The Friends of Hagerman NWR offer many volunteer for Texas Master Naturalists, all of which have been approved for AT or VH in the Blackland Prairie chapter.
Visit friendsofhagerman.org/tmn for more information
The Field Trip Team
It’s no secret that many children today don’t spend enough time outside — and for some public school students, field trips are a rare opportunity. That’s why the Friends of Hagerman offer free, nature-based field trips to connect kids with the great outdoors.
We offer field trips for every grade level, but most field trips are K – 4. Every field trip includes a guided nature hike and a visit to the butterfly garden, where kids explore with special butterfly binoculars.
Get ready for smiles, hugs, and thank-yous that will melt your heart!
Join us for an informative webinar about how you can get involved!
We’ll cover our field trip procedures, scheduling and lesson plans.
Thursday, July 24, 2025 7:00 PM Registration Required
Visitor Center Host
Air Conditioned, Comfortable VH! With a Clean Restroom
Love nature? Share that passion with visitors at a National Wildlife Refuge and make new nature-loving friends in the process!
Volunteers greet visitors and provide trail maps and other refuge information, including interpretation. Volunteers engage youth with the Junior and Advanced Ranger programs, including oath recital and badge awards. Other duties include checking out binoculars and conducting sales in the Nature Nook.
Volunteers are provided with training, and have full control over which shifts they sign up for.
Shifts choices are entirely under your control:
Weekdays and Saturday: 9:00 AM to 12:30 PM or 12:30 PM to 4:00 PM
Sundays: 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Training will be scheduled on an individual basis, and will include several shifts working with experienced volunteers. Trained volunteers are asked to commit to one shift per month. Email [email protected] for more information and to schedule training at your convenience.
Wildlife Explorer Tram Tour Guide and Driver
Meet visitors from around the world and share your love of nature! You’ll receive thorough training on the refuge’s fascinating history, and you can tailor your tours to match your interests—whether it’s wildlife, birds, habitats, refuge history, photography, or more.Regularly scheduled tours are Saturday and Sunday at 2:00 PM, but we also offer private group tours on weekdays. Come and see what it is all about!
Join Bert Garcia, Chair of the Tram Committee, for an informative session and a ride on the Wildlife Explorer Tram. Take a tour, ask questions, and see if becoming a tram guide is the right fit for you!
Register for a Tram Driver Interest Meetup on August 5, 2025 at 10:00 AM at the Visitor Center.
A Tram Tour for your family is also a very enjoyable way to earn 1.5 hours of AT!
The Work Crew
General Ground Crew
All are invited to join the work crew to complete refuge projects. The work crew meets twice a month, no experience required. Meet like-minded folks who love to work outside and make a difference for humans and animals. Email [email protected] to get started.
Habitat Restoration/Trash Pick-Up (Individual or Group Opportunity)
A great community service project. Individuals, scouts and other groups may earn community service hours by removing trash at the refuge or participating in habitat restoration activities. Help wildlife and brighten the day of the many visitors of the refuge!
Trail Crew
Mow the trails of the refuge. Work is seasonal and schedules are flexible. Training on refuge mowing equipment provided.
Agricultural Crew
Train to use tractors and other refuge equipment to prepare fields and plant winter wheat for the thousands of geese who winter at the refuge.
Additional Volunteer Opportunities
The following opportunities may require some degree of training. Contact Us to inquire about these and other volunteer opportunities.
Bat Monitoring: Aid in identifying bat species present on the refuge by placing acoustic monitoring devices in various locations to detect bat calls. Training provided.
Bird Census: Join the weekly bird census team as they collect data about bird species throughout the refuge.
Birding–Little Sit: Join the birding experts for this monthly sunrise bird census event. You will be helping the experts in bird research as you learn about or teach others bird identification techniques. No experience required.
Birding–Big Sit: Join this annual national bird census event in October to help experts in bird research. No experience required.
Butterfly Garden Docent: Learn about local butterflies and lead visitors on tours of our beautiful butterfly garden. You will learn to identify plants and butterflies while joining like-minded folks who love them!
Christmas Bird Count/Feeder Watch: Bird observers are needed to aid in research. Pair up with experienced birders and participate in citizen science at the refuge or individually in the comfort of your home. Watch for this opportunity in the weeks before Christmas, no experience necessary.
Membership Committee: Help us attract and retain memberships. This opportunity requires some computer work.
NatureOlogy: Teach children about nature with this day camp offered free to the public each year in June. This opportunity requires current Texas Master Naturalist certification or a background check.
Programs Committee: Help us find presenters for our Second Saturday presentations, festivals and other events. No experience necessary.
Second Saturday: Present a lecture about a nature topic relevant to the refuge at our monthly Second Saturday event.
Speakers’ Bureau: Professional Educators and Master Naturalists are invited to join our Speakers’ Bureau to give nature talks to local groups.
Special Events: The Friends of Hagerman NWR hosts two festivals every year, held on the second Saturdays of May and October. Much help is needed with traffic control, errands and other light duties.
Water Monitoring: Collect and test water samples from the waters of the refuge to document water quality, identify aquatic macroinvertebrates, and monitor seasonal changes. Training provided.
Youth Education: Assist with our monthly Refuge Rocks children’s programs and our biannual programs. This opportunity requires current Texas Master Naturalist certification or a background check.
We’d love to work with you!