The North Texas Master Naturalists are Dallas County's volunteers for conservation. We lead hikes, give educational programs, engage in scientific research, and work on the land, all towards the goal of helping North Texans appreciate and preserve the natural systems they rely upon.

The Texas Master Naturalist(TM) volunteer program is coordinated by the Texas AgriLife Extension Service and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and supported by a variety of local Organizations. Volunteers receive 40 hours of in-depth training in wildlife and natural resource management customized to focus on local ecosystems. In return, volunteers provide at least 40 hours of service per year in the form of community education and demonstration projects, while pursuing a minimum of 8 hours per year of advanced training in areas of special interest.


The Texas Master Naturalist program:
Increases volunteer capacity and leadership in local communities,
Enhances public awareness of local ecosystems and natural resources.

The Citizen Gardner program provides low-cost, hands-on, organic, backyard vegetable gardening education and community.  Goals of the DFW Citizen Gardener Program

The Green Sanctuary Committee of Westside Unitarian Universalist Church hosts quarterly green film screening events, with the aim to better educate our community on how to care for our planet.

River Legacy Foundation, a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, began in 1988 as a unique public/private partnership with the City of Arlington. Our mission is to preserve and enhance the parkland along the Trinity River as an extraordinary educational, recreational and natural resource.

River Legacy Parks opened as a public park in 1990 with just 376 acres. Thanks to the Foundation’s donors and partnerships, the park has grown to become a 1,300-acre oasis along the Trinity River.

The Foundation founders knew from the start that an educational facility was necessary to ensure future stewards of the parkland. Thus, in 1996,River Legacy Living Science Center opened to the public.  The nature center features interactive exhibits, aquariums, terrariums, environmental education programs, a gift shop and nature trails.

The Urban Forest Advisory Committee (UFAC) was established in 2005 by the Dallas City Council to advise the Mayor and City Council on local and regional tree related issues. 

The Committee assists the city to develop good management practices so they may conserve the city’s trees and forests. It also educates citizens on trees and organizes tree plantings.

UFAC is comprised of citizens and Dallas City officials whose goal is to restore a tree-lined Dallas.

"Our mission is working with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people" - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Mission Statement

The Arlington Ecological Services Field Office (ARLES) provides assistance to Federal and State agencies, local governments, businesses, and the general public relative to conserving, protecting, and restoring habitat for a variety of Federal trust resources, including migratory birds and federally threatened and endangered species.  Our assistance is typically provided through five programs: education/outreach, endangered species, environmental contaminants, federal permits and projects, and Partners for Fish and Wildlife.  

The Texas Outdoor Family program is designed to teach you and your family the basic outdoor skills you need to enjoy a great overnight camping experience.

Texas Outdoor Family (TOF) workshops are hosted at state parks where your family receives hands-on experience learning basic outdoor skills. You will learn everything you need to create great memories enjoying the outdoors with your family, including:

• How to set up and break down camp (including your tent)
• Fire starting
• Outdoor cooking
• Guided walks
• Nature activities
• How to use a GPS
• Geocaching
• Introductions to a wide range of outdoor activities (such as fishing, kayaking, wildlife watching) depending on the site location, facilities and the season of the year

Best of all, no experience is necessary and you get all the help and advice you need from highly skilled outdoor specialists and trained volunteers!

Dinosaur Valley State Park contains some of the best preserved dinosaur tracks in the world. The dinosaur tracks are located in the riverbed, so please call ahead to check on river conditions. There are two fiberglass models; a 70-foot Apatosaurus and a 45-foot Tyrannosaurus Rex. They were built, under commission of the Sinclair Oil Company, New York World's Fair Dinosaur Exhibit of 1964 - 1965. Other activities include camping, picnicking, hiking, mountain biking,Equestrian use in a separate 100-acre area (no horses furnished), river swimming and fishing, and wildlife observation.

Dinosaur Valley State Park, located just northwest of Glen Rose in Somervell County, is a 1524.72-acre, scenic park set astride the Paluxy River. The land for the park was acquired from private owners under the State Parks Bonds Program during 1968 and opened to the public in 1972.