The following is the Friends of Hagerman NWR Press Release. For more information about these events, please email: friendsofhagerman@gmail.com. All events are sponsored by the Friends of Hagerman and occur at the Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center: 6465 Refuge Road, Sherman, TX 75092, unless stated otherwise.
Volunteers Needed:
There is something for everyone at Hagerman! From Bat & Monarch monitoring to greeting visitors and being a tram tour guide, get more information at https://friendsofhagerman.com/Volunteer.
Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center Greeters
Meet and greet people from all over the world while giving out information about the refuge and wildlife. Hand out maps and make sales in the Nature Nook. Come and join our team! For more information, please email friendsofhagerman@gmail.com.
Butterfly Garden
Like digging in your garden? Want to learn about native plants? Come join out Master Naturalists and Gardeners in maintaining the Butterfly Garden. For more information on volunteering, please email FriendsofHagerman@email.com for details.
Outdoor Crew
Do you enjoy working outside, mowing, sprucing up hiking trails, trimming and removing brush and general cleanup? Join the Outdoor Crew at Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge. The Outdoor Crew meets on the First Tuesday and Fourth Saturday of every month. Please email friendsofhagerman@gmail.com
for details and to join our team. Scouts welcome!
Activities & Events:
The Little Sit: March 7th at 7:00am Pad-H on the West side of Hagerman NWR
If you want to learn how to identify the birds of North Texas, the "Little Sit" is the perfect way to start.
Meet the Bird Census Team while learning how to identify the birds of North Texas, and enjoy the beautiful sunrise over Lake Texoma! Modeled after Cornell's national "Big Sit" event, a group of dedicated birders invite you to join them at sunrise to conduct a bird count as multiple species fly to the water and the surrounding land to feed. Leaders will bring spotting scopes and will provide tips for identification of the many species you will see. This event lasts a couple of hours, but all are welcome to come and go as they please. Participants are advised to bring a chair, binoculars and water.
We meet on the first Saturday of each month, 30 minutes before sunrise to watch the birds come into the water and begin to feed. We usually stay out for 2-3 hours, but you are welcome for all or part of the Sit.
For more information, a map to Pad-H and to register to receive event updates (registering is recommended to be informed of location change) https://www.friendsofhagerman.com/event-6486768?CalendarViewType=1&SelectedDate=12/26/2025
Or email: friendsofhagerman@gmail.com.
GPS Coordinates to Pad-H: 33.734961, -96.780582
Free and open to the public, funded by donations.
Friends of Hagerman NWR Annual Meeting Sunday, March 8th at 2pm. Hear reports from board members on their work advancing the mission of the Friends of Hagerman NWR Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to instilling reverence, respect, and conservation of our wild creatures and habitats through supporting environmental education, recreational activities, and programs of Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Members may also vote on nominated board appointees.
Early Bird Guided Walk. Come walk on the wild side with Jack Chiles! Saturday March 14th at 8am to 9:30am Master Naturalist Jack Chiles will lead this Early Bird Walk, weather permitting. Participants will view birds and wildlife along Harris Creek Trail, walking about two miles, and returning to the Visitor Center in time for the Second Saturday program. Register to receive event updateshttps://friendsofhagerman.com/event-6514718?CalendarViewType=1&SelectedDate=3/15/2026
Second Saturday: Saturday March 14th at 10am. Pollinators with Laurie Sheppard. Pollination is the essential transfer of pollen from one flower part to another, enabling the survival of the plant species and its ability to reproduce, create seeds, and produce fruit. Pollinators of many types are critical for maintaining global ecosystems and food security. They are instrumental in the reproduction of 75% of flowering plants and 35% of food crops. Protecting pollinators is crucial for maintaining the diversity, beauty, and abundance of our food supply and natural landscapes. Laurie will describe the different types of pollination and many of the pollinators you may see on the refuge. Register to receive a reminder three days before the event https://friendsofhagerman.com/event-6514946?CalendarViewType=1&SelectedDate=3/15/2026
Laurie Sheppard is a certified Texas Master Naturalist with a primary interest in butterflies. She has tracked, photographed, and documented 95 butterfly species at Hagerman NWR of the 98 species of butterflies recorded in Grayson County. She leads a group of volunteers who provide Monarch migration data to Journey North each year and she was responsible for locating and reporting on several sub-populations of “at risk” Frosted Elfin butterflies at Hagerman. Laurie is a long-time volunteer at Hagerman NWR, currently serving as a Butterfly Garden Docent, a Tram Driver, a Nature Nook staffer, a writer/editor for the Featherless Flyer, and a member of the Friends of Hagerman Board of Directors. She is an avid photographer and regularly shares her images of butterflies, birds, and other wildlife on social media and in the Friends of Hagerman’s public outreach materials.
