234 Ranch Road 1050, Concan, TX 78838, US
Volunteer Position Listing
Visitor Center
Help is often needed at the Visitor Center. Summer, spring break, and holidays are especially busy times. Contact Susan, the Visitor Center manager at 830-232-5999, or email info@friendsofgarner.org.
Newsletter
Editor/Publisher
Use our software or bring your own and help us put out our newsletter. Share, practice, or attempt new computer or writing skills.
Nature Gardeners
Gardeners
The Nature Garden at the Visitor Center shows visitors examples of the various plants found around the park and this part of the Texas Hill Country. The garden requires continuous weeding. Often signage needs replacing or revising. Sometimes plants need replacing or extra watering. You don't have to be a Master Gardener but maybe you will meet another volunteer who is. Help in the outdoors and share your knowledge with others volunteering or just visiting the park.
Hayrides committee
Hayrides are a long-time tradition unique to Garner State Park. Rides usually take place mid-week during Spring Break and May through the first week in August. The number of hayrides is usually governed by the number of volunteers we can get to drive and narrate. The ride takes several routes that must be maintained. Consider helping with the hayrides.
Hayride Coordinator
1 volunteer needed
One volunteer is needed to coordinate hayrides by creating a calendar and scheduling volunteer drivers and narrators. Also involved is arranging volunteers for: a) procurement of water bottles for refreshments, trash bags, hay bales once a year, and any identified repairs or maintenance to the ice machine, hay tractor, or hay wagon, or to the trails and routes used by the hayrides. Contact Dirk Foshee, a Friends of Garner board member, the visitor center, or email info@friendsofgarner.org.
Hayride Driver
2+ volunteers
Multiple volunteers are needed to drive the hayride tractor, a 50hp Ford clutch drive 9 speed diesel. Completion of FOG driver training and TPWD driving course is required. Contact a Friends of Garner board member, the visitor center, or email info@friendsofgarner.org.
Hayride Narrator
2+ volunteers
Multiple volunteers are needed to narrate the hayride. A script is available, or you may write your own from past narratives and stories told before. Familiarity with the park, its birds, animals, and trees would be helpful. Although we have a volunteer who was a radio announcer, previous experience is NOT required. Contact a Friends of Garner board member, the visitor center, or email info@friendsofgarner.org.
Quarterly Highway Clean-ups
Friends of Garner maintains litter control on a two-mile section of highway US83 from near Beck's RV Camp north to near the intersection of Ranch Road 1050. Held usually on weekends or near holidays, we start before the day gets hot and in about 2 hours cover about .3 to .5 miles of the roadside.
Highway Cleanup Coordinator Volunteer needed
1 volunteer needed
A coordinator is needed with organizing, instructing, and equipping each of the quarterly highway clean-ups. An email burst or website banner is done to publicize the event. For more information contact a Friends of Garner board member or the visitor center manager.
Highway Cleanup volunteers needed
volunteers needed
Working in pairs or teams, volunteers are needed to perform the litter pickup. Volunteers usually meet at Park Headquarters and review safety rules, liability releases, where pickup, and hand out litter tools and bags. More information is available usually on our website around the time of these events.
Night Skies committee
Dark Sky Advocate
Volunteers
The dark skies committee volunteers to a) educate others of and spread the joys of the Garner night sky, b) work on making Garner State Park recognized as a dark-sky park by the IDA, c) organize and participate in monthly star parties, c) manage, maintain, and share the Friends of Garner observing equipment. Contact Terry Berkstresser, a Friends of Garner board member, the visitor center, or email info@friendsofgarner.org.
Vending committee
Friends of Garner maintains and provides soft drinks and water at vending machines near the restroom locations. The machines raise monies for the park as well as quench the thirst of many a Garner visitor.
Procurement and Loading
2 volunteers needed
Volunteers are needed to order, receive, or pickup replenishments and then load them into the vending machines as they get emptied. Background check and TPWD volunteer registration needed. Contact Scott Davis, a Friends of Garner board member, the visitor center, or email info@friendsofgarner.org.
Collections
2 volunteers needed
Volunteers are needed to collect monies from the vending machines and see it deposited. Background check, TPWD volunteer registration, and previous FoG volunteer participation is needed. Contact Scott Davis, a Friends of Garner board member, the visitor center, or email info@friendsofgarner.org.
Recycling committee
Friends of Garner recycles aluminum cans collected at the park. We maintain a can trailer for taking the cans to a recycler's location.
Park Recycling Collection
volunteers needed
Volunteers are needed to collect cans and other recyclables in the park and load them into can trailers and dumpsters. This is an effort also provided by Garner's Park Hosts. Contact the visitor center or our park’s TPWD Interpreter Ranger, for more information.
Recycling Delivery
2 volunteers needed
Volunteers are needed to deliver cans and recyclable goods to local recycling vendors. This involves volunteering use of your personal vehicle to pull the Friends of Garner's recycle trailer to Kerrville or another recycling facility. Reimbursement for gas or mileage is provided. Usually, two or three trips a year are needed. Contact Ed Mack, the visitor center, or email info@friendsofgarner.org.
Birding committee
Friends of Garner maintains a bird blind to display and conserve the birding nature of the local region. There are also multiple bird feeders kept around the Visitor Center that need attention.
Birding Committee Member
2 volunteers needed
Volunteers are needed to keep the bird blind in good order. There are feeders that need regular bird seed filling, a rainwater collection system provides water and often needs repair or refilling during periods of drought. Repairing may involve visits to a feed store or hardware store to pick up feed supplies or materials. Home repair skills are good to have. Contact the Visitor Center Manager, Susan, for information or to volunteer.
Birding Surveyor
2 volunteers needed
Volunteers are needed to assist our TPWD park interpreter to identify the existence of the Golden Cheeked Warbler or other bird(s) nesting in Garner Park. You will hike to identified locations and record hearing and/or seeing birds at specific times or during specific intervals. Contact our TPWD Interpreter Ranger for more information.
Trails committee
Friends of Garner helps maintain the trails that crisscross our hills and follow along our river. We also offer guided hikes to view the nature of the state park and the contributions of the Civil Conservation Corp.
Hiking Trail Guide
2 volunteers needed
Volunteers are needed to provide guided hikes up specific trails such as the Foshee Trail, Crystal Cave, and Wild Horse Trail. Volunteers are expected to learn, know, and describe the plants, birds, and animals commonly seen along the trail to visitors that sign up to join a scheduled hike. Contact the Visitor Center Manager, Susan, our TPWD Interpretive Ranger, or info@friendsofgarner.org for information on these positions.
Some positions require a background check and TPWD volunteer registration acceptance.
WE HELP TO SUSTAIN & IMPROVE GARNER PARK FOR ALL GENERATIONS
Notice
Our Visitor Center is currently closed for renovation and installation of new exhibits.
Coming events:
FOG Board Meeting 1/17/25, 5pm
FOG Annual Trail Clean Up 1/17-19/2025
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