PUBLISHED: November 2025 by Karastin Katusin, Conservation Program Specialist.
Merriam-Webster defines a volunteer as an identity, “a person who voluntarily undertakes or expresses a willingness to undertake a service.” Yet to volunteer is also an act, a verb that any person can do. Volunteering is synonymous with giving, donating, and contributing; there are various ways to volunteer, allowing people to give their time, sweat, and enthusiasm to the causes they believe in. Many of us offer our time and efforts where our interests lie, and here at Houston Parks Board, that is focused on conservation, stewardship, and community.
There are many ways to volunteer with HPB, especially in the field and on the ground. This fall, we resumed our Green Team, which is a monthly event where volunteers across the Bayou Greenways system assist with conservation efforts. We plant trees, forbs, and grasses, we assist with potting up at the nursery, and, most importantly, we give back to our communities while building a community within.
HPB strives to provide access and opportunity to all. While we know that weekday events can be tricky for some community members, we have also hosted a few Saturday events this fall, open to families and groups, and HPB will continue to offer these opportunities in 2026.
In three months, we have hosted six events across four bayous, installed 4,500 plants, and worked with 127 volunteers, who contributed 381 hours.
These events, efforts, and volunteers have all helped us provide many benefits to the communities and the ecosystem. Planting a tree doesn’t just help provide shelter for wildlife, as the canopy also cools our trails and mitigates the heat island effect. Flowers and showy grasses aren’t only beautiful to the trail users, but also assist with habitat connectivity for migrating birds and pollinators. Wetlands not only help with localized standing water, but also reduce the toxins entering our waterways. Every planted pot, plug, and seed directly improved these spaces for wildlife and Houstonians who use them.
Our Green Team is a great opportunity to connect with nature in a hands-on way, while exploring the city and making new friends. We welcome anyone nature-curious to come get their hands dirty and learn from professionally trained Texas Master Naturalists. Consider signing up for our next Green Team event on Friday, December 12, to learn about our native flora and fauna, build skills, and have fun!
