News Release
NPS Photo / Nathan Pattee
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Contact: Heidi Dietze, 409-812-5121
KOUNTZE, Texas – On September 24, 2022, Big Thicket National Preserve will be taking part in National Public Lands Day (NPLD), the nation’s largest single-day volunteer event on public lands, held every year on the fourth Saturday of September. Volunteers at national parks give more than just hours on a time sheet—with their dedication and giving spirit, they play a vital role in preservation and protection, and greatly enhance the work of park staff.
Big Thicket is hosting three simultaneous volunteer events on September 24:
- Pollinator Gardening • 9 am–12 noon • Big Thicket Field Research Station, 16890 FM 770, Saratoga
Help plant a prairie pollinator garden to attract and support the bees, butterflies, and other pollinators vital to the sustainment of many habitats, including ours. - Trash Pick-Up • 9–11 am • US Hwy 96 Boat Ramp on Village Creek, between Silsbee and Lumberton (GPS coordinates: 30.28570, -94.19145)
Help us pick up trash at a popular boat ramp so that everyone can enjoy Village Creek's scenic beauty. - Trail Beautification • 9 am–12 noon • Turkey Creek Trail, Gore Store Road (GPS coordinates: 30.521880, -94.346945)
Clean up, paint, and beautify the well-used Turkey Creek trailheads on Gore Store Road.
Volunteers are encouraged to wear long pants, closed-toe shoes, and long-sleeved shirts, and to bring water, bug spray, and sunscreen. Park staff will supply all necessary tools for the events.
In recognition of their service, all who participate in any of the above events will receive a fee-free coupon which will allow them a “fee-free” day at any participating federal recreation site within the next calendar year. Registration is recommended but not required. Register on volunteer.gov or by calling our visitor center at 409-951-6700. Call Heidi Dietze, Volunteer Program Manager, at 409-812-5121, for more information.
Check out our calendar of events for more information.
Big Thicket National Preserve is located in Southeast Texas, near the city of Beaumont and 75 miles northeast of Houston. The preserve consists of nine land units and six water corridors encompassing more than 113,000 acres. The Big Thicket, often referred to as a “biological crossroads,” is a transition zone between four distinct vegetation types – the moist eastern hardwood forest, the southwestern desert, the southeastern swamp, and the central prairies. Species from all of these different vegetation types come together in the thicket, exhibiting a variety of vegetation and wildlife that has received global interest.
-NPS-
Last updated: September 14, 2022