Nature gives to every time and
season some beauties of its own;
and from morning to night,
as from the cradle to the grave,
is but a succession of changes so gentle and
easy that we can scarcely mark their progress.
- Dickens

 

Volunteer
CLICK HERE FOR THE VOLUNTEER FRONT DESK
AND NATURE SHOP SCHEDULING CALENDAR

The mission of the Rio Grande Nature Center State Park is to manage and protect the unique environment along the Rio Grande, to educate the public about the Rio Grande ecosystem, and to foster positive human interactions with those systems.

The mission is the goal of each and every volunteer effort, staffing assignment, special event and project at the Rio Grande Nature Center State Park. Dedicated volunteers play a vital role in meeting challenges set forth by this mission statement.



If you are interested in volunteering,
call us at 344-7240.






















































 

 



 


















 

Listed below are some of the job classifications for volunteers at the RGNCSP.
Each is different but all require the following:

• Initial training, an apprenticeship and participation in  ongoing sessions.
• A willingness to learn
• A commitment to fellow volunteers to appear at the scheduled time and place for work
• The ability and desire to share knowledge with others
Bird and Nature Walk Guide
Take visitors on the trails to look for wildlife on week-ends.

 Gardener
Design, plant, and maintain the gardens. Inform visitors about the herbs, wildflowers and native plants to be found at the Nature Center. The garden coordinate, also a volunteer, is responsible for overseeing activities in the garden.

Interpretive Naturalist
Study and teach ecology: The ongoing life of plants and animals of the Rio Grande bosque. Volunteers share their knowledge with park visitors, especially school groups, during the week and on weekends.

Nature Shop Salesperson
Sell merchandise in the Nature Shop: books, jewelry, T-shirts, cards, bird feeders and other nature-related items.

 Outreach Educator
Takes specialized nature trunks - on birds, mammals, reptiles, insects, bosque ecology, cottonwoods, and more - to schools, scout meetings, senior centers, and civic centers.

 Receptionist
Answers the telephone and directs an incoming call to the appropriate person. Greet visitors and answer questions about the RGNCSP as well as about the State Parks system. Schedule school groups for tours with interpretive naturalists, preregister children for classes and promote a positive image to all who visit us.

 Research Assistant
Take part in ongoing projects: Surveys of water quality, bat populations, and of changing plant and animal communities in the new Candelaria Wetland.

Special Events Worker
 Help plan and produce the Friends' fund raising events: Herb, Wildflower and Native Plant Festival, Summer Wings, Winter Bird and Bat Festival, Friends' Annual Yard Sale and other event opportunities.

Trail Watcher
Observe the parking lot and trails and check on windfalls (branches or downed trees) along with other trail conditions. Volunteers work any hours and any days they choose. Some ride bicycles, some walk, some rollerblade, others ride horseback or even jog!
Volunteerism Committee
Schedule groups and volunteers, keep the volunteer roles up to date, keep in touch and work on volunteer appreciation events.

 

In addition to the jobs described above, Nature Center volunteers donate their special skills and talents in a great variety of ways. They plant trees, install aeration systems, clear out windfalls, create corn mazes, develop arts and crafts projects for children, maintain the library, help with mailings, update data, host special events.....

Friends of the Rio Grande Nature Center
344-7240

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