who we are
Set amid a working cattle ranch and an expansive wetland on the East Fork of the Trinity River, the John Bunker Sands Wetland Center is a nature center, an educational destination, a birder’s paradise and photographer’s dream, and a serene escape to nature like no other in North Texas.
Our primary mission is educating the public about water, wetlands and wildlife and the need to conserve these essential resources. Our environmental education programs use the East Fork Water Reuse Project, a 2,000-acre wetland that supplies drinking water, to give students a memorable field research experience designed to inspire conservation literacy. We also offer nature seminars, bird walks, boardwalk tours, Scouting programs and a host of special events focused on the natural world, with an emphasis on activities for families.
Our boardwalk into the wetland and miles of trails allow visitors of all ages to immerse themselves in diverse habitats that host some 270 species of birds, including bald eagles, and scores of native mammals, insects, amphibians and reptiles.
john bunker sands wetland center
Our Mission and Vision
Conservation Literacy of Water, Wetlands and Wildlife:
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.
Our Board of Directors
Terry Sam Anderson, President
North Texas Municipal Water District
Ken Mindell, Treasurer
The Rosewood Corporation, Retired
Jamie Steinburg, Secretary
Protiviti
Jenna Covington
North Texas Municipal Water District
Don Gordon
North Texas Municipal Water District
Haven Heinrichs
The Rosewood Foundation
Anjanette Murry
Crandall Independent School District
Storm Sands
The Rosewood Corporation
Suzanne Tuttle
Fort Worth Nature Center, Retired Manager
Our Team
Carol Garrison
Education Coordinator
A third generation Texan, Carol has been with the Wetland Center since 2017. In addition to teaching a full educational curriculum for public and private schools, she also oversees our homeschool program and presents a wide variety of programs and tours for visitors.
She frequently applies her training as a Certified Interpretive Guide and a Texas Master Naturalist.
Prior to joining the Center, Carol pursued her passion for environmental education through volunteer involvement with Keep Garland Beautiful, the Preservation Society of Spring Creek Forest and North Texas Master Naturalists. For those organizations and others, she presented numerous educational talks on topics ranging from recycling and water conservation to native and adaptive plants.
She is also a Texas certified prosthetist/orthotist and has been in private practice for 27 years.
Carol received her bachelor’s degree in biology in 1992 from Texas Woman’s University and a bachelor’s degree in prosthetics and orthotics in 1995 from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School.
Nicole Ujita
Education Coordinator
Nicole joined the Wetland Center in 2021. She coordinates social media, membership, marketing and outreach along with teaching education programs. Her goal is to pass on the joy of science and love for the natural world.
A California native, Nicole made her way to Texas through the AmeriCorps VISTA program at the Dallas Zoo. The program’s goal is to improve lives, strengthen communities and foster civic engagement through service and volunteering. During her three years at the zoo, she served as a youth volunteer coordinator and conservation interpreter.
Previously, she worked at multiple institutions including the Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens. During her college years, she fell in love with informal science education while working at the Sedgwick County Zoo.
Nicole completed her degree in zoo science in 2015 from Friends University in Wichita, Kan.
Avery Craddock
Conservation Educator
Avery has been with the Wetland Center since 2022. He is a local to the Metroplex who left for Washington state to study botanical sciences. In his studies, he developed an immense passion and appreciation for the natural world and conservation. It is now one of his life missions to help others find this same passion through hands-on experiences and education.
Since setting out with this mission, Avery has also worked with the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Gardens and the Washington Conservation Corps.
Nancy Escobar
Conservation Educator
Nancy is a passionate STEM educator with a background in youth programming and environmental education. She joined the Wetland Center in 2022 and uses her role to share her love of insects and nature with her students.
While Nancy always wanted to be a teacher, she discovered her passion for the field during an environmental and conservation leadership summer camp program. Since then, she has provided similar immersive STEM experiences via her roles as an educator and program coordinator with various institutions and nonprofits including Vogel Alcove, Trinity River Audubon Center, Big Thought and Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge. Her goal is to make engaging and inclusive environmental education programs more accessible to underserved youth in the D-FW area.
Nancy graduated from Austin College in 2021 with a bachelor’s degree in environmental studies and biology.