Volunteer Opportunity Spotlight: Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge

24518 Ranch Rd 1431, Marble Falls

The Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge, which is owned and managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, was established in 1992 to preserve habitat for the endangered golden-cheeked warbler and black-capped vireo. Its current size is approximately 28,000 acres. There are a variety of volunteer opportunities at the Refuge, which are described on the volunteer page of the Friends of Balcones Canyonlands website.

Ryan Beach organizes trail work days from 8:30 – 11:30 on the second Saturday of the month from October to April. The workday location (Warbler Vista, Doeskin Ranch, or the Refuge  headquarters) is chosen about a week before the workday based on the priority for maintenance and recent weather events. Upcoming dates are October 10th, November 14th, and December 12th. Contact Ryan at trails@friendsofbalcones.org or ryan@friendsofbalcones.org. 

Other volunteer opportunities include birding events, such as Sparrowfest, Songbird Tours & Birding Hikes, pollinator garden watering/maintenance, guided hike leaders, school field trip volunteers, visitor center hosts, and Refuge Ambassadors. In addition, there are special events like the upcoming Refuge Round-up on October 31st, which needs volunteers to help with parking and staffing the various science and environmental activities for kids.

Park ranger Stephanie Jones coordinates these volunteer opportunities. You can contact her at stephanie_jones@fws.gov or by filling out the Volunteer Inquiries form on the Friends of Balcones Canyonlands volunteer page.