There's nothing better than Fall in your Five Rivers MetroParks and we have lots of fun Fall volunteer opportunities coming your way this season including 3 exciting events!
Sign up to volunteer at 1, 2, or all 3! Details below.
1. The Wagner Subaru Outdoor Experience is BACK!
The region's premier outdoor adventure festival, The Wagner Outdoor Experience, returns October 1st and 2nd at Eastwood MetroPark! More than 17,000 active outdoor enthusiasts and families will attend this exciting event. Volunteers are needed to support a variety of opportunities including Event Set up, Event Ambassadors, Info Central, Hospitality, Safety & Line Assistants, Sustainability Team, Shuttle Drivers, Boat Assistants, Event Tear Down, and more! Note: Some opportunities require prior training, others do not. Check the volunteer opportunity listing for any requirements.
Volunteer opportunities begin September 26th and run through October 5th. Click the volunteer button below to view available volunteer opportunities and sign up to have fun and make a difference.
2. Fall Family Adventure at Wegerzyn Gardens MetroPark
Is the crisp air of fall, the crunching of leaves, and pumpkins YOUR favorite time of the year? Maybe creating nature-inspired crafts is your passion! Kick off the harvest season at Wegerzyn Gardens MetroPark! On Saturday, October 8, join Five Rivers MetroParks education staff at this year's Fall Family Adventure. Programs and events at Five Rivers MetroParks offer families and children the opportunity to be an active part of our mission and volunteers assist in helping them create lasting memories.
Explore a variety of "behind-the-scenes" and day-of volunteer opportunities by clicking the volunteer button below.
3. Make A Difference Day
Join us Saturday, Oct. 22 from 9 AM to noon for Make a Difference Day at Five Rivers MetroParks! Community members of all ages will work at various sites throughout Five Rivers MetroParks to help us clean up our parks and prepare for the winter season. Make a Difference Day is a great way to get outside and give back this October.
Click the volunteer button below to view available projects in Get Connected, register your family, friends, or work group, and get everyone outside to make a difference!
Special events and large programs like those mentioned above require a great deal of volunteer support to make happen. This year we have been able to bring back a number of large special events and large programs thanks to your generous support. Last month, 23 volunteers helped us bring back Small Farm & Food Fest at Carriage Hill MetroPark. These volunteers helped bring the historic farm to life, providing demonstrations, historic interpretation, educational experiences, outstanding visitor service, and event support. Thanks to all the volunteers who came out to support this fun farm event!
Thank You to all our Small Farm Food Fest Volunteers: Brenda Dowdy, Connie Duncan, Amber Scalf, Beth Hartzler, Ronald Brown, Charles Sigler, Dan Richardson, Stephen McNew, Maya Holbrook, Henry Holbrook, Jeremy Holbrook, John Dunn, Charlie Wiltrout, Gary Courts, Doug Bright, Marty Moseman, Ellen Eveland, Georgette Hall, Amy Korpieski, Janice Griffin, Karen Sullivan, Carl Henderson, and Larry Lehman.
Treva Pickenpaugh - Love of History and Community
Nearly 40 years ago, Treva Pickenpaugh first began volunteering at Carriage Hill MetroPark as part of the American Business Women's Association. The group would volunteer one weekend a month at the park assisting as Gate Greeters and at the Visitor Center desk. Over the years, Treva formed a connection to Carriage Hill through her passion for local history, her joy of interacting with community members, and her commitment to serving the public. Read more about Treva's volunteer experience in our Get Connected Volunteer Blog here.
Thank you, Treva for your outstanding commitment, dedication and service to Five Rivers MetroParks!
Volunteer Positions & Upcoming Opportunities
Fall is a great time to get outside and volunteer! Check out these great volunteer opportunities available this month across your Five Rivers MetroParks! See something that interests you, but have questions? Contact a Volunteer Coordinator at volunteer.services@metroparks.org or call#937-275-7275.
Looking for opportunities where we need the most help right now?
Click the button below to view our high-need, high-priority opportunities and sign up to make a difference!
Don't forget to FAN the Volunteer Positions you support. When you FAN a volunteer position you receive a weekly digest email for that position that includes new volunteer opportunities. It also lets your Volunteer Services team know that you are interested in that position and its opportunities.
Ambassadors
Patti Russell Campbell welcoming visitors at Cox Arboretum MetroPark
Are you a fan of Five Rivers MetroParks?
Ambassador volunteers build awareness of the assets our MetroParks offers to the community. Volunteers share their enthusiasm for Five Rivers MetroParks with diverse audiences, welcome visitors to the park, provide helpful information, and answer a variety of questions. It's so rewarding to be able to share your favorite hiking trails, picnic spots, fishing ponds, or market vendor with community members!
Ongoing Ambassador Opportunities are available at the 2nd Street Market, Cox Arboretum Visitor Center, and Carriage Hill Visitor Center. And we'll be offering several more Event Ambassador roles during the Wagner Subaru Outdoor Experience Event on October 1 &2. Click the button below to view upcoming Ambassador volunteer opportunities.
Interested in becoming a Visitor Center Ambassador? Training will be held on September 6th at Carriage Hill MetroPark. Sign up for an In-Person Visitor Center Ambassador Training here.
Gardening
Demonstration Garden at Possum Creek MetroPark
Do you love MetroParks gardens?
