Outdoor Volunteer Opportunities For Families
Families that play together, stay together. Volunteering can be fun for the family this summer. Here are the five best outdoor opportunities for families to volunteer in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area.
Photo Gallery: Best After School Activities For Kids
Dallas Arboretum
8525 Garland Road
Dallas, TX 75218
(214) 515-6561
www.dallasarboretum.org
Do you have a green thumb? Now is the time to shine as bright as that hot sun beating down upon you. The Dallas Arboretum needs workers to weed, plant, trim and so much more. Talk about stopping to smell the roses. You will get hands-on experience working in the most famous gardens in Dallas. Don't forget your sunscreen. Find out what all the excitement is about and get your garden going.
Gardeners in Community Development
901 Greenbriar Lane
Richardson, TX 75080
(972) 231-3565
www.gardendallas.org
If you'd like to do some gardening but are looking for something a little more personal, why not help beautify your community? The Gardeners in Community Development help Dallas homeowners, often financially disadvantaged families, have an opportunity to own their own gardens. Introducing them to fresh vegetables, herbs and flowers gives them pride in their homes and neighborhoods. So help make someone's life bloom and call Gardeners in Community Development today.
For the Love of the Lake
1152 N. Buckner Blvd., Suite 123
Dallas, TX 75218
(214) 660-1100
www.whiterocklake.org
If you love the water and want to get involved in something closer to the shore, get involved in the Adopt-A-Shoreline Program at White Rock's For the Love of the Lake. This program is run by the Dallas Parks and Recreation Department. It's a pretty simple program, really. You just choose a shoreline at which you would like to work and agree to keep it litter free. Every second Saturday of the month, six people from the group must participate in cleaning up. If you have a small family, this is the perfect opportunity to grab some neighbors and get them involved. You just can't lose as you and your family enjoy the view while sprucing up the area.
Habitat For Humanity
Dallas Area Habitat for Humanity
2800 N. Hampton Road
Dallas, TX 75212
(214) 678-2300
www.dallasareahabitat.org
Is someone in your house a natural-born builder? Habitat for Humanity is ready and waiting for you. At Habitat for Humanity, communities come together to build homes for those who may not be able to buy one themselves. This opportunity is more for the older families, however, since the little ones have to be 14 years of age and over to be allowed on the construction site. This rewarding opportunity will give your family time together, helping people in a way that is unique. Finding Dallas residents a place to live is one of the most important things you can do. So hammer down some nails and be part of someone's cornerstone.
Adopt a Highway
Dallas District TxDOT
4777 E. US Highway 80
Mesquite, TX 75150
(214) 320-4480
www.dalaah.com
The Texas Department of Transportation has a program called Adopt a Highway, where you get together with other community members and collect trash from the roadway. There is no better way to teach your children about keeping your community beautiful than by having them clean up the roadside. All too often we see people tossing trash out the windows of their cars without a second thought. People are needed to clean up this problem. So get ready to move on down the road and get cleaning.
Judy Serrano writes romantic thrillers at www.JudySerraon.com. She graduated from Texas A&M Commerce with a BA in English. She is also a freelance writer for Examiner.com. She lives in Texas with her husband, four boys and five dogs.
