Bamberger Ranch Preserve

Volunteer Opportunities – December 3^rd to 5^th  

The 5^th grade students from Heritage Elementary in the Southside Independent School District in southern Bexar County are preparing for a 3-day/2-night field trip to the Bamberger Ranch Preserve.  Five volunteers will be needed on Day One (December 3^rd) to lead nature hikes and to assist with sweep netting & pinning insects.

On Day One, the students arrive around 10:30 am, unpack, and eat their sack lunches.  At 12:45 pm, students receive a quick lesson on watersheds and then volunteers help guide them from the Center to the patio of Madrone Lake where they see the rain machine demonstration.  Then the students are divided into groups and volunteers lead them on a nature hike followed by insect collection and pinning. These environmental education activities are scheduled to end by 4 pm.

The summary of Day One volunteer opportunities is as follows.

December 3^rd – Arrive by 12:30 pm at the Margaret Bamberger Research & Education Center parking lot and end by 4 pm – Need 5 volunteers.

In addition, volunteers are needed each day to help with meals and provide hands-on lessons in water conservation.  Lunches consist of build-your-own sandwiches/hot dogs and dinners include helping ranch staff prepare a simple entrée, salad, and bread.  After each meal, a subset of students helps with loading the dishwasher and there is a water conservation discussion.  If time permits, you may include a generic discussion on composting.  Asking the students about their activities on the ranch is encouraged as a means of reinforcing the day’s lessons.  Volunteers are welcome to stay after dinner for the raptor demonstration/discussion should there be one.

The summary of meal preparation volunteer opportunities is as follows.

December 3^rd – Dinner – Arrive by 4:30 pm – Meal served by 5:30 pm – Need 1 to 2 volunteers.

December 4^th – Lunch – Arrive by 11:30 am – Meal served around 11:45 am – Need at least 1 volunteer.

December 4^th – Dinner – Arrive by 4:30 pm – Meal served by 5:30 pm – Need 1 to 2 volunteers.

December 5^th – Lunch – Arrive by 10:45 am – Meal served around 11 am – Bus leaves at noon – Need at least 1volunteer.

If you have any interest in volunteering for any of these activities, please let me know so I can let the ranch staff know who to expect and when.  Hope to see you there!