Westcave Preserve is looking for a few good friends to become volunteer Field Study Program Group Leaders.  Come help us as we launch our innovative and exciting new collaborative research program for middle school students.

The new Westcave Field Study Program is designed to foster the discovery, exploration and conservation of nature. Students are divided into four small groups, and each group focuses on a specific field of scientific research.

Four Group Leaders are required to conduct each session, so we are seeking VOLUNTEER GROUP LEADERS to help us meet the anticipated demand for this multi-disciplinary, hands-on field study opportunity.  We'll train you to lead small groups of young explorers through the process of gathering field data and interpreting nature.

Each volunteer Group Leader will guide a group of 8-12 students through a set of activities as the students investigate the Preserve's two distinct habitats.  Volunteers will be trained to lead activities in one of four areas of investigation: biology/meteorology, hydrology, soil morphology, or botany/meteorology.  Volunteers choosing to work with the botany/meteorology group should have the ability to identify common Central Texas plants. 

During a one-day training session (see details below), volunteers will learn about the overall program, be taught how to lead students through each of the activities for their chosen group, and receive written information on the activities.  Newly-trained volunteers may shadow a Westcave staff member until they are comfortable leading the activities on their own.  

Volunteers are asked to commit to helping with the Field Study Program a minimum of 3 times per school year.  School programs are scheduled on weekdays and typically run from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.