Archive for June 7th, 2017

Volunteers Help Texans Connect to Nature

Wednesday, June 7th, 2017
Americorps Vista

Americorps Vista

This is Passport to Texas

Texas Parks and Wildlife’s Americorps Vista program got underway this year.

Yeah. It’s actually a brand new project that we started in April; we’ve never had AmeriCorps Vista members at Parks and Wildlife.

People volunteer in communities to work on a wide array of projects. Kris Shipman, developed the TPWD program.

I looked at a lot of the initiatives that we were trying to do in our efforts to get children outdoors; trying to increase the public use of green spaces—and all our conservation efforts. [I thought] that this really could tie in with getting VISTAs to come in.

VISTAs like Erin Freiboth, who is the team lead, and coordinates 12 program volunteers statewide.

So, I get to share with my VISTAs, and with the program, about developing project, networking with communities, and maintaining a diverse portfolio, while working on several different projects.

Erin says one of the main goals of the program includes expanding user groups.

We want Texas Parks and Wildlife to be able to represent all of Texas, and all of Texans’ diversity. So, we want everybody from every economic sphere. Every diverse sphere. And every sphere possible to be represented in the use of these resources.

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation supports our series and helps keep Texas wild with support of proud members across the state. Find out more at tpwf.org

For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.