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The Friends of Abilene State Park is a 501(c)(3) non-profit volunteer group that helps support the park through fundraising and outreach. Members assist with park events, educational programs, fundraising, and community outreach. All funds raised go directly back into supporting the park. Volunteer opportunities include:* Become a Board Member* Conduct educational programs to the public* Kayak/paddle/life vest cleaning and upkeep* Table at outreach events in the community* Assist with special events in the park* Attend free trainings offered by TPWD* Help with trail maintenance Meetings are held at the Abilene Public Library - South Branch (located inside Mall of Abilene) at 6:30PM on the 3rd Tuesday of each month, except for July and August. To become a member:Click the sign up button and make your volunteer profile. A Friends Board Member will email you with more information. Annual Membership Dues:Individual - $15Family - $25Students - $10; may also be obtained through volunteer hoursSponsorship - $1002025 Friends Special Events* 5K and Kids Fun Run* Lake Trail Run* Halloween in the Park* Frontier Day* Fa La La in the ForestLet's be Friends!
Program: Abilene State Park
Contact Person: Candyce Johnson
Contact Phone: (325) 267-4871
Click here for details or to sign up
If this is your first time volunteering, this position is a great way to find out what area of the park you like best. Education, maintenance, customer service, outreach, conservation, or a combination of these are potential areas for you to explore. We'll chat with you to find out what you're most interested in when it comes to your volunteer time and experience. Requirements: We will proform a crimanl background check (at no cost to you). Must be able to lift at least 40 lbs. Very likely that you will need to be able to stand for long periods of time and walk at least a mile easily. Minimum age: 18
Contact Person: John Bell
Contact Phone: (325) 572-3204
Overview: Interpretive volunteers provide quality educational programs to park visitors, including families and school groups. Interpretive programs are mostly done on the weekend, except for school field trips that are held during the week. There will also be opportunities to assist with outdoor educational events such as archery, fishing, and geocaching. On-site interpretive training will be provided. Volunteers start out assisting a Park Interpreter or Master Naturalist with programs and can work their way up to designing and leading their own programs if they chose.Requirements: A criminal background check is required (at no cost to you). You must be able to walk/hike trail for 1-2 hours at a time. Benefits: This is a great opportunity for those seeking employment with Texas Parks and Wildlife, want to improve their public speaking skills, or wish to gain informal education experience. Contact the park at 325-572-3204 and ask for John Bell if you have any questions or if you would like assistance applying.Minimum age: 18
Overview: Maintenance volunteers assist Park Rangers with facilities and grounds maintenance by mowing grass, performing trail maintenance, and assisting with other park projects as needed. Due to a limited number of vehicles being available, you may be required to drive your own to complete duties.Requirements: A criminal background check is required (at no cost to you). You must be able to lift at least 40 pounds and show proficiency in operating various equipment, including weed eaters, zero-turn mowers, and leaf blowers. Position also requires standing for long periods of time, carrying, and walking.Benefits: This is a great opportunity for those seeking employment with Texas Parks and Wildlife to gain experience. It''s also great for those who like to work with their hands and want to spend more time outside. Minimum age: 18
Park Hosts assist park staff with various duties that include but are not limited to: trash pickup, fire-ring maintenance, minor construction projects, vehicle repair, assisting with schools groups, special events, and interpretive programs, working the concession stand at our pool and collecting fees at our headquarters. Park Hosts work a minimum of 24 hours a week for individuals and 30 hours for couples. A Criminal Background Check is required. All of our sites are 30 & 50amp.
Contact Person: Johnathan Bell
Contact Phone: (325) 352-6154
This is on going survey of butterflys found at ABK.
Program: Albert and Bessie Kronkosky State Natural Area
Contact Person: Howell Pugh
Contact Phone: (830) 328-2528
NOTE: ABKSNA does not have Park Host opportunities at this time.Position: Volunteer Site AssistantsResponsibilities: Various plant and animal surveys, fence repair, brush clearing, site cleanup, program development, outreach events, grounds maintenance, preparations for future public opening of site.Requirements: Attend required orientation training and safety training, and pass criminal background check.Desired Qualifications: Commitment to conserving and managing natural/cultural resources, use of various tools and equipment, comfortable speaking with public, natural/ cultural history knowledge, support for TPWD's mission.Time Required: Open
This opportunity is for Ambassador Alumni to log all volunteer hours after the successful completion of their Ambassadorship.
Program: Ambassador Program
Contact Person: Dorothy Martinez
Contact Phone: (512) 298-9090
In exchange for 24-32 hours per week, Park Hosts are provided with a 50 amp sewer, water and electric campsite. Duties include campground and day use maintenance, restrooms, special projects, trail maintenance and customer service. Duties dependant upon the current park needs and skills of the volunteer. Background Check Required.
Program: Atlanta State Park
Contact Person: Kayla Williams
Contact Phone: (903) 796-6476
The diving clean up will take place prior to our annual pool cleaning from April 21st-May 9th, 2025. We would need assistance with clearing out rocks and debris from the gate near the high dive. As well as collecting any items at the bottom of the pool that are not naturally there. Required:Applicant must be at least 18 yrs. and must be able to pass a criminal back ground check.Must have a valid Diver Certification Card. Thank You for your interest in volunteering for Texas State Parks!!
