The Friends of Brazoria Wildlife Refuges (FOBWR) relies on volunteers from the community to accomplish its objectives in support of its mission to support the Texas Mid-coast National Wildlife Refuge Complex. There are many opportunities to get involved, whether you enjoy providing education to adults or children, working in the field at one of the refuges, assisting with fundraising, or any of the other types of work that we do. All volunteers that work with children are carefully screened and must pass a background check.

DISCOVERY ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAM (DEEP)

Since 1994, the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service has hosted field trips throughout the school year for students at local elementary and intermediate schools. Formally known as Discovery Environmental Education Program (DEEP), the program presently serves:

• Approximately 2600 fourth- and seventh-grade students from the Brazosport Independent School District, which operates K-12 schools for the cities of Clute, Freeport, Jones Creek, Lake Jackson, Oyster Creek, Quintana, Richwood, and Surfside Beach, Texas.
  
  
• Approximately 150 fourth-grade students from the Angleton Independent School District, which operates K-12 schools in the city of Angleton, Texas.

By providing students with hands-on experience at the refuge, these field trips augment the schools' science curriculum in the area of natural ecological systems. These investigations are led by volunteers, many of whom are members of the Cradle of Texas Chapter of Texas Master Naturalists. The program is administered by Susan Brown, Environmental Education Specialist, Texas Mid-coast National Wildlife Refuge Complex.

For detailed information about the program and current schedule, click here.

HUDSON WOODS ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAM (HWEEP)

The Hudson Woods Environmental Education Program was implemented by the Cradle of Texas Chapter of Texas Master Naturalists in January 2014. It replaced the Environmental Education program previously hosted by INEOS Olefins & Polymers USA at its Chocolate Bayou Works. It serves approximately 600 third-grade students from Angleton Independent School District.

By providing students with hands-on experience at the refuge, these field trips augment the schools' science curriculum in the area of natural ecological systems. These investigations are led by volunteers, many of whom are members of the Cradle of Texas Chapter of Texas Master Naturalists. The program is administered by Jen Brown, Environmental Education Coordinator, Texas Mid-coast National Wildlife Refuge Complex.

For detailed information about the program and current schedule, click here.

MIGRATION CELEBRATION

Migration Celebration is held annually in April in southern Brazoria County, Texas, a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service event from the Texas Mid-Coast National Wildlife Complex underwritten by Friends of the Brazoria Wildlife Refuges.

Migration Celebration activities are centered on the two-day event on the San Bernard National Wildlife Refuge, but formally start with a fundraising dinner and featured speaker at Freeport RiverPlace located in the Freeport Municipal Park.

Migration Celebration started as a birding festival but it has changed over time to a family nature festival. Events and presentations are now designed for more introductory level participation, but several trail and van tours offer excellent birding opportunities for all levels and ages.

With the exception of the fundraising kickoff dinner and the food and bake sales on event days, all other Migration Celebration events, tours, presentations, and other activities are free to the public. This is made possible by the generous donations of time and money by our sponsors, partner organizations and volunteers.

Our goals for Migration Celebration are:

• educate the public on wildlife and habitat conservation;
• bring awareness to the community of the local wildlife refuges; and
• involve local organizations and business in bringing environmental education programs to schools.