Carriage Hill MetroPark is illuminated with sun and snow.
In this edition of the Volunteer Newsletter:
- Volunteerism at MetroParks - 2022 Impact
- Park Alerts and COVID Mask Update
- Volunteer Spotlight -Jeff Warden
- Volunteer Positions and Upcoming Opportunities
- Get Connected Tech Tip
- Get Connected Site Updates
- Nature Is Open
Volunteerism at MetroParks - 2022 Impact!
Volunteer Services has created a new annual report to help capture the impact volunteers make in support of our parks, programs, and events. The Volunteer Impact Report provides data and stories on the many ways YOU made a difference this year. View this year's report here. Or, download a copy of this year's Volunteer Impact Report here.
- 1,510 brand-new volunteers
- 2,335 total volunteers
- 1410 active volunteers serving 1 or more hours in 2022
- 530 volunteer opportunities available (many with recurring shifts)
- 6,384 volunteer opportunity responses (sign-ups)
- Adopt-A-Park: 289 volunteers, 860.5 volunteer hours
- Adopt-A-Park Service Kits: 105 volunteers, 72.07 volunteer hours
- Make A Difference Day: 190 volunteers, 555.75 volunteer hours
- Service Saturdays: 54 volunteers, 114.34 volunteer hours
- Total Volunteer Hours: 18,037.88
- Total Value of Service: $488,285.41
Thank you so much for volunteering with us in 2022!
Park Alerts and COVID Mask Update
Five Rivers MetroParks continues to follow the directives and requirements from the Ohio Department of Health (ODH), Public Health - Dayton & Montgomery County, and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). MetroParks also is responding with the health and safety of its community, volunteers, and employees top of mind. MetroParks will update our web page as the situation evolves.
Due to the most updated CDC information, effective Saturday, January 14, and until further notice, masks are optional for MetroParks' staff, volunteers, and visitors in indoor facilities. As always, we will continue to monitor the CDC, Ohio Department of Health and Public Health - Dayton & Montgomery County for guidance as we move forward. Future policies may change based on guidance from these entities.
The COVID-19 public health emergency is still a serious and evolving situation. Thank you 
for bearing with us as we work towards the same goal: enjoying the outdoors and using indoor facilities safely. When volunteering, please check the MetroParks website's current policy regarding our COVID response.
Especially during the winter season, there may be weather conditions that impact various MetroParks locations. Please remember to check for any alerts regarding park or trail opening delays or closures, and any other MetroParks alerts at https://www.metroparks.org/park-alerts/.
Jeff Warden - Love of Fishing and Mentoring Others
Jeff Warden's love for fishing, and more specifically flyfishing, is evident in even the shortest conversation when mentioning fishing. Jeff began volunteering with Five Rivers MetroParks in 2015 and has supported the fishing programs ever since.
As a trained ODNR Passport to Fishing instructor, Jeff brought a wealth of skills and knowledge to our program. His passion for fishing, his skill at teaching different aspects of the sport, and his patience with those of us new to this fun activity, have made Jeff an amazing asset to our program support team.
Quote by Kelly Kingery, Staff Lead and Outdoor Recreation Program Specialist:
"He has been so committed to the fishing program and I can depend on him to be able to step into any role and be confident that he is competent to present the content efficiently and effectively. He is always prompt and dressed for the role and conducts himself as a wonderful ambassador of Five Rivers MetroParks. Jeff is a member of the Miami Valley Fly Fishers where he is involved in a mentoring program. "A mentor is a person willing to freely give of themselves and their time to be a dedicated coach/adviser/role model willing to invest in the mentee's personal growth and goals." I feel this personifies Jeff to a T. "
Thank you, Jeff, for your outstanding commitment, dedication, and service to Five Rivers MetroParks!
Volunteer Positions & Upcoming Opportunities
Volunteer opportunities are sometimes lighter during the winter season, but new volunteer opportunities and volunteer training are being scheduled. Take a look to see how you can continue to support your Five Rivers MetroParks this season.
See something that interests you, but have questions? Contact a Volunteer Coordinator at volunteer.services@metroparks.org or call #937-275-7275.
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.
Looking for opportunities where we need the most help right now?
View our high-need, high-priority opportunities here.
Ambassador
Ambassadors are often the first friendly face a visitor sees welcoming them to the park and can be counted on to share helpful information and answer a variety of questions. Are you a people person? Here is a great opportunity to share your enthusiasm for Five Rivers MetroParks, 2nd Street Market, and shopping local!
Visitor Center Ambassadors: Volunteers will enhance the visitor experience by greeting, welcoming, and interacting with a variety of diverse audiences, and recommending all the best things to see and do while visiting. This volunteer opportunity will be offered at Cox Arboretum Visitor Center on weekdays and on weekends and at the Carriage Hill Visitor Centers on the weekends only, spring through fall. RSVP for an in-person Visitor Center Ambassador Volunteer Training here:
Joe Untener, a versatile 2nd Street Market volunteer, says hello to a friend and market patron.
Second Street Market Volunteers Needed! Join us in the vibrant, bubbling atmosphere of the 2nd Street Market, where you'll always run into a familiar face!