As summer comes to an end and we welcome the Autumn Equinox on September 22, there's still a lot to do in the gardens! Gardening volunteers are needed to support staff in caring for a variety of gardens throughout MetroParks. Volunteering alongside staff and other volunteers creates a sense of community and offers an opportunity to learn about seasonal topics in the landscape. Join other like-minded volunteers and check out gardening volunteer opportunities in Get Connected by clicking the button below. Don't forget to "Fan" the Gardening volunteer position to receive updates on our current volunteer opportunities in the gardens!
Programming
Staff Lead and Outdoor Recreation Specialist Kelly Kingery with JET Student and Volunteer at a fishing program.
Like to fish, or know someone who does?
Program Support: Know someone who likes to fish, maybe even likes to fly fish? We're looking for fishing volunteers and fly fishing volunteers to support a variety of upcoming fishing programs. This wonderful nature activity is family fun and more are trying it thanks to our programming. Your support, with fishing experience, or as a program assistant, aids making the program go smoothly, offers individual attention to participants, and creates a better learning experience for all involved. Want to freshen some of your knowledge before you sign up? The fishing training series offers short videos for some of the skills fisherman use, click here to see them.
View the opportunities currently scheduled and sign up to support by clicking the volunteer button below. Know someone who might be interested? Refer them to our Get Connected site or to our Volunteer Services team via email: volunteer.services@metroparks.org or phone: 937-275-7275. Every volunteer makes a difference at Five Rivers MetroParks and there are volunteer opportunities for just about everyone!
Wildlife Ambassador Volunteer Deb Zurawski with our Red-tailed Hawk.
Do you love wildlife and caring for animals?
Wildlife Ambassador Animal Care: Wildlife Ambassador Animal Care Volunteers assist with the daily care of the animals at our Twin Valley Welcome Center including cleaning animal enclosures, socializing, and providing the animals with fresh food and water. All new Wildlife Ambassador volunteers begin with animal care. Additional opportunities for Wildlife Ambassadors include Wildlife Ambassador Program Support and Outreach. These essential volunteers allow us to continue to care for and support these wildlife ambassadors that serve to educate the public on the importance of our conservation mission. Interested in joining the effort? Learn more about what it means to provide animal care for these Wildlife Ambassadors and begin volunteer training by clicking the volunteer button below. Volunteers who complete the virtual training will then be contacted to schedule in-person shadowing.
Historic Interpreter Volunteer Heather Olmstead at Carriage Hill MetroPark.
Do you love Carriage Hill's Historic Farm?
Historic Interpreters: If you have a love of local history, getting back to simpler times, and engaging the public then you may want to learn more about the opportunities with the Carriage Hill Historic Farm. Learn more about becoming a Historic Interpreter on the Daniel Arnold Historic Farm at Carriage Hill MetroPark and begin training as a Historic Interpreter volunteer by clicking the volunteer button below.
Get Connected Tech Tip
Want to feel more Connected? Check out these 3 quick and easy Get Connected tips:
- Not tech savvy? Need a quick refresher? Check out the training videos available for many of the "how to's" on the Get Connected Training page. Volunteers can view at their convenience the Get Connected Site Training.
- Not getting notices of new opportunities in your Inbox with things that might interest you? Updating your interests, skills, and availability in your Profile on Get Connected will help the site and your volunteer coordinators match you with volunteer opportunities that meet your specific interests, skills, and availability to serve.
- Did you know there is a Calendar View? See everything in the month -Volunteer Opportunities and Training--even without logging in! View all opportunities and training coming up this week on Get Connected!
Coming up this month in Training & Events:
- Naturalist Guide Training for volunteers--School time is here, and that means school field trips are back! Volunteers are an essential part of helping connect students to nature in a variety of field trip programs. We will be holding 3 volunteer training days for our School Program Naturalists to prepare for the fall field trip season. The trainings will be focusing on the field trips that get the most requests and the parks where most field trips take place. View these trainings and RSVP here on Get Connected.
- Visitor Center Ambassador Training--Interested in supporting our visitor centers at Carriage Hill MetroPark and/or Cox Arboretum MetroPark? Training will be held on September 6th at Carriage Hill MetroPark. Sign up for an In-Person Visitor Center Ambassador Training here.
Need more help? Don't worry, we've got you covered. There are still plenty of Help Sessions available. Not sure if a Help Session will really help? Check out the positive feedback we've received from other volunteers just like you:
"I just wanted you to know that I had a very good experience attending the help session for the volunteer system. I was paired with Janelle Leonard who has always been one of my favorite park people. She was very patient and helpful. She guided me step by step through the process including the background check. I truly don't think I would have been able to navigate this on my own. Thanks for providing me with this help session!"
RSVP for an upcoming Help Session here.
PLUS-Our friends at the Dayton Metro Library are hosting FREE Computer classes for those who are just getting started or those who want to sharpen their computer skills. Class topics include:
- Computer Basics
- Mouse Basics
- The Computer Keyboard
- Internet Basics
- Email Basics
- Tuesday Tech Time
- Tech Training at Your Own Pace
- Internet Beyond the Basics
Registration is required for these classes and can be done online here or by calling the Ask Me Line at 937.463.2665.
We are here to support YOU, thank you for volunteering!
Volunteer Services
Volunteer Services is available if you have questions or need assistance in signing up.
Contact us: volunteer.services@metroparks.org
#937-275-7275
RSVP for an in-person Help Session with a Volunteer Coordinator here.
Candy Holloway - Horticulture & Sustainability #(937) 275-5006
Yvonne Dunphe - Outdoor Connections Programming #(937) 277-4147
Allie Zimmerman - Parks & Conservation #(937) 274-3176
Janelle Leonard - Business Operations & Visitor Services #(937) 277-5445
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.
