As we close the books on another year of incredible service here at Five Rivers MetroParks, we want to thank you, our dedicated volunteers for continuing to support your parks through volunteer service. The gift of your time and skill has been critical in continuing to keep our parks open and safe throughout this pandemic where they have served as a natural respite for our community-Thank you!
The Volunteer Services team will be adding your 2021 volunteer hours to your Get Connected account very soon. You will be able to view those hours on your Dashboard as well as in Track Hours. Moving forward, all volunteer service hours will be tracked on the Get Connected site, primarily by responding to volunteer opportunities and checking in. If you have any questions about tracking your hours in the system, please reach out to a volunteer coordinator at volunteer.services@metroparks.org or call #937-275-7275.
Volunteer Services is ringing in the New Year with the official opening of our Get Connected site on January 1st. The site is now available with real volunteer opportunities you can sign up to support. Additionally, the site features a growing Training Library where volunteers will have easy access to volunteer training content created by their Staff Leads and a Volunteer Blog where you can catch up on the latest volunteer news anytime. The Blog will replace our monthly Jango email newsletter moving forward.
Volunteer Services is here to help you get better acquainted with the site, find training opportunities, ensure you can work through qualifications, and learn about all the available volunteer opportunities. Please reach out to us at volunteer.services@metroparks.org or call #937-275-7275 for support. We look forward to helping you Get Connected!
All current long-term volunteers who completed the Get Connected Site Training for Volunteers and their qualifications by December 31st will receive a brand new, light-weight, breathable volunteer tshirt. T-shirts are on the way and volunteers who qualified for the new tshirt will receive pick-up instructions soon from Volunteer Services.
Winter Wonderland is within your yard, your neighborhood, and a MetroParks near you!
Winter is a season many choose to hibernate, but MetroParks has so many great places so you can enjoy nature during this time of year! More doctors are starting to prescribe nature for depression, stress, and attention disorders. Exposure to sunlight, and exercise on a brisk winter walk, can brighten your spirit, so don't let the cool weather keep you inside. Here are a few winter tips to get you on the right path:
- Stay Warm - Dress in layers, dress for the weather, start warm with a simple warm-up before you head out.
- Start Small - You don't have to have an all-day adventure, amazing what 15 minutes will do.
- Reward yourself - Yummy hot chocolate, nice hot cup of soup, share your success with a social media post.
- Share with a friend - More fun with someone to experience the adventures, and your dog will enjoy the exercise as well.
- Enjoy the surroundings - Observe nature's beauty, look for signs of what else is enjoying nature (tracks in the snow, scat, bird songs).
- Remember the fun memories - Take fun pictures of some of your discoveries.
Looking for some things to do with your kids or grandkids, or maybe just the kid in you? Here are some winter activities to enjoy.
Get Connected Tip:
One of the easiest ways to find out about new volunteer opportunities you might be interested in is to become a "fan" of the volunteer positions that interest you. There are 9 formal volunteer positions with Five Rivers MetroParks. All of our volunteer opportunities will be tied to a particular volunteer position. Check them out and "fan" the ones that most interest you!
Volunteer Trainings
Winter months are a time for volunteer training at Five Rivers MetroParks which means it's a great time to learn more about volunteer opportunities. Have you ever considered serving on the Five Rivers MetroParks Volunteer Patrol? Learn more about this upcoming training and others on our Training and Events page on Get Connected.
MVP Annual Training
Are you interested in joining the MetroParks Volunteer Patrol team? MetroParks Volunteer Patrols support Five Rivers MetroParks in the protection and stewardship of the Miami Valley's natural and paved trail systems by patrolling regularly. Patrol volunteers educate users with information on proper trail use and safety, alert staff to potential hazards or problems, and foster positive public interactions along the trails and within the parks. MVPs are the "eyes and the ears" of the trails and in our parks! Join us for the LIVE virtual kick-off to learn more about how you can join the team. Visit Training & Events on Get Connected to learn more.
Save the date for the 2022 Adventure Summit!
Volunteers will be needed to support this amazing event on Saturday, February 12th at Wright State University! A variety of opportunities are available for support including Set Up, Tear Down, Information, and Room Ambassadors. We hope you will sign up and join us for this amazing one day event. Opportunities will be posted soon on Get Connected here!
The Adventure Summit, presented by Wagner Subaru, is compressed this year into one full day of speakers and activities and brings outdoor skill, culture, and experience to thousands of outdoor enthusiasts converging in Dayton, Ohio. The Adventure Summit has a rich history of featuring world-class outdoor adventure personalities, from endurance runners to long-distance backpackers. The Summit also has hosted polar explorers and the founding father of mountain biking. Featured personalities are sure to inspire and amaze, and volunteers help make this experience possible. We hope you will join MetroParks staff and Wright State University to be a part of the February excitement.
Get Connected Reminders:
- Have you watched the Get Connected Site training for volunteers? Need a quick refresher? Check out the brand-new Fast Track Site Training Video for Volunteers available on the Get Connected Site Training for Volunteers page!
- Have you updated your Get Connected volunteer profile including Skills and Interests?
- Have you "fanned" volunteer positions that interest you?
- 2021 Volunteer Hours will be posted on Get Connected soon!
- Volunteer opportunities are available and ready for you to "respond" on Get Connected. Check them out and sign up. After you sign up for an opportunity, you will need to check-in the day of that scheduled opportunity on the Get Connected site.
- Need help? Contact volunteer.services@metroparks.org or call #937-275-7275 to speak with a volunteer coordinator. We will be offering in person Help Sessions again beginning in February.
Volunteer Resources
Volunteer Services is available if you have questions or need assistance in signing up. Contact us at volunteer.services@metroparks.org or (937) 275-7275.
Volunteer Services Contact Information
Allie Zimmerman - Parks & Conservation (937) 274-3176
Candy Holloway - Horticulture & Sustainability (937) 275-5006
Janelle Leonard - Business Operations & Visitor Services (937) 277-5445
Yvonne Dunphe - Outdoor Connections Programming (937) 277-4147
Jenny Hymans - Human Resources Manager of Volunteer Services (937) 567-1413
Mobile app makes it easier to explore the outdoors
MetroParks' mobile app, powered by OuterSpatial, is free and available for both iPhone and Android devices. It includes offline mapping and navigation - and access continues even without a cell phone signal.
Use the app to plan your park visit, navigate the trails, take self-guided tours, find amenities and points of interest, and much more.
Stay active outdoors with resources on Nature is Open blog, social media
Five Rivers MetroParks' Nature Is Open blog includes articles about kid-friendly trails, Backyard Bingo cards, nature-based activities, and much more! Follow MetroParks on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for even more resources aimed at helping families connect with nature and stay active out
