News Release

National Public Lands Day Volunteer Event

Date: September 20, 2019
Contact: Megan Urban, 409-951-6725

Big Thicket National Preserve is excited to announce the upcoming volunteer clean-up event at the Baby Galvez launch area in Silsbee, Texas, on Saturday, September 28^th. Volunteers will meet at 9:00 a.m. for a short safety briefing before the start of the trash clean-up effort. This event is part of National Public Lands Day, the largest single-day volunteer effort for America’s public lands.
 
This year, the effort at Big Thicket National Preserve will be focused on the growing problem of trash found along Village Creek. Although trash can be found at many of the day-use areas around the park, Baby Galvez will be our focus this year because of intense visitor use at this site and its close proximity to Silsbee and other local communities. This launch area is widely used by canoers, kayakers, and other boaters as a way to access Village Creek Paddling Trail. Park officials and visitors to the area have voiced concerns about the growing trash problem as more visitors enjoy Big Thicket. “We are hoping that by getting people involved in cleaning up the Baby Galvez launch area, future visitors will also take care of this area” Superintendent Wayne Prokopetz.
 
Volunteers will be able to pick up trash in the area surrounding the launch site by foot and from the water using park supplied canoes. If you are interested in signing up for the event, please call Megan Urban, Volunteer Program Manager at 409-951-6725.