River Legacy Volunteers Lend a Helping Hand to Conservation

If you think you might enjoy volunteering in a place where lush green views are abundant and raccoon, possum and armadillo sightings are all in a day's work, you might want to join Tina Cooper and her colleagues at River Legacy Living Science Center.

The retired pre-school teacher has served as an ambassador at River Legacy Foundation's science center since 2009, when she went to work as an assistant for a summer children's program.

"We had just moved up to north Arlington and I was looking to get involved," said Cooper, a grandmother and Arlington native. "I found some information on the River Legacy website about the nature school and thought it might be a good fit since I had a background with kids."

Cooper's summer stint turned into a permanent gig when she was asked to stay on as a front desk ambassador for the Living Science Center. Since that time, she regularly logs a few days a week meeting and greeting visitors and advancing the work of River Legacy Foundation by promoting its environmental education programs. Occasionally, she also assists at volunteer fairs or at the Foundation's special events.

River Legacy Foundation is a nonprofit organization that works hand-in-hand with the City of Arlington Parks and Recreation Department to provide funding for the preservation and expansion of River Legacy Parks. The Foundation also operates the Living Science Center, adjacent to the park, as an environmental education facility to connect children and families to nature. The Foundation's key initiative is to educate the next generation of environmental stewards using the resources of River Legacy Parks and the Living Science Center.

Widely considered one of Tarrant County's top recreation destinations, River Legacy Parks is a 1,300-acre public park situated along the Trinity River in north Arlington.

The urban oasis features miles of hike and bike trails, river overlooks, event pavilions and the Science Center, nestled in a grove of oak trees located next to the park's entrance.

River Legacy volunteers are needed for groups, ongoing solo assignments and special projects. Regular weekly jobs include work as a front desk ambassador, a data entry assistant or an animal care assistant. Other programs requiring volunteer assistance are special events like Tents & Tales, the Cardboard Boat Regatta, and summer nature school classes.

"It's rewarding to see visitors' reactions when they first walk into the Living Science Center," said Cooper. "If they've never been here before, they are in awe of the place. It's nice to be the person who gets to tell them all about it."

The opportunities for learning and friendship have also been among the most rewarding aspects of Cooper's volunteer experience, she said.

"Some of the other volunteers are very knowledgeable-one is a master naturalist, and one has a background in forestry and can identify just about any tree there is," said Cooper.

"They are a really special group of people, and I've made some good friends," she said.

Learn how to volunteer at the River Legacy Living Science Center.