Growing the Thicket

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  • Big Thicket National Preserve seeks volunteers to plant trees on President's Day.
    Big Thicket National Preserve seeks volunteers to plant trees on President's Day.
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Big Thicket National Preserve is looking for volunteers on Presidents Day, Monday, Feb. 15, for a second Longleaf Pine Tree Planting Event. During the first event, held on Martin Luther King Jr. Day in January, volunteers nearly 5,000 trees. Resource managers are hoping volunteers will be able to plant 8,000 long-leaf pine trees on Presidents Day.

Due to current COVID-19 conditions, Big Thicket has modified the event for the safety of the volunteers. During planting, volunteers will be planting in spaced out areas and will be collecting planting materials from multiple locations throughout the planting area. Tools used during the planting event will not be shared between volunteers and preserve staff will be sanitizing the tools before use by another volunteer. Water coolers will not be provided to refill water bottles, but water will be available for volunteers at locations throughout the planting area.

To sign up for the event, call the Big Thicket Visitor Center at (409) 951-6700 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. seven days a week. Once registered, volunteers will receive the location of the event and paperwork to be filled out before arrival.