Adopt-A-Park is back Saturday, April 23rd!
Celebrate Earth Day by protecting and cleaning the region's parks and waterways during Five Rivers MetroParks' 34th annual Adopt-A-Park.
From 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, April 23, hundreds of volunteers from across the region will come together to spruce up these green spaces just in time for spring. Registration is required and available online starting March 1 on Get Connected.
Volunteers of all ages, accessibility levels, and backgrounds will tackle dozens of in-person projects in different natural areas. Projects will include invasive species removal, habitat maintenance, gardening activities, mulching nature play areas, historical farm clean-up, and more. These projects will improve the environment and beautiful the region's natural areas. Volunteers will be provided with project supplies, gloves, and trash bags. Participants should bring water and wear weather-appropriate clothing.
Groups are encouraged to register early to ensure space at available sites. A limited number of Adopt-A-Park Service Kits - pre-assembled kits for participants to safely pick up litter and clean greenspaces while maintaining COVID-19 safety guidelines will be available. Volunteers can register for a service kit online on Get Connected. In 2021, more than 13,000 pounds of litter was cleared from area greenspaces and parks, 4,774 pounds of which were able to be recycled and diverted from the landfill.
Need help registering for an in-person Adopt-A-Park project or an Adopt-A-Park Service Kit? Contact Volunteer Services volunteer.services@metroparks.org or call #937-275-PARK to speak with a Volunteer Coordinator.
Adopt-A-Park is generously sponsored by Montgomery County Environmental Services, Keep Montgomery County Beautiful, LexisNexis, and QEI Engineers.
Volunteer Position Updates & New Opportunities Available!
Spring brings so much excitement here at Five Rivers MetroParks! The weather is getting warmer, plants are starting to come alive, and the public is ready to get back outside. Check out these new opportunities and volunteer position updates to see how you can make a difference with MetroParks this Spring.
Gardening
March 20th is the first day of spring! Horticulture and education gardening staff have been busy preparing the gardens over the winter and are looking forward to having volunteers back to kick off the gardening season! If you are interested in volunteering in one of our horticulture parks such as Aullwood Garden, Cox Arboretum, Wegerzyn Gardens or at RiverScape or any of the downtown parks, look for those opportunities now in Get Connected. If you'd like to explore a gardening opportunity in one of the education gardens such as the Heirloom Garden on the Historic Farm at Carriage Hill, in the Demonstration Gardens at Possum Creek or in Skeeter's Garden at Wegerzyn, staff will host volunteers starting in late March. The education gardens are a great way to connect with MetroParks' Growing for Good program, where produce is distributed throughout the community to those who need it most. Learn more about the MetroParks work to help alleviate hunger here.
Park Maintenance
Volunteers that enjoy our trails may find another way to give back by being part of our MetroParks Volunteer Patrols (MVP). MVPs actively hike or bike our trails reporting maintenance and safety issues and assisting trail users. MVPs also perform light trail maintenance duties as they patrol. Sound like a good fit for you? The LIVE virtual MVP Kick Off is scheduled for Saturday, March 5th at 10 AM. RSVP here to get the link and learn more about this volunteer opportunity.
Programming
Did you know that Five Rivers MetroParks has seven designated Heart Healthy Trails? Heart Healthy Trails are easy to moderate trails, 1-2.5 miles long that are walkable at a brisk pace and marked every quarter of a mile to help walkers track their pace. The American Heart Association recommends walking at a brisk pace of 24 minutes for at least 2.5 miles per hour making these trails perfect for incorporating into your existing wellness routine or starting a brand new one. Volunteers are needed at Heart Healthy Hikes throughout the season supporting our staff as they invite program participants to enjoy nature, increase their activity, and discover new trails and ways to improve their physical and mental health in our MetroParks. Check out these volunteer opportunities and others under the Programming Volunteer Position page on Get Connected. Sign up and support great programs like these and others in your MetroParks this season!
Fishing Programs have returned, and although you don't need to be an expert to provide fishing program support, coming to the Fun Fishing for Everyone Volunteer Season Opener on Saturday, March 26th at Possum Creek MetroPark will help you determine if these opportunities are a good fit for you. Simple, practical skill building will be part of this session as well as an overview of how volunteers of all skill levels can pitch in and support these wonderful programs. RSVP for the Fun Fishing for Everyone Season Opener here. If you want to follow fishing volunteer opportunities, you can easily search "fishing" in Volunteer Opportunities on Get Connected.
Skilled Trades
Have you "fanned" the Skilled Trades Volunteer Position? Did you know skills like sewing, crocheting, knitting, and weaving are highly valued and in need? We are excited to start offering more opportunities for volunteers to share these valuable skills in support of MetroParks. Currently, we are looking for volunteers with sewing skills. Check out this opportunity on Get Connected: Textile Support - Sewing projects. If you are willing to share your textile skills, remember to mark them in your skills section in your profile, and "fan" Skilled Trades to get new opportunities as they come in.
Special Events
Thank you to all our amazing volunteers who supported the return of The Adventure Summit! It was wonderful to be back together in person for an event that celebrates and inspires the outdoor adventurer in all of us. In total, 55 volunteer shifts and 187.2 volunteer hours were served at this year's event.
Get Connected Help Sessions are Available
Get Connected Help Sessions are designed to help you with your new Get Connected volunteer account. This is the opportunity to get personalized support, learn some of the features, and get more comfortable with our Get Connected platform. Learn how to sign up for a volunteer shift, track volunteer hours, register for volunteer training, and more one on one with a Volunteer Coordinator. View the schedule of available Help Sessions to sign up online or contact volunteer.services@metroparks.org or call #937-275-PARK to schedule a Help Session.
Tech Tip: Check-In to your Volunteer Shift!
- Check-In via Email- A check-in email will be sent for most opportunities the morning of your volunteer shift, so while you're having your breakfast before you leave your home, or while you're sitting in your car before you head into your volunteer service, you can easily check your email and check-in to your volunteer shift!
- Check-In From Your Smart Phone-Access the Get Connected site or download the mobile app and check in to your scheduled opportunities from your smartphone.
- Check-In via an onsite Get Connected kiosk- Cox Arboretum will receive our first officially designated Get Connected kiosk in March.
Volunteer Services
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 Direct 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 outdoors.
