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Program Overview
The Natural Pathways program at LLELA connects high school and college students with Lewisville Lake Environmental Learning Area staff and volunteers to collaborate on restoration and conservation efforts. Working on the 2nd and 4th Saturday mornings of each month, student volunteers engage in hands-on projects to conserve and restore the native ecosystems at LLELA.
These service learning opportunities provide students with meaningful opportunities to give back to the local community and to develop their own academic and socials skills, all while advancing LLELA’s vision “to heal the land and restore the bond between people and nature, ensuring the preservation of our natural heritage for the future.”
Any high school or college student is invited to participate, either individually or with a group.
Benefits of Participation
Make a positive impact through hands-on restoration and research projects
Earn volunteer hours for StuCo, NHS, Scouts, etc., or extra credit for classes
Be prepared to pursue environmental education
Learn about possible career paths
Support LLELA's mission to heal the land and restore the bond between people and nature
2026 -- 2027 Ambassador Application
2026 -- 2027 Ambassador Application
Now Open
Now Open
We are currently seeking one or two student volunteers from each area high school and college to act as ambassadors for Natural Pathways for the 2026 – 2027 school year.
Ambassadors’ responsibilities include:
attending Natural Pathways (2nd and 4th Saturdays) of each month for more than 50% of our workdays during the school year
for high school students: sharing Natural Pathways information with at least 5 club sponsors on your campus and sending email reminders at least four times per year; promoting Natural Pathways with other students by attending a club fair and/or sharing print or digital promo materials
for college students: identifying relevant campus clubs and organizations and sharing Natural Pathways information with them; promoting workdays and organizing carpooling as needed; respresenting Natural Pathways at AERI and similar meetings
Activities
As an important part of the volunteer work that happens at LLELA, Natural Pathways students complete a wide variety of work projects, depending on the season, restoration needs, and the weather. Past activities have included harvesting seeds on the prairie, removing invasive plants, tabling at public events, transplanting native grasses for later planting, and cleaning alongside the river.
Check out our Recent and On-going Projects
Pollinator Garden at the Cicada Pavilion
Pollinator Garden at the Cicada Pavilion
Enjoy this flashback video to the original creation of the pollinator garden we're currently working to restore.
BBTM25-#165 LLELA (1).pdfPollinator Garden Restoration Update
Pollinator Garden Restoration Update
We've just wrapped up our work funded by a generous grant from the Native Plant Society's Bring Back the Monarch grant. Read our summative report here.
National Geographic Slingshot Challenge
Recently, TWU's Dr. Kelly Albus led students through exercises to improve their ability to tell their stories in science for projects like the National Geographic's Slingshot Challenge.
Students who choose to enter will have her team's ongoing support and access to resources.
Public River Care Events
If you enjoyed our November 22nd river care workday, invite friends and family to LLELA's next river care event.
Tampling for water quality monitoring
Here's the link to start your own water quality monitoring using easy to find materials and the technique we learned in October.
Stream Team Certified!
Thanks to one of our high school volunteers, we now have four people who care certified to complete core water quality monitoring consistent with Texas Stream Team standards. Read more about this citizen science inititaive here.
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