National Public Lands Day (Sat, September 26, 2026)

Sat, 26 Sep 2026 14:00:00 GMT

Join the Refuge for National Public Lands Day. Since 1994, this annual event on the fourth Saturday of September has been the nation's largest single-day volunteer effort. National Public Lands Day is organized annually and led by the National Environmental Education Foundation, in partnership with the National Park Service and other federal agencies. Hundreds of thousands of volunteers roll up their sleeves to help restore and preserve public lands of all types and sizes—from iconic national parks and rivers to local urban green spaces and everything in between. National Public Lands Day is special because it provides all lovers of the environment—old and new—an opportunity to show our appreciation for these unique places.

This year, the Refuge will be focused on maintaining the ADA trails near the Visitors Center. Activities could include trail pushback with loppers, grass pulling, pollinator garden upkeep, brush collection, and maintenance of the bird viewing areas.

TPWD Hunter Education Class (Sat, October 03, 2026)

Sat, 03 Oct 2026 13:30:00 GMT

This course is designed for novice or young hunters, ages 9 years and above. The course covers the core competencies of firearm and hunting safety, hunting ethics and wildlife conservation. All materials are provided. The Hunter Education Classroom Course lasts a maximum of 6 hours of classroom instruction. This time does not include registration, breaks, test administration and certification card distribution. Courses are offered across the state year round and are taught by certified volunteer instructors. The fee for the certification is $15. Some instructors may apply additional charges for the class, such as range or facility fees. Pre-registration is required. Check with the instructor for directions and any special instructions prior to going to class.

Be sure to verify with the instructor that the class you are registering for is the Classroom Course.

You may also contact your local Texas Parks and Wildlife Department office or call TPWD Austin headquarters at 1-800-792-1112, ext. 4999.

When you arrive at the course:

Pay the fee to the instructor.
Attend the entire course.
Take the written exam and get at least 75% correct to pass.
Upon successful completion, you may receive a temporary card from the instructor. You may legally hunt with a valid Texas hunting license and your temporary certification card. Your permanent Texas Hunter Education certification card will be available for downloading and printing from your Account Profile.

Friends of Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge upcoming events

National Public Lands Day (Sat, September 26, 2026)

TPWD Hunter Education Class (Sat, October 03, 2026)