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Overview: Abilene State Park is seeking friendly faces to assist our headquarters staff. Volunteers will be responsible for providing excellent customer service to park visitors, collecting fees, checking in campers, and selling park store merchandise. Duties also include performing light cleaning and organizational duties. Requirements: HQ volunteers are required on the weekends and must commit to volunteering for at least 6 hours a month. A criminal background check (at no cost to you) and knowledge of computers are required. Must pass a fiscal control test before being allowed to operate a cash drawer. Volunteers must also be willing to wear a provided uniform shirt and be comfortable handling money. Benefits: This is a great opportunity for those who are seeking employment with Texas State Parks, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, or just want to get out of the house. Contact the park at 325-572-3204 and ask for John Bell if you have any questions or if you would like assistance applying.
Program: Abilene State Park
Contact Person: John Bell
Contact Phone: (325) 352-6154
Click here for details or to sign up
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 - $100Let's be Friends!
Contact Person: Candyce Johnson
Contact Phone: (325) 267-4871
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 perform a criminal background check (at no cost to you). Must be able to lift at least 40 lbs. Very likely that you will need to stand for long periods of time and walk at least a mile.
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.
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.
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.
Texas Wildlife Association's Adult Learn to Hunt Program focuses on introducing novice hunters interested in forging a connection between conservation, hunting and sustainable eating. Participants will also learn valuable skills related to skinning, butchering and cooking techniques associated with wild game. Upon applying to the program, applications will be reviewed, and hunters will be contacted once chosen to participate.
Program: Adult Learn to Hunt Program
Contact Person: Matt Hughes
Contact Phone: (210) 288-0688
Only certified TPWD NASP or USA Archery instructor volunteers may sign up for this opportunity. If you regularly work with audiences, are not currently certified and want to be, please contact ArcheryEdu@tpwd.texas.gov. Please note, this certification is not intended for those with an archery hobby, but instead those that instruct or have access to audiences.
Program: National Archery in the Schools
Contact Person: Joel Janssen
Contact Phone: (512) 517-5527
After being instructed to do so by the leadership at the Big Country chapter, register with TPWD to take the TMN volunteer certification training with the Big Country Master Naturalists - in Taylor and surrounding counties.We meet on the third Thursday at the Taylor County Extension Office in Abilene, TexasVisit our website.
Program: Big Country Master Naturalists
Contact Person: Big Country
Contact Phone: (325) 672-6048
Volunteer tasks:
Program: Big Spring State Park
Contact Person: Bianca Banda
Contact Phone: (806) 241-5741
The Buffalo Soldier Heritage and Outreach program is looking for you. The Texas Buffalo Soldiers program provides educational experiences that connect underrepresented populations with the outdoors through interpretive story telling of the Buffalo Soldiers, the country's first professional African American soldiers. The Texas Buffalo Solders program brings history to life with stories, costumes and tools. At one of our programs, you can learn how to track an animal, and fish with a cane pole. The Buffalo Soldiers program is looking for volunteers of all skills and abilities, including:- Photographers and videographers- General program assistance- Outdoor skill facilitators- Costumed interpreters.If no shifts available, please contact Coy Poitier for more information about volunteering.For Volunteers 15 and under, parental or guardian supervision is required.
Program: Buffalo Soldiers Heritage & Outreach Program
Contact Person: Coy Poitier
Contact Phone: (512) 287-5137
Current Openings:Park Host May- September 2026Jan- Dec 2026Do you enjoy the great outdoors and want to put your skills and abilities to use for Texas State Parks? If so, you'll love the scenic canyon landscape of Caprock Canyons State Park, not to mention the Official Texas State Bison Herd grazing out on the prairie. And, best of all, you'll earn a FREE water and electric campsite with full hookup just for helping us out at only 24 hours per week. Responsibilities include helping with visitation surveys when needed, various facilities and grounds maintenance duties, interpretive programming, and other volunteer duties as assigned. We ask hosts to clean 2 bathrooms daily and help park staff with any needs! Beginning in 2027 March- June we will need a CSR Volunteer to help in the front office.Customer Service experience required. We are excited to hear of any skills you would like to share! Park hosts will be provided a 50 amp RV site with water and sewer connections. You bring your own tent or RV camper. Good communication skills and a friendly demeanor are the desired qualifications for this opportunity as the Park Host will also assist with face to face communication with visitors. A criminal background check is required.
Program: Caprock Canyons State Park
Contact Person: Natalie Smith
Contact Phone: (806) 455-1492
This volunteer opportunity is designated for individuals who have been nominated and elected to serve as board members of the Caprock Partners Foundation. In partnership with Caprock Canyons State Park, these board members contribute their time, leadership, and expertise, to support the Foundation's mission and initiatives. Their role is vital in advancing conservation efforts, enhancing visitor experiences, and fostering community engagement with the park.These volunteers work closely with the park staff and other volunteers and board members to support the park's mission on conversation, recreation, and public education. *ONLY FOR NOMINATED AND ELECTED BOARD MEMEBERS OF CPF.
