Needs From: Volunteer Houston

Register here to sign a waiver for unscheduled events at Woodland Park. 

To find scheduled clean ups and workdays or other specific volunteer opportunities at Woodland Park, please visit our Agency Page at Volunteer Houston and scroll down to the Needs section.

We look forward to seeing you in the park soon!

Want to get outdoors and lead people? Friends of Woodland Park (FWP) is looking for 4-6 people to manage logistics and materials for park work days. Volunteers annually remove 10-15,000 pounds of trash from the Little White Oak Bayou floodplain within Woodland Park.

FWP usually sponsors 7 community work days annually (Jan, Feb, Mar, April, Sept, Oct, Nov) plus Earth Day (corporate weekday event, April).  Scout projects may also require support. 

Friends of Woodland Park is an all volunteer organization and this is a volunteer opportunity. 

Expectations:

Cleanups are generally held on Saturday mornings, with occasional weekday cleanups for corporate groups. 

With help from the Beautification Director and FWP board, team members will identify supplies and tools needed using provided checklists. Supplies generally include FWP Flags, canopy, info kit, table cloth, gloves, trash grabbers, trash bags, water coolers and cups, snacks, first aid kit, bug spray and hand sanitizer. Tools such as shovels and wheel barrows are borrowed from and returned to Houston Tool Bank. 

Team members will gather equipment from storage located at 2515 Washington Avenue and any other supplies (such as snacks) and ensure that committee members can receive them on clean-up day or prior.  

Set up the supply distribution area and check-in table at Woodland Park Community Center located at 212 Parkview St. 

Friends of Woodland Park (FWP) is looking for 1-4 people to help us secure funding to support our 15 for 15 projects celebrating our15-year anniversary!  This an exciting way to make a generational impact on a unique park and bayou environment in central Houston.

1-2 people will serve as Grants Directors(s) and will liaise with the board more regularly. Directors must be members of Friends of Woodland Park, per our bylaws.

Expectations include: 

Identify grant opportunities with help of FWP board members.

Review selected grant opportunities with relevant Houston Parks and Recreation Department personnel for support or permission (ie, affidavit) to apply.

Prepare grant applications: includes writing responses to questions, assembling
responsive documents with help of board members, securing application fees if needed,
seeking final review from board members and submitting completed application.

Commitment: Minimum 1 year

For more information, contact Jennifer Ostlind, FWP Volunteer Coordinator, at jennifer@friendsofwoodlandpark.org 

Come help us advance a concept for eliminating floating/drifting trash in Little White Oak Bayou through Woodland Park!

Keeping Woodland Park Nature Preserve clean is an on-going challenge for the community. Regular cleanup events help, but the amount of trash and debris that finds its way onto the banks of Little White Oak Bayou and into trees and shrubs is unmanageable.

Our goal for the coming year is to determine a path forward and kick off a feasibility study.

We're looking for 1-5 people with related experience and/or anyone willing to learn! You'll need research and analytical skills, aptitude for talking tech, and ability to talk with local officials.

Expectations:

One person will serve as lead/Director. Per our bylaws, this person must be a member of Friends of Woodland Park.

Review options evaluation prepared in 2012 and funded by Bridgestone.

Gain awareness/understanding of flood mitigation plans for Little White Oak Bayou and plans to reconstruct culvert under I-45 as part of TxDOTs North Houston Highway Improvement Program (NHHIP).

Identify best practices used by other organizations in the Houston area and beyond. 

Work with FWP board and other stakeholders and experts to identify one or more preferred concepts for further exploration. Options could include short term (pre-NHHIP) solutions and long term (post NHHIP) solutions. 

Draft scope of feasibility study for preferred concept(s). 

Identify lead organization(s) to implement a pilot or ongoing project, and funding required.

Support lead organization in pilot/project implementation.

Commitment: minimum 1 year

For more information, contact Jennifer Ostlind, FWP Volunteer Coordinator, at Jennifer@friendsofwoodlandpark.org .

Friends of Woodland Park (FWP) is looking for 1 or 2 people to design 6-10 interpretative signs to be located throughout the Woodland Park Nature Preserve.

Designer(s) would work closely with FWP board and Houston Parks and Recreation Department (HPARD) to develop designs for signs explaining features, wildlife, and the history of Woodland Park Nature Preserve. 

FWP board will provide “mock-ups” and visual aids (photos. maps, etc)

Designer(s) will need to follow HPARD guidelines and specifications for signage. 

If applicable, time spent would be considered an “in-kind” donation and they are eligible to be listed as a “Corporate Sponsor”.

For more information, contact Jennifer Ostlind, Friends of Woodland Park Volunteer Coordinator, at Jennifer@Friendsofwoodlandpark.org.

The Friends of Woodland Park (FWP) is seeking a Garden Director as a non-voting member of
FWP with responsibility for the garden areas surrounding the community center, Firefly Field
garden, the entrances to Woodland Park and other possible areas in the future. The Garden
Director will liaise with one or more FWP Board members. Attendance at FWP board meetings
is not required unless requested by the board. A commitment of 12 months is preferred.

Expectations Include:
Maintain all current beds which may include adding more plants as needed.
Oversee design of future beds.
Work with volunteer coordinator to solicit volunteers and organize seasonal workdays for garden maintenance.
Coordinate with Girl Scout and Boy Scout troop leaders if they ask to volunteer for required
required service hours.
Suggest to the board new ways to enhance the attractiveness of the park using plants.
Consider the creation of educational activities for children focused on gardening.
Follow Houston Parks and Recreation Department guidelines for garden maintenance and hosting events.

Commitment: 1 year minimum is preferred

For more information contact Jennifer Ostlind, Friends of Woodland Park Volunteer
Coordinator, at Jennifer@friendsofwoodlandpark.org.