Program: Balmorhea State Park
Contact Person: Tara Fattouh
Contact Phone: (432) 375-2370
Pool/Spring cleaning will be on May 5-9th, 2025. Volunteers will assist with scraping, shoveling, and power washing algae out of the pool. Will help paint areas/stain fence that need to be painted/stained, clean bath houses, trash removal, netting fish, weed eating, cutting reeds, and replace picnic tables. Will be working outdoors, even if there is inclement weather. The hours may vary.Required:Applicant must be at least 18 yrs. and must be able to pass a criminal back ground check.Thank You for your interest in volunteering for Texas State Parks!!
Volunteer will remove dead plants, water, trim, and make sure that the park plants are healthy and groomed. Must have experience in gardening and/or landscaping. Must also have adequate knowledge of desert plants that are native to and non-native to the Chihuahuan Desert.Required:-Applicant must be at least 18 yrs. -Must be able to pass a criminal background check
Basic duties may include: campground checks, janitorial duties, roving patrol in pool area, light maintenance, customer service, supporting office staff, assisting after-hours check-ins, etc. 32 hrs/week/couple, 24 hrs/week/individual. Work days/shifts may vary but can usually be tailored to park host's schedules.Help our team steward and protect this unique Texas State Park for use today and by future generations. You can spend time in a beautiful place while assisting the park with critical operations. Volunteers are our greatest natural resource!To meet our business needs, we are looking for park hosts who can go beyond basic campground duties to contribute in one of the following areas:- carpentry skills- masonry skills- front desk duties- interpretation (leading engaging walks and talks and tours)Requirements: Must be 18 or over. Pass a Criminal Background Check, provided references, and examples of carpentry/ masonry work. Important Notes: Balmorhea State park is located in a remote area. Cellular coverage can be limited however, Verizon wireless works well in the park. Park hours are from 8Am till 7:30 PM, most of the Park Host shifts will take place in the later hours of the afternoon through the evening. The park will offer laundry facilities for Park Hosts to use in the near future.Minimum age: 18
Volunteer will assist in interpretive programs such as school groups, public programs, or special events that occur within the park. Sharing information of the State Park's history, plants, and wildlife while interacting with the public.
2025 - Openings for months of May through December. (minimum 3, maximum 6 month stay).
Come join our team and experience life beneath the pines at Bastrop State Park! Spend a season in the scenic Lost Pines of Bastrop and help contribute to your Texas State Parks. Willing and eager with a can-do attitude? Then we want you! Bastrop State Park is looking for motivated couples or individuals to come enjoy the wonderful smell of loblolly pines while helping our superior park staff with daily park needs. Park Hosts assist in many aspects of park operations from maintenance, cleaning, visitor assistance, and interpretive programming.Ideal team members will have a positive and friendly attitude, a willingness to interact with visitors, good communication skills, and be capable of being flexible. The host position is for 3 to 6 months and requires at least 25 hours of volunteer work per week. In exchange for those hours we will provide you with a full hookup site (50 amp) at no charge! We also provide access to a washer and dryer facility. Also enjoy wonderful shopping and dining experiences in historic downtown Bastrop, which is only a five minute drive away from the park. Nearby cities of Austin, Houston and San Antonio provide additional day off opportunities! Duties of the Park Host Required:
- Clean and maintain bathrooms - Oversee and maintain assigned campground loop, including but not limited to, trash pick-up of entire loop, clean out fire rings, mow/weed-eat entire camping loop, remove weeds from tent pads - Assist with historic CCC cabin cleaning - Assist visitorsOther duties include but are not limited to:- Assist with park grounds maintenance - Assist with Interpretive tours/hikes and programs- Assist with miscellaneous tasks, projects and programs.Minimum 25 hours a week with days off mainly on days other than weekends as assigned by park management needs. Must be willing and capable of cleaning bathrooms and occasionally helping with cabins. Applicants need to be available at least 3 consecutive months and will have the option to stay up to 6 months.Must be at least 18 years old and must pass a criminal background check
Program: Bastrop State Park
Contact Person: Madalyn Miller
Contact Phone: (512) 718-0211
New Volunteers must sign up for the Tree Inventory Training Event on April 12,2025. You cannot sign up for Tree Inventory shifts until you go to the Tree Inventory Training Event. Scroll down to April 12th and click the blue "sign up" button. Participants will learn how to collect data for our Forest Inventory as part of our Forest Management plan. There will be a classroom portion with background, instructions, tree ID, and how the information is used. Then we will go into the field and do a few plots to familiarize everyone with the process. Volunteer Tree Inventory events will consist of a crew of 3 to 4 volunteers at a time for 4 hours shifts.Training Day - What to Expect: 8am to 12pm: Power point instruction/lecture inside the Meeting Room at Bastrop State Park.12pm to 3:30pm: Field training. Be prepared to be outdoors hiking through areas of the forest that have thick vegetation with no trails. At the training volunteers will learn the history of forest management in the park. They'll learn why tree inventory is important, what we learn from the data and how to gather the data. In the