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$5,000 Goal
Set amid a former working cattle ranch and an expansive wetland on the East Fork of the Trinity River, the John Bunker Sands Wetland Center is:
Our environmental education programs give students a memorable field research experience designed to inspire conservation literacy, encourage careers in science and conservation, and immerse them in our wild classroom. We also offer public programming, bird walks, boardwalk tours and a host of special community events focused on the natural world, with an emphasis on activities for families.
Located just 25 miles from downtown Dallas, our boardwalk into the wetland and miles of trails allow visitors of all ages to experience diverse habitats that host close to 300 species of birds, including bald eagles, and scores of native mammals, insects, amphibians and reptiles.
The John Bunker Sands Wetland Center is located within the East Fork Water Reuse Project, a 1,840-acre constructed wetland that is one of the largest in the country. The project is owned and operated by the North Texas Municipal Water District, which services over two million residents within 13 member cities in North Texas. The wetland essentially acts as a large-scale water recycling project, diverting treated wastewater flows from the East Fork of the Trinity River and filtering it naturally before it is returned to blend with other water supplies for future treatment and use.
As the educational component of the wetland project, the John Bunker Sands Wetland Center provides critical education, research and recreation opportunities to the public, inspiring them to become better stewards of the natural world. The center celebrates the collaboration of human innovation and nature to create a better world for all.
Photo Credits: Martin Gaston
Our mission is to educate the public and provide research opportunities in the areas of water reuse, quality and supply, wildlife conservation, and wetland systems.
Our vision is to be the premier education and destination nature center serving the North Texas region and beyond.
Your Gift Meets the Wetland's Greatest Needs
Every day, the John Bunker Sands Wetland Center connects people with one of North Texas' most remarkable conservation success stories. Through environmental education, wildlife conservation, research, and public access, we inspire thousands of visitors each year to better understand the vital role wetlands play in protecting clean water, supporting wildlife, and strengthening our communities.
The greatest need this North Texas Giving Day is flexible, unrestricted funding that allows us to respond where opportunities and challenges arise most. These gifts allow us to invest where they will have the greatest impact, whether that's expanding STEM education programs, maintaining wildlife habitat, improving visitor experiences, or creating opportunities for our community to connect with nature.
Your support helps sustain and grow programs and projects like:
-Hands-on STEM education that gives students authentic experiences in environmental science through field investigations, water quality monitoring, wildlife observation, and conservation-based learning.
-Community events and public programs that bring families, birders, photographers, and lifelong learners together to discover the value of wetlands and the importance of conserving our natural resources.
-Bird-safe glass treatments to reduce bird collisions across the Wetland Center buildings. Applying anti-bird strike decals to our buildings will help protect the hundreds of bird species that visit the Wetland Center each year.
-Bird feeding stations and pollinator water features that provide reliable food and water resources while creating new opportunities for visitors to observe wildlife up close.
-A dedicated bird viewing area where guests can comfortably observe birds and other wildlife while developing a deeper appreciation for the incredible biodiversity found at the Wetland Center.
-Habitat restoration equipment and gardening tools that allow staff and volunteers to restore native landscapes, maintain demonstration gardens, manage invasive species, and improve habitat for birds, pollinators, and other wildlife.
Every improvement serves a greater purpose. Every STEM lesson sparks curiosity. Every community event creates new advocates for conservation. Every restored habitat supports wildlife. Every safer building protects migrating birds. Every visitor who experiences the Wetland Center leaves with a greater understanding of the natural systems that sustain North Texas.
When you give to the Wetland Center, you are investing in a place where education, conservation, research, and community come together. Your generosity helps us inspire future scientists, provide meaningful outdoor experiences for families, protect critical wildlife habitat, and ensure this extraordinary landscape continues to serve North Texas for generations to come.
Together, we can ensure the Wetland Center remains a place where curiosity grows, wildlife thrives, and every visitor discovers the power of nature to improve our world.
Conservation Literacy for All. The John Bunker Sands Wetland Center provides conservation programs and conservation awareness for all backgrounds of students and adults. We serve many Title 1 schools, and we provide scholarships to pay for things like buses and other field trip and education expenses. We strive to promote conservation justice and equity through diverse, equitable, inclusive programs and offerings for the populations we serve in the North Texas region.
View our current participation opportunities.
Wetland Steward Opportunities
Ongoing
Combine, TX
Group Opportunities
Ongoing
Combine, TX
1st Saturday Walk & Talk Bird Tour (September)
September 5, 2026
COMBINE, TX
JBS After Dark: Reptiles & Amphibians
September 11, 2026
COMBINE, TX
Buzz Into Beekeeping
September 19, 2026
COMBINE, TX
Organization name
John Bunker Sands Wetland Center
Tax id (EIN)
27-0712564
Causes
Education - STEM
Operating Budget
$250,000 - $499,999
Counties Served
Collin, Dallas, Ellis, Johnson, Kaufman, Rockwall, Tarrant
BIPOC Serving
Black or African American, Hispanic or Latinx
Address
655 Martin Lane