The organization, the Friends of Bright Leaf, is a 501c3 non-profit. Our purpose is to conserve and enhance the area Georgia B. Lucas established as Bright Leaf and to promote the public's enjoyment, understanding, and appreciation of this area. In the past there was a Memorandum of Agreement between the Friends of Bright Leaf and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Now, we will work together with the Austin Community Foundation with the same purpose in mind.

Georgia Lucas specified in her will that "all hikes will be guided hikes". The Friends group leads these GUIDED HIKES for all sorts of groups. We have led groups of young folks, such as the entire second grade of a local elementary school. We have led groups of senior citizens as well. Our hikes can be the entire loop #3 that is four miles long, or as short as a stroll beside Dry Creek. The groups can be as small as one or as large as 100+. Just call Bright Leaf at 459-7269 to arrange a hike and please allow some lead time to find a volunteer for your group. We also offer hikes that are open to the public every month. Just meet us at the parking lot off 2222 and Creek Mountain Road at the date and time listed on the calendar. Please remember that there are no dogs and no bikes allowed in Bright Leaf.

Join our group by sending in a MEMBERSHIP form. If you would like to lead hikes or volunteer in any other way, give us a call. We need all sorts of volunteers, from Boy Scouts and other clubs who can work on various projects to bookkeepers, secretaries, or botanists. Our volunteers really care about Bright Leaf.

We hold open house EVENTS and WORKDAYS several times a year. Typically, we have a February workday to remove invasive plants, participate in Austin Nature Day in April, have a trail work day and open house on National Trails Day in June, an open house in October, and a donor and volunteer appreciation party in December.

The Friends of Bright Leaf has business meetings on the second Tuesday of odd numbered months at 6:30pm at the Georgia Lucas house & conference Center.

For automatic reminders of upcoming hikes and events, sign up at the Yahho e-group site: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/fobl/
The Friends group business files are posted on the e-group site in the Files area.