Gardens & Trails

McAlister Conservation Easement - Workdays

The Guadalupe River Conservancy has asked for our help with the conservation efforts on Doc & Martha McAlister’s property on which they now hold a permanent Conservation Easement.  The areas we will be helping with are:

For Upland Plant Communities:

1. Enhance Native Tree and Shrub Diversity: Through selective thinning of species like Ashe juniper, to promote the growth of less dominant natives, balancing the ecosystem and bolstering biodiversity.

2. Invasive Species Management: Removal of invasive species, particularly King Ranch bluestem, by mechanical removal, prescribed burning, or selective herbicide application to foster the spread of native grasses.

3. Understory Enhancement for Wildlife: create clearings and edge habitats to diversify food & cover for wildlife, benefiting small mammals, birds, & pollinators.

4. Removing years of accumulated man made debris.

For Riparian/Riverine Areas:

1. Riparian Buffer Zone Enhancement: to widen vegetated buffer zones with native plantings to improve water quality and bank stabilization.

2. Invasive Species Control: Johnsongrass removal will be a focus, using mechanical and targeted methods to preserve native riparian vegetation.

3. Erosion and Sediment Control: Employing bioengineering techniques, to fortify stream banks and curtail erosion.

4. Wildlife Habitat Improvement: Adding snags and woody debris will enrich habitat complexity, enhancing the riparian ecosystem for aquatic species.

These initiatives are critical to preserving and enriching the property's native biodiversity and providing a haven for local wildlife.

 

To volunteer or for more information contact Wilfred Korth at 361-542-0374 or naturetour12@gmail.com.

 

Report as RM: Other Locations - for any of the above work.

Report as NPA: Other Locations - for trail work

Report as FR: Other Partners - for Bio Blitz work

​

Nueces Delta Preserve–Preservation Team

Improve NDP habitat or create and maintain trails and gardens

Our Coastal Bend Bays and Estuaries volunteers help with our mission of preserving over 11,000 acres of vital coastal wetland and upland habitats to ensure the Preserve stays clean and operational.

• Volunteers gather typically on the third Monday of every month to assist with various tasks

• Tasks include:

  • removing invasive grasses to improve habitat (report as RM)

  • clearing trails, and painting and repairing signs (report as NPA)

Report as:

• RM: Other Locations if you are improving habitat for wildlife

• NPA: Other Locations if you are working on gardens or trails

• Specify CBBEP NDP as part of Service Performed.

Please complete the NDP volunteer form. Need more information? Contact: Volunteer Outreach Coordinator, Lauren Piorkowski.

 

Nueces Delta Preserve Education Team

Our Coastal Bend Bays and Estuaries volunteers help with our mission of providing engaging outdoor education and outreach experiences in coastal wetland and upland habitats. We aim to create impactful outdoor experiences for children, teachers, and the community by fostering a deep connection with nature. Throughout the year, our team requires assistance with field trips, discovery picnics, and outreach events. Assist educators with K-12 Field Trips, Delta Discovery Picnic Days, Home School Days, or the Plant Nursery. Please complete the NDP volunteer form.

Field Trips

• TEKS-aligned for any K-12th grade school in CBBEP’s 12-county program area.

• Typically take place Tuesday-Friday from either 9 am-12 pm (K-2nd grade) or 9 am-2 pm (3rd grade and up).

• Volunteers will have a chance to shadow field trips until they feel comfortable teaching on their own.

Delta Discovery Picnics

This program is open to the public once a month and allows the community to visit and explore the property. Tasks may include:

• Interact with the public and answer questions

• Lead an informal program (example: nature walk)

• Help with sign-in and/or parking

Outreach Events

Throughout the year, we partake in a range of community events that may include:

• Engagements at schools—focused on STEM subjects—scheduled during school hours or evenings

• Public events on weekends scheduled by other organizations where we set up a table with information and interactive activities

Report as PO: Other Events/Partners with CBBEP NDP as part of Service Performed

Need more information? Contact: Volunteer Outreach Coordinator, Lauren Piorkowski.

​

​​Calhoun County AgriLife Volunteer Service

List of service opportunities & contact information

Opportunities sponsored by R.J. Shelly, Calhoun County Extension Agent–Coastal & Marine Resources—If you have any questions about any of these projects, or would like to volunteer, please email RJ or call (361) 552-9747.

