Dogwood Canyon is part of the National Audubon Society and is managed by the state office, Audubon Texas. Since 1905, the mission of Audubon is to protect birds and the places they need, today and tomorrow, throughout the Americas using science, advocacy, education and on-the-ground conservation. Dogwood Canyon is an area of nearly 200 acres of nearly pristine wildlife habitat. Part of the White Rock Escarpment, it is home to a wide variety of plants and animals, including rare species. The Dogwood Center has 3 miles of trails, a children’s Nature Play area, picnic area, indoor and outdoor bird viewing areas and education animal ambassadors. The Center is open to the public to engage and connect our communities to nature and to provide science education for thousands of school children.
Volunteers support Dogwood Canyon with trail building, citizen science projects, outdoor education, guided trail hikes, invasive species eradication, habitat restoration and preservation, and service as education docents and visitor docents.
Website: https://tx.audubon.org/dogwood-canyon-audubon-center or https://dogwoodcanyon.audubon.org
2023 Activities – 12 volunteers with 723 hours of service performed
- Habitat work: Invasive plant removal, planting native plants, trail maintenance and repair, brush removal, prairie restoration (seeding, thinning/removal of aggressive plants), garden maintenance.
- Outreach and events: Offsite community events for Earth Day, native plant sale preparation (transporting and watering plants), engagement events onsite, volunteer recognition/celebration.
- Education: Animal encounters onsite and the Cedar Hill Library offsite, overview of the Center, mission, and trail information for visitors, school programs, wildflower, bird, and tree walks, general guided hikes for groups / school kids not coming as a class or grade, etc., Scout programs, animal care.
- Support: Advisory board member meetings and activities for DCAC and representing DCAC at Audubon Texas.