August 16, 2012 - 2:56pm
Baytown’s Eddie V. Gray Wetlands Education Center (1724 Market Street) and the Baytown Nature Center (6213 Baytown Drive) are currently seeking volunteers who share a love for the environment, like children, and want to make a difference in their community. The sister sites will hold a joint orientation/basic training on Wednesday, August 29 at the Wetlands Center.
Volunteer orientation/basic training begins with an orientation session from 8:30 am – 11:30 am which covers the mission, history, facilities and future of the two centers. Prospective volunteers will learn about the centers’ programs and the type of help needed. After a lunch break, participants who wish to work in the environmental education programs will attend the Basic Training session from 12:30 – 3:30 pm. Further training with experienced volunteers will occur when students begin coming to the Wetlands Center and Nature Center in September.
During the school year, all Goose Creek Consolidated Independent School District fifth and seventh graders visit the Wetlands Center/Nature Center for a day. Fifth-grade students participate in ExxonMobil’s Wetlands Ecology program and Bayer’s Making Science Make Sense program. The two sites also offer a Liquid Science program to all GCCISD seventh graders, sponsored by Rotary Club of Baytown. Baytown Nature Center hosts Back to the Bay for high school science students. Volunteers are needed to teach and assist with these programs. Previous teaching experience is not required. All the basic information for each program will be provided.
Other volunteer duties such as clerical, carpentry or animal care at the Wetlands Center and stewardship/maintenance work at the Nature Center do not require further formal training; however do require some hands-on training.
“Baytown is fortunate to have two such special facilities as the nature center and wetlands center,” said Outreach/Volunteer Coordinator Mary Alice Trumble. “Our award-winning environmental education programs have earned national recognition. Now we’re looking for people in the community who want to make sure these educational opportunities continue for our children.”
Reservations for the training should be made by Wednesday, August 22. For more information, to register or to request a Volunteer Opportunities brochure, phone the Wetlands Center at 281-420-7128 or email to MaryAlice.Trumble@baytown.org.
