What is Stewards of the Wild (SOTW)? 

Stewards of the Wild (SOTW), Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation's (TPWF) conservation leadership program, equips emerging leaders aged 21 to 45 with opportunities to actively participate in the stewardship of Texas’ wild things and wild places by providing education, networking, and outdoor experiences. 

With member-led chapters in eight major cities across the state, SOTW chapters engage 21 to 45-year-old outdoor enthusiasts from diverse backgrounds by providing opportunities to participate in outdoor experiences such as camping, hiking, lake and river clean-ups, fishing, and hunting; increase knowledge about public land access; interact with conservation professionals; and actively participate in the conservation of our wild things and wild places. 

We want to create the next generation of well-informed conservation leaders in Texas. More specifically, the goal of SOTW breaks down into three pillars:

1. Provide hands-on, conservation-related experiences. Active, hands-on opportunities typically leave individuals with a greater interest and level of understanding, which allows them to care.

2. Provide conservation education opportunities and resources so individuals can deepen their knowledge and serve as a leader, whether they:

• Serve on the board of a conservation organization
• Make a career change into the conservation field
• Begin doing conservation-related volunteer work
• Become more conscious of their own day-to-day decisions including how to ethically hunt, fish, and use our natural resources like water and land
• Personally lobby their senators and representatives to support positive, conservation-focused legislative change
• Start their own conservation-related initiatives.

This education is particularly critical if members are landowners, belong to a family of landowners, and/or have landowner friends and contacts to ensure the long-term protection and conservation-focused management of our lands, waters and wildlife. Education opportunity and resource topics should include:

• Public and private lands
• Wildlife (native and exotic/invasive)
• Plants (native and exotic/invasive)
• Freshwater and saltwater waterways and bodies of water
• Hunting
• Fishing
• Current conservation issues
• Past and current conservation initiatives across Texas (Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD), TPWF, and other organizations)
• Existing conservation organizations
• Existing TPWF & TPWD partners
• How the Texas legislative process works and impacts TPWD and conservation
• TPWD leadership, processes, and history
• TPWF leadership, processes, and history

3. Networking and spreading the word about the importance of getting involved in Texas conservation work. The greater the number of individuals who are informed and support positive conservation initiatives across the state, the more likely our Wild Things and Wild Places will be protected in the long-term.

SOTW members who are first-time or novice hunters or fishermen also have the opportunity to participate in mentored hunts and fishing trips throughout the year. It’s an unforgettable experience, supporting wildlife conservation, celebrating our hunting heritage, and learning how to process and cook wild game.

What is Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation (TPWF)? 

TPWF is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that advances Texas’ proud outdoor traditions through meaningful, high-impact programs, partnerships, and a wide range of projects that conserve and enhance our state’s lands, waters, and wildlife. Our vision is for all Texans to have access to the wild things and wild places in our state, both now and for generations to come. 

For more than 30 years, TPWF has been keeping Texas wild. TPWF has raised and invested more than $250 million to advance Texas’ proud outdoor traditions and conserve and enhance our lands, waters, and wildlife. TPWF is the official nonprofit partner of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) and also partners with dozens of other organizations and corporations across the state. 

To learn more about TPWF, visit https://www.tpwf.org/.

What is the difference between Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation (TPWF) and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD)?

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) is the state agency that oversees more than 1.4 million acres of untamed Texas, including state parks, historic sites, wildlife management areas, streams, rivers, lakes, shoreline, and much more. Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation (TPWF) is the official nonprofit partner of TPWD, raising and investing private funds to advance Texas’ proud outdoor traditions and conserve our state’s lands, waters, and wildlife.

Since 1991, Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation (TPWF) has played a vital role in conserving the lands, waters, and wildlife that call Texas home. With each acre TPWF conserves, we are reclaiming vital, vanishing habitat for the tens of thousands of native animal and plant species that call Texas home. Over 200,000 acres have been permanently protected so far, including almost 11,000 new acres in 2023, forever conserving valuable habitat for migratory birds and native wildlife from the Gulf Coast to the Piney Woods, Hill Country, and Trans-Pecos regions of Texas. 

When, where, and why was SOTW created? 

SOTW was established in 2013 in Dallas after outdoor enthusiasts Mac MarFarlan and Josh McKee approached TPWF with the idea to create a program that would encourage young Texans to get involved in conservation, learn about public lands, and connect through meaningful outdoor experiences. Today, the program is TPWF’s successful conservation leadership program, with hundreds of members across the state.

Are there different SOTW membership levels?

Yes! We offer single (1 person) and dual memberships (2 people) at one-year or two-year options. We also offer a lifetime membership for 1 person. 

We also offer a $15 Texas Wildlife Association (TWA) "Friend of TWA" add-on (valued at $35). If you would like to participate in our mentored hunting initiative, this TWA add-on is required. The TWA add-on includes: 

• An electronic subscription to the Texas Wildlife monthly magazine
• TWA E-Newsletters including the weekly Wildlife Wire
• TWA membership card
• TWA Member Discount Program – offering member discounts at participating retailers
• TWA membership decal
• Invitations to member meetings, social and events
• Volunteer opportunism in TWA’s Conservation Legacy (youth and adult education) and Texas Youth Hunting Programs.

What is the difference between a SOTW member and a TPWF member? 

TPWF members are completely separate from SOTW members. TPWF members are an essential part of the TPWF's work to ensure the future of Texas’ wild things and wild places. Without TPWF members, projects like the restoration of pronghorn in the Trans-Pecos, the enhancement of grasslands that support quail and monarch butterflies, and land acquisitions that provide public access and conserve vital habitats would be impossible. Find out more about TPWF membership.

Is my SOTW membership tax deductible?

Yes, 100% of your membership fees are tax deductible. 

Who oversees the SOTW program and chapters? 

TPWF Engagement Manager Katie Spurgin oversees the SOTW program and chapters with the help of TPWF Program Associate, Emmy Francell. 

Each chapter is led by two volunteer co-chairs and 5-10 volunteer advisory council members. The co-chairs and advisory council members work with TPWF staff to ensure local chapter members have opportunities to experience the various outdoor landscapes of Texas; increase their knowledge about public land access; interact with conservation professionals; and participate in the conservation of our wild things and wild places. 

How do I get more involved with SOTW? 

We encourage every SOTW member to attend local chapter and statewide events, get to know other SOTW members and leaders, stay up to date on SOTW and TPWF happenings by reading the monthly SOTW newsletter and signing up for TPWF communications, and volunteer when possible. If you are interested in serving as a chapter advisory council member or a co-chair, reach out to your local chapter via email. 

• Abilene: abilene@stewardsofthewild.org
• Austin: austin@stewardsofthewild.org
• Bryan-College Station: bcs@stewardsofthewild.org
• Dallas: dallas@stewardsofthewild.org
• Fort Worth: fortworth@stewardsofthewild.org
• Houston: houston@stewardsofthewild.org
• Midland: midland@stewardsofthewild.org
• San Antonio: sanantonio@stewardsofthewild.org

Which Texas cities have established SOTW chapters? 

We currently have chapters in Abilene, Austin, Bryan-College Station, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, Midland, and San Antonio. 

If I don't live in a city with an established chapter, how can I get involved? 

Join the Statewide chapter and enjoy the benefits of a SOTW membership. We believe location should not be a barrier to conservation involvement and resources. Gain access to all chapter and statewide events, and opportunities to network with SOTW members and TPWD experts across the state.

How do I establish a new local chapter? 

If you are interested in helping establish and lead a new SOTW chapter, please contact Katie Spurgin at kspurgin@tpwf.org. 

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