Staff Highlight: Dan Kuebler, Hills and Dales Park Manager
Staff Highlights are a great way for volunteers to get to know our staff and for staff to share their work with volunteers.
Dan Kuebler has been passionately managing 63 acres of creeks, rolling hills, dense woods, wildflowers, and wetlands at Hills & Dales MetroPark since 2019. Dan has had a deep love and appreciation for nature from a young age. He has visited almost all of the National Parks and was actively involved in scouting. Even today, he volunteers as an Assistant Cub Master for his daughter's cub scout pack. With a bachelor's degree in Parks and Recreation Administration, with an emphasis on outdoor education, Dan has worked for several city organizations in Ohio, in the field of parks and recreation, which ultimately led him to Five Rivers MetroParks. In his role, Dan notes that in addition to project management, one thing he particularly loves about his job "is talking to the visitors and getting to hear about other people's stories." This love for connecting with people and connecting people with nature helps Dan strive as a staff lead of volunteers!
Dan, as a staff lead, has built excellent relationships with the volunteers who support his park. He finds great joy in creating unique and challenging projects that not only leave a lasting impact but also provide opportunities for the volunteers to develop new skills. As Dan notes, these opportunities are what "they (volunteers) would see when they visit the parks and can show their friends and family…Volunteers are a huge help at Hills and Dales". Dan recalls a time when volunteer support greatly impacted his operation and sustained his park. "Two summers ago, Hills and Dales was very low with staff support and because of the volunteers, we were able to keep the park beautiful and still complete a few projects. If it wasn't for the volunteers Hills and Dales would not have been as beautiful as it was that summer".
Dan has since welcomed new staff onto his team at Hills & Dales. Among the new staff is Ira Feltz, Park Technician, whom Dan has invested in and continues to train as a staff leader of volunteers. Dan notes, "Ira Feltz has taken the position amazingly. He takes his time and helps the volunteers complete their tasks".
Join Dan and Ira at Hills & Dales! View volunteer opportunities available at Hills & Dales MetroPark here. Or join us for our next Volunteer Open House, where you can meet one-on-one, in person, with a Volunteer Coordinator and learn how you can support this opportunity! Click here to RSVP to an upcoming Open House.
Thank you, Dan and Ira, for being true supporters of volunteers and volunteerism at MetroParks!
Volunteer Services is available if you have questions or need assistance with Get Connected.
Contact us at volunteer.services@metroparks.org or call #937-275-7275 and ask to speak with a Volunteer Coordinator.
Return to the Volunteer Blog here.
