Location: Kountze, TX
Active. Daily hikes up to 3 miles
Front country: structured housing at a field research station
New project alert! We’re headed to Big Thicket National Preserve to help preserve the imperiled iconic longleaf pine savannah ecosystem!
Service Project Details
Longleaf pine savanna is an imperiled ecosystem iconic to Big Thicket National Preserve consisting of widely spaced pine trees and abundant grasses and wildflowers. The preserve is restoring several hundred acres of Longleaf pine savanna and needs assistance planting native grasses in ongoing restoration sites. This project would enlist volunteers to rake and broadcast seed onto patches of soil throughout restoration areas that have been recently cleared of vegetation. The work would require hiking across uneven ground and using hand tools to plant up to 150 acres. The project sites are accessible by public and non-public roads but may require hiking up to 1/4 mile. Volunteers will need to be able to bend, squat, lift to 15 lbs., use garden rakes, and hike over uneven flat terrain.
THIS IS A HYBRID PROJECT OF NORMAL VOLUNTEERS + LEADER TRAINEES.
FOR VOLUNTEERS: This will be a normal project model with leader trainees practicing their skills during the project with the supervision and guidance of two experienced project leaders.
FOR LEADER TRAINEES: Receive leader training for future Wilderness Volunteers projects during this project. We are specifically looking for people who are comfortable and competent in outdoor settings, are people-oriented, and feel a strong sense of giving something back. Like a typical project, we’ll conduct four days of service work and a free day with leadership topics covered around the work project and basecamp. Participants will learn about planning and cooking for groups, working with the agencies, managing risks, teaching Leave No Trace and more.
Once you’ve successfully completed this leadership course, you will be eligible to co-lead Wilderness Volunteers projects around the country. After you’ve led your first trip, you’ll also be eligible for a refund of your Leader Training project fee. Volunteer leaders do not pay trip fees on trips they are leading and receive modest reimbursement for travel to the projects they staff.
Project Leaders: Aidalicia Swertfeger and Steve Breitbach
Agency Website
Itinerary:
Sunday, April 20th. The Volunteer group meets at a time/place TBD. The group will go through check-in, introductions, an orientation, and will help set up camp in preparation for the work week ahead.
Monday, April 21st. Workday.
Tuesday, April 22nd. Workday.
Wednesday, April 23rd. Day off.
Thursday, April 24th. Workday.
Friday, April 25th. Workday.
Saturday, April 26th. Break down camp, goodbyes, and depart.
Nearest Cities
Beaumont, TX
Houston, TX
Nearest Airports
Jack Brooks Regional Aiport (BPT) – ~46 miles away
George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) – ~47 miles away
William P. Hobby Airport (HOU) – ~92 miles away
Free Time Details
Go the preserve Visitor Center, hike trails, rent kayaks and paddle Village Creek, may be able to provide free group paddle program guided by NPS staff.
Accommodations
Front country: structured housing at a field research station
Difficulty
Active. Daily hikes up to 3 miles
Task Details
Swinging, digging, shoveling, pulling, pushing, leveraging, bending over, lopping, etc.
Equipment List
View Equipment List