Volunteering at Exploration Green
Volunteers are the backbone of the Exploration Green Conservancy. The Conservancy currently has no paid staff. Everything except the detention lake excavation (which is managed by the Clear Lake City Water Authority), and the irrigation system and hike & bike trail construction (which is contracted) is done by committed community volunteers.
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Exploration Green seeks volunteers with enthusiasm for the mission. That is, don’t think that you have to have a “green thumb” to help with tree planting or be a public relations professional to help with communications. Our core volunteers will help and coach, or we will learn this together.
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Check out brief descriptions of current volunteer needs below. NOTE: The Estimated Time Commitment is only to give you an idea of how much time these activities take. As a volunteer, you can put as much or as little time into it as you wish.
For the “outdoorsy” people…
While it is said volunteers are the backbone of the Exploration Green project, the outdoors volunteers provide the muscle. For those of you who like to work outside and see a more tangible result of your efforts, we suggest the following:
Tree Nursery:
Tree Nursery volunteers ensure the “pipeline” of donated trees from Trees for Houston provides viable trees for planting on the phases as they are completed. Activities include unloading shipments of trees, re-potting trees to larger pots as they grow, weeding the pots and the surrounding mats.
Estimated Time Commitment – Tree nursery work days are generally held the second and last Saturdays of the month, from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM (noon).
Wetland Nursery:
Wetland Nursery volunteers work in the wetland nursery to propagate plants for all the phases of wetland planting. These plants help secure the soil around the banks to prevent erosion as well as slow the water and debris from stormwater to aid in cleaning the water. Volunteers pot plants in one gallon nursery pots and occasionally have to separate the pots out as the plants grow. Volunteers also comprise the large scale weekend planting events to put all the wetland plants in their new homes.
Estimated Time Commitment – Workdays are Thursdays from 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM (summer) and 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM (noon)(fall – spring). The Wetland Nursery also has a “first” Saturday of the month workday from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM (noon) for those who can’t make the weekday workdays.
Tree Planting Events:
Tree planting events are held in the spring and fall, depending on the status of the excavation of each of the phases. Activities included staging the trees at the area to be planted, planting and staking the trees following a brief training by Trees for Houston or Exploration Green core volunteers.
Estimated Time Commitment – Tree planting events are generally held over two successive weekends, once or twice in the spring and fall (two to four tree planting days total). Tree planting events are held on Saturdays, 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM (noon).
Wetland Planting Events:
Once the areas are released from construction, The Wetland Nursery coordinates Saturday planting events. Exploration Green welcomes groups of all sizes from Cub Scouts, Scouts, BSA, Crews, Girl Scouts, Heritage Girls, church groups, school groups and other organizations. Family planting is encouraged. We allow children as young as 5 years old with parental supervision.
Estimated Time Commitment – Wetland planting events are held on Saturdays, 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM (noon).
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NOTE: Any of the outdoor projects that will involve tool use will require you to complete Exploration Green Conservancy’s combination liability and media release form. Click the button below to download the Exploration Green Liability/Media Release Form.
It helps speed up the sign-in process if you print and complete the waiver before you arrive.
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Volunteers under the age of 18 must have the form completed including the name and signature of a parent or legal guardian to be allowed to participate.
For the “indoorsy” people…
Not everyone is interested in working outside. Exploration Green needs people with administrative skills, creative skills, and/or a passion for talking about Exploration Green with others. For those people we suggest the following:
Development Committee
The Development Committee writes grant proposals, organizes fundraising events and develops fundraising campaigns to provide the capital Exploration Green needs to host public events, pay for amenities, and continues construction. This can also include preparation of fundraising letters and reaching out to potential corporate and business donors.
Estimated Time Commitment – A two-hour meeting once a month and several hours reading, planning or writing. Additional activities vary month to month depending on specific events.
Communications Committee
Help raise awareness about Exploration Green special events and volunteer opportunities by helping with social media postings, website updates, press releases, and news media outreach. The Communications Committee also reaches out to network with business and community leaders, and elected officials and their staffs, and supports information booths at local events such as Earth Day celebrations.
Estimated Time Commitment – A two-hour meeting once a month and periodic e-mail correspondence with other committee members, plus addition meetings that vary month to month. Several hours planning, capturing images, writing, or posting to social media.
Projects Committee
Join this team and help with implementing the great design and amenities of Exploration Green. We are looking for those that are willing to work on various projects, like graphic design for Conservancy signage all the way to implementation and support of Scout projects at EGC!
Estimated Time Commitment – Monthly meeting and several hours on site planning, researching purchases, and arranging construction.
Events Committee
The events committee plans the activities that draw the community in to Exploration Green, such as Glow the Green, Squawk Walk, and Sunset Yoga.
Estimated Time Commitment - A two-hour meeting once a month and periodic e-mail correspondence with other committee members, plus additional meetings and activities to prepare for and set up events.
Advisory Committee
The Advisory Committee consists of community members with various specific skills and experience who are not voting members on the Executive Board, but provide expert guidance and resources to the Board. Texas Master Naturalists are just one example.
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For more information about any of these activities or to join one of Exploration Green's committees, please contact us at explorationgreen@gmail.com.
Special Projects
Exploration Green is proud to be the home of nearly two dozen projects proposed and constructed by the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and Texas Master Naturalists. These projects have included tool sheds for the tree nursery, benches in the nurseries for volunteers to relax, bat roosting boxes, bluebird boxes, bee boxes, pollinator gardens within Exploration Green, compost bins for the tree nursery (shown at left), and more!
If you have a specific project you think would benefit Exploration Green within its mission, please contact us at explorationgreen@gmail.com.