Market Ambassador volunteers will be stationed near the entrance and will greet visitors, conduct sales of MetroParks merchandise, provide wayfinding assistance, and promote the MetroParks by passing out literature.
Roaming Market Greeters will rove throughout the Market greeting, welcoming, and interacting with people. Volunteers will provide wayfinding assistance and promote the MetroParks by passing out literature, as well as acting as a second set of eyes and ears for emergencies.
View all the volunteer opportunities available at the 2nd Street Market by clicking the blue VOLUNTEER button:
Animal Care
Animal Care volunteers support staff in caring for farm animals and wildlife animal ambassadors at a variety of our parks. These animals support MetroParks' mission by connecting the public to nature and education on local history, conservation, and small-site sustainability.
Our Wildlife Animal Ambassadors, including this turtle, help us educate the public on the importance of protecting our natural heritage at a variety of programs and outreach opportunities.
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 this link. Volunteers who complete the virtual training will then be contacted to schedule in-person shadowing.
Conservation
Protecting open space and natural areas is a priority for Five Rivers MetroParks, which protects nearly 16,000 acres of land - 90 percent of it in its natural state. Conservation volunteers are a part of our regional conservation story by assisting in implementing a variety of natural area management plans.
Eastern Bluebird can be recognized easily, and our volunteers help ensure they have safe areas to nest.
Are you looking for an opportunity for you and your family to make a difference in YOUR MetroParks? Volunteers are needed to monitor eastern bluebird boxes throughout the bird's nesting season (March-August). Monitoring eastern bluebird nest boxes help us track local population trends, understand how bluebird populations are reacting to environmental changes, increase the number of bluebird nesting sites, and provide us with a great activity to connect with our parks and learn more about wildlife.
Gardening
Gardening volunteers support our horticulture and education staff in caring for a variety of gardens throughout our parks. These gardens not only provide beautiful spaces for Miami Valley residents to get outside, explore, and connect to nature, but many also provide fresh local produce to those in need in our community.
Certain tasks are perfect for winter, and Sheri Cyra and Karen Veve grabbed their hats and gloves to join the outdoor activities.
Garden volunteers are needed to support horticulture staff at Aullwood Garden MetroPark as well as at RiverScape MetroPark. RiverScape Garden Steward volunteers also assist staff in horticulture needs at our other downtown MetroParks including Island, Deeds, and Sunrise.
If you are interested in helping and learning about seasonal garden tasks, then grab your winter hat, and warm garden gloves, and click the blue VOLUNTEER button below. Please remember, these opportunities are WEATHER DEPENDENT. If you have responded to a gardening shift, keep an eye out in your email inbox for potential cancellations.
Park Maintenance
Five Rivers MetroParks provides clean, safe parks and conservation areas for the public to enjoy year-round. Our Park Maintenance volunteers help to manage and sustain 18 beautiful parks, 11 conservation areas, and 160 miles of hike, bike, mountain bike, and horseback-riding trails for park visitors to safely enjoy.
Staff Lead and Trail Specialist, Michael Cooper, leads a team of volunteers in deberming part of a trail during a Trail Work Day.
Come learn, grow, and give back to the trails you love with this exciting trail maintenance volunteer opportunity! Led by our staff Trail Technician, these trail maintenance opportunities will focus on revitalizing the trail systems in the Twin Valley. Learn alongside like-minded individuals about the why's and how's in building and maintaining a sustainable trail system on these hands-on workdays. View the opportunities available and sign up to support by clicking the blue VOLUNTEER button.
Five Rivers MetroParks sees mountain biking as part of its conservation mission. Today's sustainable trail design and construction guide mountain bike facility designers to lay out and construct trails that lie on the land lightly, prevent erosion and help manage riders through design. Join fellow MoMBA (MetroParks Mountain Biking Area) trail users and enthusiasts at these hands-on SATURDAY trail maintenance volunteer opportunities! View the opportunities available here and sign up to support!
Programming
Five Rivers MetroParks provides a wide variety of high-quality programs to help the public get outside and get connected to nature. Programming volunteers work alongside staff to provide support at programs year-round that help participants master new skills, learn about the natural world, and appreciate the value of open spaces.
Volunteer Ms. Barb Jasper works her magic as a volunteer and has the attention of all our youth at Adventure Central.
Adventure Central Adult Program Volunteer: Love kids? Spend your time hanging out with the most adventurous youth in Dayton! The after-school program at Adventure Central promotes positive youth development, education, and leadership skills using an environmental foundation in a welcoming, safe, fun, and active setting. These kids are just bursting with energy and excitement! The Adult Program Assistant spends most of his or her time assisting with structured activities during group time.
Adventure Central Kitchen Support: Do you know your way around a kitchen? Support our kitchen staff in preparing, serving, and cleaning up simple meals for the after-school program kids at Adventure Central. Great for student service hours!
Learn more about volunteer opportunities available by clicking the blue VOLUNTEER button:
Volunteer Phil Bush sharing in the excitement of the first fish being caught!
