2021 Volunteer Data
Thanks to the dedicated support of 576 active volunteers, 11,807 volunteer hours were served in 2021 for an estimated dollar benefit of $290,452 to the agency. Thank you, volunteers!
New Volunteer t-shirts are here! As a thank you for your ongoing support and generous service, Volunteer Service will be
reaching out to those volunteers that qualify for a new t-shirt and/or other volunteer incentive items throughout the month of April to make pick-up arrangements. Incentives include a volunteer t-shirt, volunteer hat (knit/winter or baseball cap/summer), annual service pins, and volunteer card. Not sure if you qualify, contact volunteer.services@metroparks.org or call #937-275-7275 and ask to speak to a volunteer coordinator.
New Volunteer Recruitment Video: Check out this brand new volunteer recruitment video soon to be added to our website and promoted on social media celebrating volunteerism at Five Rivers MetroParks. In honor of National Volunteer Month, look for special posts on Five Rivers MetroParks social media accounts recognizing our amazing volunteers all month long!
Get Connected Tech Tip
New Volunteer Kiosk
Our first Get Connected Volunteer Kiosk has been installed near the Visitor Services desk at Cox Arboretum MetroPark. Volunteers serving at Cox Arboretum can now sign up for volunteer shifts and check in to their volunteer shifts easily on site at this kiosk. New volunteers will be able to explore volunteer opportunities, onboard as a new volunteer and sign up for their first shift from this kiosk as well. The next time you are at Cox Arboretum, we invite you to visit the kiosk and try it out!
Volunteers Pictured: Martie Szelog and Neil Mackay with Staff Lead & Horticulturalist Allison Bush at RiverScape MetroPark
Check Out these Volunteer Position Updates & New Opportunities!
Animal Care
Spring Onboarding for new Carriage Hill Riding Center Volunteers:
Do you love being around horses? Don't mind getting your hands a bit dirty? Consider joining our team of Carriage Hill Riding Center Volunteers! Barn Aide Volunteers assist with essential daily tasks of our equestrian facility such as cleaning stalls, turning horses out to pasture, and providing them with fresh food and water. All new Riding Center volunteers begin as Barn Aide and then can complete additional training to assist with Lessons, Camps, Pony Rides, and Trail Rides. This opportunity is open to volunteers aged 14 or older. This training won't be offered again until November 2022. Click here to sign up for Barn Aide Training Sunday, April 24, 2:30 - 4:30 pm.
Conservation
Do you like getting your hands dirty, expanding on your seed identification skills, and supporting reforestation efforts? Click here to register to volunteer at Tree Corps! The Tree Corps volunteer opportunity engages volunteers in growing plants critical for maintaining your MetroParks, from seed to seedling.
Bats are an important part of the ecosystem and greatly assist the agricultural economy. As the main predator of night-flying insects in Ohio, bats keep insect populations in check. Unfortunately, some bat species have drastically declined over the last few years due to the cumulative effects of habitat loss, wind energy development, and white-nose syndrome. In order to protect bats, it's important to know where they are roosting and understand how their population sizes are changing. Come to our Bat Box Monitoring Training to learn how you can play an important role in aiding in the population rise of this important species. RSVP online.
Gardening
Gardeners are needed this season! Volunteer opportunities are available for gardening support at Aullwood Garden MetroPark, Cox Arboretum MetroPark, Possum Creek MetroPark, Wegerzyn Gardens MetroPark, and RiverScape MetroPark. Explore these opportunities and more on Get Connected. Don't forget to Fan the Gardening Volunteer Position on the site to receive the latest updates on gardening volunteer opportunities.
Park Maintenance
Service Saturdays are back! These new public volunteer days are an easy, convenient way to support your MetroParks and make a difference! Available May through September on the third Saturday of each month from 9 am-Noon, volunteers of all ages and abilities can pitch in to help with a variety of projects throughout MetroParks' locations. Look for Service Saturday opportunities to be posted soon on Get Connected!
Programming
Volunteers are needed to support our many exciting Fishing Programs and no fishing experience is required. Join us for the Fun Fishing for Everyone Volunteer Season Opener on Saturday, April 9th at Possum Creek MetroPark to learn how you can help. Staff Lead Kelly Kingery will provide an overview of all fishing programs and the variety of volunteer roles involved including support with participant check-in, equipment, set up and tear down of programs, as well as hands-on technical support and instruction.
Click here to RSVP and join us for this fun and informative volunteer training.
Click here to view upcoming fishing program volunteer opportunities.
Additional trainings are coming up for Tour Guides including Garden Guides and School Programs, Tram Drivers, and more. Check out what's available in Training and Events on Get Connected here and RSVP online. Note: Some volunteer opportunities require annual training and check-off. You can see what is required for the volunteer opportunities you support by viewing the Volunteer Position description here. If you have any questions, please contact volunteer.services@metroparks.org or call #937-275-7275 and ask to speak to a volunteer coordinator.
Special Events
Join in the fun at MetroParks' Passport to MetroParks Event, held at RiverScape MetroPark on Friday, May 6. This evening will showcase our Parks, Programs, and Events and aims to build community awareness of what our MetroParks have to offer. Special Events Volunteers ensure that each special event or large-scale program runs smoothly from set-up to tear down, and Ambassador Volunteers enhance the visitor experience by offering excellent customer service to park visitors.
Save the date for this year's in-person Bike to Work Day and look for volunteer opportunities to be posted soon. Bike to Work Day will return to RiverScape MetroPark in person on Friday, May 20th from 7 am-9 am with all the activities you love including the free pancake breakfast. Volunteers will be needed for setup and tear down, as well as breakfast support.
Adopt-A-Park
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. While most in-person projects are full, we are still looking for volunteers to support Carriage Hill Farm Chores and Germantown Litter Pick Up.
You can register for one of these projects online.
Not finding an in-person project? Not available on Saturday, April 23rd? Don't worry, you can still help out by participating in our Restore Our Earth Litter Pick Up Challenge and safely pick up litter throughout the season when it is convenient for you. In 2021, more than 13,000 pounds of litter were cleared from area greenspaces and parks, 4,774 pounds of which were able to be recycled and diverted from the landfill.
Volunteers can register for a service kit online.
Need help registering for an in-person Adopt-A-Park project or an Adopt-A-Park Service Kit? Contact Volunteer Services at volunteer.services@metroparks.org or call #937-275-PARK to speak with a Volunteer Coordinator.
Adopt-A-Park is generously sponsored by CareSource Foundation, Montgomery County Environmental Services, Keep Montgomery County Beautiful, LexisNexis, and QEI Engineers.
Volunteer Pictured: Kery Gray
Volunteer Opportunities Available to Support our Partners:
Wegerzyn Gardens Foundation
Gift and Garden Shop
Foundation volunteers are needed to support the Gift and Garden Shop, located at the 2nd Street Market. Proceeds from the gift shop support special projects and programs at Wegerzyn Gardens MetroPark. For more information or to get started as a Wegerzyn Gardens Foundation volunteer, please contact the foundation at contact@wegerzyngardensfoundation.org.
Volunteer Services
Volunteer Services is available if you have questions or need assistance in signing up. Contact us at volunteer.services@metroparks.org or call #937-275-7275 and ask to speak with a volunteer coordinator.
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.