1. Dr. Gopal Bera, Associate Research Scientist, Texas A & M University, needs Citizen Science Volunteers to collect sand samples from Texas Beaches (both bay and gulf). This is part of a 2-year project that will be looking at petroleum levels in sand on Texas Beaches. A PowerPoint training is available for volunteers that want to collect samples for this project. If you have a number of TMN that are interested in this, Gopal said he would come down to do a training for them. I have the items necessary for sampling, and I can ship the samples back to Gopal using a prepaid FedEx label that I can get from him.
   Report as FR: Other Partners

2. We need volunteers to work with us and the Calhoun County ISD (CCISD) Wetlands Specialist on the following dates at the Formosa Tejano Wetlands in LaWard, TX. We will be doing wetland-oriented education for CCISD students Dec 12-15. (All days will be approximately 8:00 am to 2:45 pm)
   Report as PO: AgriLife

3. The UTMSI Nurdle Patrol could use some volunteers to collect nurdle samples. This could probably be done by the same crew that is collecting sand samples for Gopal, since they are already at a sampling site. I talked to Jace Tunnel with UTMSI. If you need a nurdle sampling kit, I can have him send it to me and I will get the supplies to the person or persons who want to do the sampling, or Jace can send it directly to a TMN Coordinator.
   Report as FR: Other Partners

4. At the Calhoun County Extension Office, our native plant educational garden is looking great! Volunteers are maintaining the garden, and if you would like to volunteer, check your MCTMN roster and contact Donna Bailey.
   Report as NPA: Other locations​​

​

Aransas Pathways Birding & Nature Sites

Improve habitat or create and maintain trails and gardens

Aransas Pathways properties in Rockport will have an ongoing need for volunteers to create and maintain trails, pollinator gardens, Monarch Waystations, prairie restoration, and improve habitat throughout the properties. Bring water, your favorite tools, and garden gloves. Dress for the weather and wear closed-toe shoes.

Linda S. Castro Nature Sanctuary:
Vickie Wilson, Project Leader, has scheduled workdays from 8:00 to 10:00 am (or as long or short as you can to stay):

• Tuesday, October 25th—Wildflower Seed Dispersal

• Watch this space for additional workdays as they are scheduled

Work can include a general clean-up of specific areas and other tasks. Contact Jane Moore if you can volunteer or to ask questions.

Interested in working at one of the other Aransas Pathways sites? Contact Jennifer Heard by email or call her at 361-790-9496 if you have questions, or to find out what needs to be done so you can work a different day or time:

• Ivy Lane Birding & Nature Site

• Aransas County History Center

• Connie Hagar Cottage Sanctuary

• Tule East or West

• Henderson Property

Reporting:

• If working on gardens or clearing trails, providing education or easier access to the public, report as NPA: Aransas Pathways with the site name in the description

• If working on improving native habitat for wildlife outside the garden areas, report as RM: Aransas Pathways with the site name in the description

 

​​Boggy Nature Park

Boggy Nature Park is approximately 85 acres on Boggy Bayou outside Port O’Connor, TX. Immediate needs are: identifying plants, suggesting habitat improvements, and TMN counsel and advice in supporting these unique public lands. Long-range work may include planting native plants, removing invasives, and improving public access. To be in on the ground floor of habitat improvement and park enhancement,  contact Allan Berger. Reporting is task-dependent.

​

Aransas First Properties

Aransas First is a 501(c)(3) corporation acting as a Land Trust. Its purpose is to identify, acquire, and protect sensitive Coastal Bend habitat essential to the nurture of birds, wildlife, and people as well as to increase public awareness of ecosystems unique to the Live Oak Peninsula/Ingleside Barrier through education, access, and participation. Volunteers are needed to develop/clear/mow trails, remove invasive vegetation, and clean up as needed at Aransas First properties:

• Aransas Woods and Wetlands—Texas Coastal Birding Trail #46

• Cove Harbor Boardwalk and wetlands

• Myrtle Street Wetland

• Woods Beachfront and Dunes-Mustang Island

• Lamar-Burton Wetlands: 105 acres N of Seaside Loop on HiWay35

Call Earl Matthew at 361-790-3074 for more information or to volunteer.

Report as NPA: Other Locations if the work is trail-related. Specify the property in the description.
Report as RM: Other Locations and specify the property in the description for all habitat improvement work​

​

Port Aransas Nature Preserve

Looking for a way to support Port Aransas Nature Preserve sites – Birding Center, Paradise Pond, Charlie’s Pasture, and Wetland Park? One way is Thursday morning workdays: meet at 9:00 am to help with plantings, clean-ups, and more. Location changes week to week. Email Rae if you are interested in being added to the weekly email list. For more information, Contact Rae Mooney, Nature Preserve Manager. Report as NPA: Other locations and specify the location where you worked in the description.

Recurring AT Opportunities:

• Every Tuesday (through end of April) 8 am: Clay’s Hill Bird Walks with Clay Taylor. Meet at the Charlie’s Pasture Pavilion. Register. Report as AT: Lecture Series

• Every Wednesday 9-11 am, Birding on the Boardwalk: Join Ray and Leslie at the Leonabelle Turnbull Birding Center for some Birding! No registration required. Report as AT: Lecture Series

• Every Saturday 8-10 am, Nature Walk: Take a guided 2.5 mile walk through the Nature Preserve at Charlie’s Pasture.  1st, 3rd, 5th Saturday begins at the Community Park. 2nd & 4th Saturday begins at the Charlie’s Pasture South Trail (2650 St Hwy 361).  Must register by 5 pm the Friday before. Report as AT: Lecture Series