Fishing Programs have returned and are gearing up for a fun season! Volunteers help build access, comfort, convenience, and safety into our programs for all interested in learning. They enable more individualized support for first-time learners in our skill-building programs. Although you don't need to be an expert to provide fishing program support, there are helpful videos you can review in the training library.
Ready to get involved? View the opportunities available with our fishing programs and sign up to support by clicking the blue VOLUNTEER button:
Volunteer Bobbi Beyer gets ready for an outdoor demonstration at the Historic Farm.
Historic Interpreter: Carriage Hill MetroPark is offering special programs on the Daniel A Arnold Historic Farm throughout this winter season. The first program in February is Traditional Butchering. Volunteers will help greet participants, pass out supplies, and assist the staff lead with various demonstrations. Historic Apparel is required for this opportunity. Learn more and sign up to help by clicking the blue VOLUNTEER button:
Historic Interpreter Volunteer Ellen Eveland preparing to receive guests at Carriage Hill's Daniel Arnold House.
Historic Interpreters: Do you love history? Historic Interpreter volunteers are part of the programming team that brings the history of the Daniel Arnold Historic Farm to life by interpreting 19th-century farm life and demonstrating simple everyday farm tasks. These volunteers complete the Historic Interpreter Volunteer Training and wear historic clothing during farm open hours, programs, and special events. Learn more and begin your training today by visiting the Historic Interpreter Volunteer Training in the Volunteer Training Library on Get Connected.
Interested in volunteering in the Daniel Arnold House as a Historic Interpreter? Attend the in-person Historic Interpreter House Volunteer Training. Learn more and submit your RSVP by clicking the green RSVP button. Note: This training opportunity is for individuals who will be volunteering with our staff at programs, behind-the-scenes opportunities, and demonstrations at the Carriage Hill Historic Farm.
Skilled Trades
Five Rivers MetroParks takes pride in the variety of hands-on, skilled trades opportunities we offer, both in historical and modern-day settings. Our Skilled Trades volunteers help drive our mission forward by assisting with maintenance projects in fabrication, repair, and interpretation.
Volunteer Shari Hopton is learning some tricks and techniques as part of the Textile and Fiber Arts support.
Textile and Fiber Arts: 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 to support opportunities at Carriage Hill MetroPark and Possum Creek MetroPark. View these opportunities and sign up by clicking the blue VOLUNTEER button:
Volunteer Historic Blacksmith, Jim Fiene, practicing some skills at Carriage Hill Historic Farm.
Historic Blacksmith and Woodworkers: Did you know the craft shop volunteers, blacksmiths, and woodworkers, are also part of Historic Interpreters at Carriage Hill MetroPark Historic Farm? We are gearing up for the Spring, and interested volunteers should start their training now so they will be available to support these unique opportunities.
Historic Blacksmith and Historic Woodworker volunteers must complete the Historic Interpreter Volunteer Training before beginning their Historic Skilled Trade Volunteer Training. To view the Historic Interpreter Volunteer Training, click here. Once, you've completed this training, you are ready to move on to the Skilled Trade Volunteer Training: Historic Blacksmith or Historic Woodworker. All of these trainings can be found in our Volunteer Training Library on Get Connected.
Skill and Safety check-offs for Skilled Trades will begin in February for new and returning volunteers. If you have additional questions, please email yvonne.dunphe@metroparks.org.
Get Connected - Tech Tip
Many times we get asked, "Is there an easier way to find opportunities?" This is especially true if you are only interested in supporting certain sites, or specific activities. Get Connected has a useable Search and Filter function in the opportunities listing and in the schedule view. You can search by keyword or phrase like "fishing", "horses", "Cox", or filter by Volunteer Position "Animal Care", or sort by an alphabetized listing. These features will help narrow down what you are seeing, and allow you to find things you want much quicker … especially as a busy Spring season approaches and we anticipate quite a few volunteer opportunities.
Learn more about finding volunteer opportunities in the Get Connected Volunteer Site Training video "Volunteer Opportunities", Step 6 in this online training, available below:
New! Get Connected Site Updates
We have been reviewing your feedback in the Get Connected Volunteer Site Survey and are busy making updates to the site and updates to our site training and support resources to better assist you. Most recently, we have removed the mileage field from volunteer hours tracking. While this field was never required, it did cause some confusion among volunteers who thought they had to track their mileage and/or that the mileage traveled counted as part of volunteer hours. This field has been removed and will no longer be visible when adding your volunteer hours. If you track your mileage for tax reporting purposes, moving forward you will need to track that separately from Get Connected. Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to make improvements to better support you!
We have also developed a way for you to share feedback about your volunteer experience with the volunteer opportunities you support. We've created a Volunteer Feedback Form and are sharing the link in each Thank You email that volunteers receive from Get Connected after volunteering. Look for it in your next email and tell us about your volunteer experience. The insight gained will be used to continue to improve the volunteer experience with our agency.
Did you know MetroParks has a blog? Nature is Open provides articles of interest and can lead to new discoveries. Perfect for the winter season, DIY Your Way to a Warmer Winter Home written by our Staff Lead & Sustainability Manager, Tim Pritchard, offers simple tips to help you stay warm during these cold winter months. Check it out!
Thank you for volunteering!
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.
Your Volunteer Services Team
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
