Nature center seeking volunteers
Training will impart broad knowledge of the history, workings of the Rio Grande ecosystems
Do you love to go outside and share nature with others? The Rio Grande Nature Center State Park is looking for those interested in the ecosystem of the bosque to help it spread the word about this unique resource. Training for potential volunteers is planned for seven Fridays — from Feb. 3 to March 17, from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
According to Dave Hutton, who has been a volunteer at the center for the past decade and is president of the nonprofit Friends of the Rio Grande Nature Center State Park, the training is more about education than “training.”
“It (the training) takes a lot of time,” he says. “But you really come out of there with a great understanding of all the park has to offer. And what a diverse resource it is for an urban area.”
At the end, participants can decide at what level they want to volunteer.
“The largest group we had come to the training was 60. Generally, it’s about 20; about a third go on to become regular volunteers.”
During the training, Hutton said, educators will review the history of the river and discuss the impact of human activities. Participants will also learn about the impact of human activities as well as restoration measures underway.
Trainees will examine the mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, invertebrates and plants that make up the bosque’s web of life and learn ways to support the Nature Center in its mission to preserve and protect the bosque, to educate the public about Rio Grande ecosystems, and to foster positive interactions with those ecosystems.
To request a volunteer application and register in advance, call (505) 344-7240 or download an application at rgnc.org.