field we will learn to navigate to inventory areas with GPS and conduct an hour or two of tree inventories so that everyone gets good hands on training. After this training volunteers should be able to conduct Tree Inventories with out a staff member present. After the training volunteers are expected to sign up for 2 or more inventory events a month.Bring: Sack lunch, snacks, bottled water, note pad and writing utensil, sun and bug protection. Wear weather appropriate clothing, close toed shoes, pants, long sleeve recommended. *Recommended for able bodied persons as inventory takes place in thick vegetation, off trails, and can require miles of hiking through very uneven terrain with lots of tripping hazards.Field Duties Include: Conditions during field training and during all other tree inventory volunteer events: Outdoors, off trail, through forest vegetation/thick vegetation, uneven terrain, hazardous plants in some areas. Volunteers need to be able to hike 4 to 5 miles off trail, hiking over downed tree logs, through thick brush, up hills, possibly down ravines, watching for stump holes/vines/hazardous vegetation and other hazards.Required Qualifications: Must have gone to the in person Tree Inventory Training on Saturday, 1/27/24, 4/13/24, 10/12/24 or go to the Tree Inventory Training on April 12 before signing up for shifts.Time Commitment: Minimum of signing up for two shifts a month. One shift is 4 hours long. These tree inventories will be going on all year. Time slots every Saturday and Sunday morning/afternoons. Shifts will be 4 hours in the morning and 4 hours in the afternoon. If we have enough interest for weekday inventory then we will open up time slots then as well.
Join us for the annual Bentsen Outdoor Skills Showcase aka the B.O.S.S. event! Help us put on an evening of fun outdoor activities for the whole family! There are a wide variety of opportunities available to assist with.When: Saturday, September 20th, 2025; Event will be from 3-7pm.Major Duties:· Duties may vary but can include: shuttle drivers, booth attendants, program assistants, greeters, set-up and take-down helpers, maintenance / janitorial assistants, parking attendants, relief work, and more. There is something for everybody!Requirements:· Must pass a Criminal Background Check· Must possess a valid Driver's License and be authorized to use park vehicles if required for your station.· Able and willing to work in an outdoor setting.· Must be willing to greet and interact with visitors in a professional mannerTime Commitment: Approximately 4-6 hrs. (depending on duties) with a break to enjoy festivities.Benefits: · Free entry to the event.· A light dinner provided by the park.· B.O.S.S. promotional swagContact: Volunteer Coordinator T.C. Riddle, (956) 584-9156, thomas.riddle@tpwd.texas.gov
Program: Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park
Contact Person: Thomas Riddle
Contact Phone: (956) 584-9156
Do you enjoy meeting new people? Do you love wildlife and Texas State Parks? Can you spare half a day a week to spend out in nature? If you answered yes to these, then our Nature Center Attendant Position may be the perfect opportunity for you!This position's purpose is to serve as a front-line visitor resource for park information while offering and maintaining Nature Center resources.Major Duties include:
If you want to combine the appeal of being a winter Texan with the opportunity to support one of the most unique birding areas in the country, this opportunity could be for you!This host position assists park maintenance department with various duties to include but not limited to: cleaning and organizing maintenance shop area and painting park facilities such as benches, parking areas, and other assets as needed. Performs restroom cleaning and litter patrol duties as needed. Cleans and maintains park water features, assists with the maintenance and upkeep of mowing equipment, assists with mowing and weed eating as needed, assists with park trail maintenance and litter patrol. Assists with landscaping gardening of butterfly gardens. Special skills are highly desired such as knowledge of plumbing, woodworking, and painting techniques. Assists with other tasks as needed. This volunteer opportunity is available to qualified applicants beginning October 1, 2025 and is open to either couples or individuals. In exchange for 20 hours a week for a single person or 30 hours a week (15 hours per person) for couples hosts are provided with a full hook-up campsite with water, electricity (30/50 amp) and sewer hookups. This host opportunity is for a minimum of a three month term between the months of October 1, 2025 through April 30, 2026. Criminal Background Check is required.
If you want to combine the appeal of being a winter Texan with the opportunity to support one of the most unique birding areas in the country, this opportunity could be for you!This host position assists with greeting and orienting visitors to the park. Assists with park store sales and issuing permits. Assists with minor cleaning of store area, restrooms and bird feeders and water features. Assists with stocking and maintaining bird feeding stations. Assists with staffing of nature center and sharing park events and information with visitors of all ages. Assists with maintaining and landscaping gardening of butterfly gardens. Skills in customer service are highly desired. This volunteer opportunity is available to qualified applicants beginning October 1, 2025 and is open to either couples or individuals. In exchange for 20 hours a week for a single person or 30 hours a week (15 hours per person) for couples hosts are provided with a full hook-up campsite with water, electricity (30/50 amp) and sewer hookups. This host opportunity is for a minimum of a three month term between the months of October 1, 2025 through April 30, 2026. Criminal Background Check is required.