SPRING BREAK - Refuge Rocks for Kids: Tuesday, March 17, Thursday March 19 and Saturday March 21 at 10:00 a.m. Texas Treasures: BATS, ROCKS, AND SYMBOLS/Refuge Rocks (Ages 5-12). Free and open to the public, registration is required. Donations are accepted to support this and other events and programs sponsored by the Friends of Hagerman NWR.
Tuesday – March 17th at 10am to noon. Meet the Mexican Free-Tailed Bat—Texas’ flying superstar! In this two-hour class, kids will discover cool bat facts, play fun learning activities, and create a bat-tastic craft while learning why these amazing bats are so important to Texas. Registration required
https://friendsofhagerman.com/event-6550828?CalendarViewType=1&SelectedDate=3/15/2026
Thursday – March 19 at 10am to noon. Dig into Texas’ rocky treasures! In this two-hour class, kids will explore the Texas State Stone—petrified palmwood—and the Texas State Stone—blue topaz. Young rockhounds will learn fun facts, see what makes these Texas stars special, and create rock and gem crafts to take home. Registration required
https://friendsofhagerman.com/event-6550848?CalendarViewType=1&SelectedDate=3/15/2026
Saturday – March 21 at 10am to noon. Discover what makes Texas, Texas! In our March Refuge Rocks program, kids will explore a variety of Texas State Symbols and learn how they connect to the plants, animals, and natural world of our great state. Through hands-on state symbol activities and crafts, young explorers will have fun learning Texas pride the nature-related way! This Spring Break class is in conjunction with our regular monthly Refuge Rocks program. Registration required https://friendsofhagerman.com/event-6550849?CalendarViewType=1&SelectedDate=3/15/2026
Hagerman Photo Club Meeting – Saturday March 21st at 1pm Owls - Know Your Subject
Dr. Wayne Meyer, an ornithologist, began birding at the age of 13 in Connecticut. He has birded extensively on both coasts of the United States and has spent the past quarter century birding in Texas and Oklahoma. Wayne will share his knowledge about Owls, which will help you learn their habits. Knowing more about your subject will help you locate and photograph your "prey".
Beginning Birding Class - Saturday, March 28th from 8am to noon. Dr. Wayne Meyer will lead a four-session course this spring on identifying and enjoying local birds. The classes will cover the basics—how to use binoculars and field guides, recognize common local species, and find birds in the field. You will spend approximately 90 minutes each session in the classroom and the rest of the time out on the refuge looking at birds. Each day of the course will focus different aspects of birding. Students enrolled in the course are encouraged to attend all four sessions. Sessions will be from 8 AM until noon 3/28, 4/4, 4/11 and 4/18 from 8am to noon.
Class is limited to the first 15 who register at https://friendsofhagerman.com/event6567650/Registration
Tram Tours every Saturday and Sunday at 2:00pm
Enjoy a 60 – 90-minute tour along Wildlife Drive at the Refuge. Enjoy learning about the history of the displaced town of Hagerman while watching for wildlife. Lots of stops for birdwatching and photography. Reservations required. Standbys are accepted if space permits. Free and open to the public. Funded by donations. https://www.friendsofhagerman.com/Tram-Tours.
Butterfly Garden Stroll: Discontinued until Spring 2025. The garden is free of charge and open to the public from sunrise to sunset every day of the year.
