From logging your volunteer hours to jumping into chapter events, working on approved projects, or striking out on your own citizen science adventures, the links below connect you to it all with opportunities to serve in our five-county home of Lee, Colorado, Washington, Austin, and Fayette. Chapter members work at a variety of service projects in our five-county region. The ongoing volunteer projects are listed below by county with links to all the details for each project. As always, you can find the dates for these volunteer opportunities and many more on our chapter calendar.
Austin County
- San Felipe de Austin State Historic Site – birding education and nature walks connecting human history to the natural history of the site
- Stephen F. Austin State Park – designing and constructing interpretive native pollinator and prairie grass gardens and trails, also leading interpretive hikes or other educational activities.
Colorado County
- Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge – helping with habitat restoration, managing invasives, and maintaining a native grasses demonstration plot
- Native Seed Propagation Project – Volunteers are needed monthly to assist in maintaining planted plots (weeding and cleanup) and assist in collecting and harvesting seed
- Pickens Pollinator Pocket – a riparian pocket garden featuring native trees, shrubs, and forbs that offers opportunities to discuss riparian habitats, common pollinators, and general best practices for wildlife habitat.
Fayette County
- Fayette County Native Plant Habitat – maintaining native plant landscaping in La Grange with signage and a field guide
- Monument Hill State Historic Site – maintaining native grasses and removing invasive plants
- Winedale Historic Complex Trails and Pollinator Garden – building and maintaining paths and pollinator gardens at the visitor center and surrounding the Gideon Lincecum monument
Lee County
- Giddings ISD Field Days– assisting with multiple outdoor educational programs through the school district
- Schubert House – establishing and maintaining a pollinator garden to enhance the grounds of this landmark in Giddings
Washington County
- Brenham ISD Outdoor Learning Projects – assisting with multiple outdoor educational programs through the school district
- Indian Creek Nature Area – establishing pollinator garden and trails in this wooded natural area located behind the Texas Cotton Gin Museum in Burton
- Washington on the Brazos State Historic Site – maintaining a Monarch and pollinator garden near the site’s visitor center
Multiple Counties
- Adopt-a-Highway – teaming up for litter control and trash pickup (and recycling) while contributing to Trash Free Gulf. We have two official sites: the 2-mile stretch of State Highway 159 from Rutersville toward La Grange and Columbus’ north bridge on US Business 71. You may also collect trash on any stretch of public road or park (ask the volunteer coordinator for more information.
- Educational Outreach Events – presentations to school groups and at local festivals and events
- Prescribed Burning – learning from and working with the South Central Texas Prescribed Burning Association
Citizen Science Projects
A variety of citizen science volunteer opportunities happen at various times of the year. We use applications to record our data such as iNaturalist, eBird, and Nature’s Notebook. These opportunities will be announced via email to chapter members and posted on our Calendar of Events whenever possible.
Birds
- Great Backyard Bird Count – a fun, easy way to get involved in Citizen Science by reporting viewed birds
- NestWatch– monitoring bird nests and reporting data
- Project Feeder Watch – counting birds visiting bird feeders and reporting the data
Pollinators
- Texas Pollinator Bioblitz – spot pollinators and nectar-producing plants, snap photos or videos, and share what you find on iNaturalist
Water Quality and Precipitation
- Water Quality Monitoring and Cleanup Team – testing to monitor water quality and cleaning up riparian habitats and roadsides
- CoCoRaHS – Community Collaborative Rain, Snow, and Hail Network – collecting and reporting precipitation data
Mammals
- Bat Monitoring – Acoustic Monitoring of Texas Bats
Other Citizen Science Projects
- Tracy Herbarium Bryophyte Project – Collect Bryophytes to submit to the Tracy Herbarium at Texas A&M
- Invaders of Texas – identifying and reporting invasive species
- Texas Nature Trackers – participating in Texas Nature Trackers research projects by documenting observations in iNaturalist
Chapter approved projects from TMN Virtual Volunteer Fair
Check the state TMN website for information from the most recent Virtual Volunteer Fair.