keepers, race monitors, etc. needed. Groups welcome. Contact Rosie at rweaver@austinparks.org.

Saturday, October 18, 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Shoal Creek Greenbelt-Central
Invasive Species Removal @ Shoal Creek Greenbelt
We'll be removing and treating invasive (non-native) trees and plants along portions of the Shoal Creek Greenbelt. We'll use handsaws and muscles to cut, treat and pile these. This workday will focus on the trail south of Pease Park at Kingsbury.

Saturday, October 18, 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Copperfield Nature Trail
Volunteer Trail Work and Litter Cleanup
Activity includes basic trail work and litter cleanup. Meeting location Blakeney entrance to the greenbelt. Contact Alice Penney or call 835-2401 to RSVP.

Saturday, October 25, 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, October 25, 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Bartholomew District Park
Arbor Day at Bartholomew Park

Join the City of Austin Parks Urban Forestry Division, TreeFolks and the Austin Parks Foundation to plant 300 trees in Bartholomew Park! Please RSVP to volunteer.

Timeline of events and more info here. Other event elements include live music by Bill Oliver and the Otter Space Band, a disc golf tournament run by Waterloo Disc Golf club, environmental education booths from city departments and nonprofit organizations, and children’s activities.

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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