It is with great pleasure that I announce that the visitor center at the Cibolo Nature Center has officially reopened after a long hiatus. We have revamped and updated our beloved visitor center and gift shop for a busy season.
Before the pandemic, the visitor center was booming, working as an interpretative space, gift shop, education and information center. We are excited to bring it back to life, after a dark period, with some great docents who generously give their time to welcome all who visit with a smile and helping hand.
The volunteer docent program at the Cibolo Center for Conservation has a long history. The docents have helped the Cibolo education team with many of our projects and programs during the pandemic. Now, people are returning to our campus, and we could not be more ready to welcome them back with open arms.
Docents are a particular group of volunteers specially trained to work with the Cibolo with everything from programs to tour guides. There are many opportunities to become a docent, including at the visitor center, as a field trip assistant, in historical interpretation and animal care and more.
All volunteer docents, regardless of background, are supported and placed in the area where they feel the most comfortable. In fact, over the course of the last two years, volunteers have played a critical role in getting us to where we are today. You will find people cleaning up the trails or working in our gardens on any given day. If you have attended one of our night hikes, come to our farmers market or participated in a service project, you’ve probably met one of our gracious volunteer docents.
Much like when the Cibolo was founded, so much of our work relies on our friends to help us carry out the vast amount of work we do from year to year. We welcome all ages and are also excited to bring back the Trailblazers teen volunteer program that gets youth ages 13-18 to volunteer and learn about the myriad of environmental work we do.
Many of our Trailblazer teens at the visitor center on Saturdays learn how to do animal presentations, walk the trails, remove invasive plants or monitor the water quality in the Cibolo Creek. The Cibolo’s staff works hand in hand with these teens to manage these unique nature spaces and provide robust conservation education to children and visitors alike.
If you or someone you know is interested in becoming a volunteer docent at the Cibolo, please get in touch with [email protected] or call 830-249-4616.
We want to thank all the docents and volunteers who have been working with us over the years, and we look forward to you joining our community of friends as you share your gifts with the greater community. Visit Cibolo.org/ volunteer to learn more.
Cibolo Happenings
March 23
• Virtual Watching Wood-Warblers, 6-7 p.m. Join TPWD’s Texas Nature Trackers Biologist Craig Hensley for a presentation exploring the world of these birds. You’ll learn how to identify and discover these birds during the spring. This event is a virtual presentation, and links will be emailed on the day of the event. Register on www.cibolo.org.
March 24
• Charcuterie Workshop, 5:30-7:30p.m. join us for an exclusive charcuterie workshop! You and a guest can enjoy an evening learning how to prepare your own charcuterie board! This class takes place in the Gathering Hall at Herff Farm, where all the supplies to make your boards will be provided. Refreshments will also be provided for all attendees. This is an ideal class for two individuals per board. The registration fee is $75 per board. Register on www.cibolo.org.
March 26
• Farmers Market at Herff Farm, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Enjoy locally produced products and goods against the beautiful backdrop of nature. Folks can enjoy trails, gardens and a chicken schoolyard. More information is available on www.cibolo.org.
• New time: Sculpt the Mat, adult wellness class at Herff Farm, 10- 10:45 a.m. This class will blend the upbeat rhythm of a barre class with Pilates movements to enhance your strength and endurance! This inclusive workout is designed for all levels to focus on body alignment, breath and control with upbeat music to keep your body moving and your mind working. Cheyanne is passionate about helping you build strength to create ease in whatever activities you enjoy! Bring your mats and water bottles and head to the farm during the Farmers Market at Herff Farm. Classes are $15 per session. Register on www.cibolo.org.
• Forest Bathing, adult wellness class at the nature center, 10 a.m.-noon. Held on select Mondays and Saturdays, forest bathing, or Shinrin-yuko, and forest therapy, or Shinrin-ryoho, are research-based practices allowing people to slow down from their daily lives and enjoy healing through participation with the natural world. We will meet in the parking lot, complete some forms and prepare for our walk that will take about two hours and cover 1.5 miles. Learn more and register on www.cibolo.org.
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