Living & Serving More Sustainably in the New Year
Did you know Five Rivers MetroParks was recently honored for its outstanding environmental commitment to becoming a carbon-negative agency? Local cities and organizations including Five Rivers MetroParks were celebrated for their environmental achievements this year at the recent Bring Your Green Luncheon. A combined effort of businesses, organizations and individuals, the Bring Your Green initiative focuses on sustainability and environmental impact through education, technology/tracking tools, challenges, and certifications.
Five Rivers MetroParks has three strategic initiatives: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Climate Change Mitigation, and Sustained Financial Growth. You can learn more about these strategic initiatives here. Your Volunteer Services team has been making great strides at incorporating these initiatives into volunteer engagement. Moving to Get Connected, our online volunteer engagement and management system, has greatly reduced paper waste generated from volunteer scheduling, time tracking, and training documentation and created efficiencies. Moving away from event t-shirts has greatly reduced costs, waste, and environmental pollution from the production of so many t-shirts. Volunteers at our many special events, and other volunteer opportunities, now wear our reusable volunteer vests making them easy to identify across an event footprint and/or park.
Moving to reusable volunteer vests; however, doesn't mean that we do not want to share our appreciation for the great work that you do! We developed a VIP Program to recognize volunteer service in a strategic and sustainable way. Volunteers with service milestones of 25 hours and up can receive a milestone pin recognizing their service. Additionally, volunteers with 25 or more hours can elect to receive a navy short-sleeved volunteer t-shirt, volunteers with 50 hours or more can elect to receive a navy volunteer hat, and volunteers with 75 or more hours can receive our forest green long-sleeved volunteer shirt in recognition of their valuable service. This brand-new long-sleeved volunteer shirt is made of sustainably sourced cotton and recycled plastic. Plus, the company we purchase from plants trees with each order received-win-win!
Want to learn more about our VIP Program or check to see if you qualify? Contact volunteer.services@metroparks.org.
Check out these great articles available now on ParkwaysOnline, the MetroParks blog, to help you live more sustainably by incorporating simple healthy practices into your everyday life:
- Living More Sustainably in the New Year
- 6 Tips to Tackle Your New Years Resolutions Outdoor this Year
One of the best ways to accomplish a variety of healthy life-style goals including giving back, getting outside, making new friends, learning something new, and making a difference is volunteering! We hope you'll consider joining us again as a returning volunteer or joining us for the first time as a brand-new volunteer in this New Year. Be sure to check out our volunteer opportunities below and available on Get Connected. Simply click the blue "VOLUNTEER" or blue "RESPOND" button to get started. If you need any assistance, we're here to help you! Give us a call at 937-275-7275, send us an email at volunteer.services@metroparks.org, or join us for an upcoming in-person Volunteer Open House. You can also learn more about getting started as a volunteer here. We look forward to seeing you volunteering with us (again) soon!
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.