The volunteer State Park Police Career Opportunity Program (COP) will provide an opportunity for approved individuals with a demonstrated or sincere interest in conservation law enforcement to gain career or operational knowledge of the State Park Police occupation.Minimum Requirements: COP volunteers must have a minimum of 60 completed semester credit hours from a college or university.Below are the rider rules for this program. By signing up for this opportunity, you signify that you have read the rules and agree to follow them during your time with this program.Dress Code for Texas Parks & Wildlife Department Observers1. TPWD observers are to dress neatly and conservatively. No Blue jeans of any kind.2. Cleanliness is required at all times.3. Hair and facial hair must be well groomed.4. Shorts and cut-offs are prohibited.5. Clothing bearing any sign or symbol that advertises any product, business or organization will not be permitted.6. Clothing with offensive designs, logos, letters or devices is prohibited.7. Conservative type shoes or boots may be worn; sandals and bare feet are prohibited.Prohibited Acts:1. Will not consume alcoholic beverages prior to and during tours of duty.2. Will not use profane or abusive language during the tour of duty.3. Will not engage in excessive conversation, which may distract the Officer or interfere with hearing the police radio.4. Will not make remarks or voice opinions to complainants, witnesses, victims, violators, or suspects in any manner, which would tend to provoke or degrade anyone or escalate tension.5. Will not be allowed into a private residence during the execution of a search or arrest warrant.6. Will not make known to any unauthorized person, information that may compromise a police operation, procedure or investigation that is either in progress or proposed.7. Will not make known to unauthorized persons the identity of persons arrested, persons being confined in jail, or suspects in a criminal act.8. Will not use information learned during a tour of duty for personal gain.9. Will not carry weapons of any type. Observers possessing a license to carry a weapon will NOT be allowed to carry a weapon during a tour of duty.10. Non-sworn observers do not have any powers of an Officer and have no authority except when acting at the direction of an Officer.Texas Parks & Wildlife Department Observers Will:1. At all times conduct themselves with proper decorum.2. Remain in the police unit during routine traffic stops unless otherwise instructed by the Officer.3. Remain in or near the TPWD patrol unit during disturbance calls and calls of a serious nature to summon assistance by radio if needed, unless otherwise instructed by an Officer.
Program: State Park Police
Contact Person: Lt. EJ Rivera
Contact Phone: (361) 405-9039
"Sign Up" and record the hours you spend providing archery access, opportunities and education. This includes Explore Archery, Explore Bowhunting/Bowfishing, USA Archery classes and events (excluding NASP). Report ALL NASP archery activity at "NASP Archery Education Classes and Events.".Community Archery Instructors and Volunteers play a vital role in promoting TPWD''s Community Archery Program. The hours you contribute to a given activity and the number of people you reach are key ingredients to achieving our community archery objectives. Therefore, reporting your archery activity is imperative so that we can collect the data needed. Thank you for your continued effort in expanding the sport of archery.
Program: Community Archery North & West TX
Contact Person: Adam Lewis
Contact Phone: (512) 902-2890
Work with park staff under the direction of the volunteer coordinator on a variety of projects including trail maintenance, lake litter control, park litter control, assisting with park interpretation (education), minor maintenance projects, and assist with special events. This role is usually 90% outdoor work in changing Texas weather conditions. We will provide training. Once you are trained you will typically work alone or in small groups. This is a year round opportunity. Whether you want to help one hour or one hundred hours there is an opportunity for you at Copper Breaks.
Program: Copper Breaks State Park
Contact Person: Marci Frost
Contact Phone: (940) 839-4331 x4
Copper Breaks State Park is seeking energetic, friendly, and outgoing Park Hosts to assist in park office operations. Previous Park Host experience is not required, but preferred.Responsibilities:Work with park staff to assist day to day functions of the park office by:-Independently collect entrance and camping fees-Sell store merchandise-Answering phones-Orient visitors of the park; recommending trails and campsites-Provide excellent customer service-Restroom and facility cleaning duties.-Litter control-Other duties based on interests, skills, and park needs.These responsibilities include the use of multi-line phone system; use of computers, printers & copiers, other office machines; handling cash; and radio communication.Requirements: -Must support the TPWD and State Park mission by complying with all Agency, Division, and Branch rules, regulations, and procedures.-Work a minimum of 24 volunteer hours per week. -Must pass background check. -Minimum Age: 18Office Clerk Park Hosts report for volunteer duty at the Park Headquarters Office during office hours and should expect to work on weekends, evenings and holidays based on park needs.Benefits: As a Park Host Front Office Clerk, you will have the opportunity to meet new people and help park visitors to have a memorable experience. In exchange for your time, you will be authorized to stay in the park for a FREE full hookup camp host site! For the duration of your volunteer service, you are provided with a full hook-up site (water, 30/50/110 electric, and sewer) for free. Verizon service works well throughout the park, AT&T and Sprint services are not dependable.Months of Service: Preferred 4-6 months minimum between Feb 2025-Nov 2025
Copper Breaks State Park is seeking for helpful and motivated Park Hosts to assist in daily operations. Previous Park Host experience is not required, but preferred.Responsibilities:Work with staff to assist in day to day functions of the park as assigned. Tasks may include but are not limited to:-Independently answering visitor questions and providing excellent customer service.-Campsite checks.-Collection of entrance fees.-Litter clean-up.-Restroom and facility cleaning and maintenance.-Campsite maintenance to include cleaning fire rings and grills.-Trail Maintenance.-Assistance with interpretive programming.-Assistance with outreach programming.-Assistance with field trip programming.-Small projects as needed.-Other duties based on interests, skills, and park needs.Requirements: -Must support the TPWD and State Park mission by complying with all Agency, Division, and Branch rules, regulations, and procedures.-Work a minimum of 24 volunteer hours per week for an individual or 30 volunteer hours per week split between a couple.-Must follow agency procedures, dress and grooming standards.-Pass a background check. -Minimum Age: 18Benefits: As a Park Host, you will have the opportunity to meet new people and help park visitors to have a memorable experience. In exchange for your time, you will be authorized to stay in the park for a FREE full hookup camp host site! For the duration of your volunteer service, you are provided with a full hook-up site (water, 30/50/110 electric, and sewer) for free. Verizon service works well throughout the park, AT&T and Sprint services are not dependable.Preferred Length of Service: 3 months
