November Volunteer Opportunities: Join us for a variety of indoor and outdoor volunteer opportunities this month. Plus, sign up to support our holiday events!

Oct 29, 2025

by Volunteer Services

November Volunteer Opportunities

Get in the holiday spirit while giving back with Five Rivers MetroParks this season! Volunteer opportunities for the Aullwood Winter Luminary Walk and Christmas on the Farm are now available on Get Connected.

Indoor and outdoor volunteer opportunities are still available - join us indoors at the 2nd Street Market or outdoors in the gardens, on the trails, or in the barn at the Carriage Hill Riding Center. This is a beautiful time of year to support your parks.

These opportunities and more are featured below with even more opportunities available for you on Get Connected. Browse all of our opportunities here.

View our high-need, high-priority opportunities here.

See something that interests you, but have questions? Contact a Volunteer Coordinator at volunteer.services@metroparks.org or call #937-275-7275.

Administration

Administrative volunteers work behind the scenes on a variety of short-term and long-term clerical projects to ensure that our frontline staff and volunteers have all they need to provide high-quality parks, programs, and services.

Volunteers Carol Williamson and Michael McCarty comfortably tackle waiver data entry indoors at our Main Office.

Outdoor Experience Surveys and Waivers Data Entry

Put your computer skills to work - volunteer for a short-term data entry project! Are you detail-oriented and comfortable working indoors with computers? We're looking for dedicated volunteers to assist with a short-term data entry project supporting Five Rivers MetroParks! Help us enter data from waivers collected during The Wagner Subaru Outdoor Experience and make a meaningful impact behind the scenes. Click the blue VOLUNTEER button below to learn more and sign up to make a difference.

Ambassador

Ambassador Volunteers share their enthusiasm for Five Rivers MetroParks with diverse audiences in our parks and at outreach booths, programs, and events throughout the Miami Valley. Ambassadors are of the first friendly faces a visitor sees welcoming them to the park and can be counted on to share helpful information and answer a variety of questions.

Ice Rink Ambassadors

Help support the region's largest outdoor ice rink at RiverScape MetroPark - no skating required! Set against the stunning backdrop of downtown Dayton and the Great Miami River, the rink offers a world-class winter experience. Be part of the magic this winter at RiverScape MetroPark!

Click the blue VOLUNTEER button below to view shifts and sign up to make a difference.

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

Riding Center Barn Aide volunteer, Deric Nischwitz, doesn't mind getting a little dirty so the horses have clean stalls.

A Few Spots Left for Barn Aide Training!

Don't miss your chance to join our upcoming November Barn Aide volunteer trainings at the Carriage Hill Riding Center - perfect for anyone eager to gain hands-on experience in horse care and handling at the barn. Learn practical skills in a friendly, supportive environment and become an essential part of the Barn Aide team! Remember to complete the virtual barn aide training before signing up.

Use the green RSVP button below to see the training dates and reserve your spot before it's full!

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.

Our Lead Horticulture Technician and Staff Lead at Cox Arboretum, Jacob Cradic, works with volunteers to mulch the garden beds to close out the season.

Wrap Up the Gardening Season with Us!

As the gardening season winds down and the crisp air rolls in, our gardens still have stories to tell, and work to be done. November marks the final stretch of our growing year, and we're inviting you to join us for one last round of hands-on garden care before winter's rest.
Whether you're a longtime volunteer or looking to dig in for the first time, there's something especially rewarding about tending the gardens this time of year. The pace is calm, the colors are cozy, and the work - light cleanup, mulching, or prepping beds for spring - is a wonderful way to clear your head and recharge before the busy holiday season.
You can still find volunteer opportunities at Aullwood Garden, Cox Arboretum, and Wegerzyn Gardens. Come bundled up, breathe in that fresh autumn air, and help us close out another beautiful season of growth, community, and care. Because even as the season slows, there's always something blooming in the heart of a volunteer.
Click the blue VOLUNTEER button to learn more and sign up to make a difference.

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 Technician, Connor Perry, leads a team of volunteers in deberming part of a trail during a trail workday.

Trail Workdays: Fall & Winter at Twin Valley

Love hiking the trails at Twin Valley? Here's your chance to give back to the trails that give us so much, even after the leaves have fallen. Join our Trailblazers, our hands-on volunteer crew helping care for the trails through the colder months.

These weekday opportunities are perfect for anyone with a flexible schedule who doesn't mind a little chill in the air, enjoys the quiet beauty of the woods, and wants to make a visible impact. Whether you're new to trail work or a seasoned volunteer, your time helps keep these trails safe, scenic, and ready for all-season adventure. So, bundle up, lace your boots, and lend a hand keeping Twin Valley's trails in top shape for winter hikers.

Click the blue VOLUNTEER button to learn more and sign up to make a difference.

Volunteer Paul Westhafer helps keep 2nd Street Market clean and tidy for all guests.

Market Custodial Support

Love spending time at the 2nd Street Market? Want to give back to this awesome community hub? We've got the perfect opportunity for you this fall! As we get into the chillier November weather here in Ohio, we're looking for extra hands to help with custodial tasks on weekend afternoons. Imagine this: you'll be the cleanliness hero, keeping the market cozy and welcoming during operating hours. Responsibilities include light sweeping, tidying up tables, and handling trash removal after closing. Plus, since it's all indoors, you'll stay warm and comfortable while making a difference in our community.

View the shifts available and sign up to support by clicking the blue VOLUNTEER button below.

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.

Program Support - Events, Hiking, Classes, and More!

Are you interested in events, hiking, fishing, crafts, herbs, cooking, or textiles? If you're uncertain about committing to volunteer training or regular service, but want to learn more about MetroParks while giving back, consider becoming a Program Support volunteer! This is a fantastic opportunity to lend a hand while exploring a variety of MetroParks programs. Click the blue VOLUNTEER button below to explore upcoming Program Support opportunities and RESPOND to give Program Support a try!

Teen volunteer, Faith Manley, helps out in the Adventure Central kitchen with clean up.

Adventure Central Program Assistant

Are you passionate about making a difference in the lives of kids? Join us at our award-winning afterschool program and immerse yourself in an unforgettable experience! This nature-based program is dedicated to fostering positive youth development, education, and leadership skills, and serves youth from first grade through twelfth in a gorgeous park setting.

As a Program Assistant, you'll play a vital role in helping these youth shape their future, assisting in the homework room, the kitchen during mealtime, or engaging the kids in outdoor play where adventure awaits! From splashing in the creek to jumping rope and playing gaga ball, you'll find yourself swept up in the fun and excitement of their world.

Don't miss out on this rewarding opportunity to engage with an incredible community. Click the blue VOLUNTEER button to learn more and get started!

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.

Our new textile workspace is ready, and volunteer Ellen Eveland is working on organizing for the sock-making project.

Textile Workdays

Share your skills and join the fun at our Textile Workdays! Are you aware that talents like sewing, crocheting, knitting, and weaving are incredibly sought after and in demand? There are opportunities behind the scenes repairing cherished items and creating historical apparel, as well as in front of the public, supporting demonstrations and classes. If you're eager to lend a helping hand, showcase your skills, and make a difference, we invite you to join us in preserving history and building connections through the textile arts at Carriage Hill MetroPark. Click the blue VOLUNTEER button to learn more and get started!

Special Events

Five Rivers MetroParks provides an array of outdoor events and large programs throughout the year for residents of the Miami Valley to get connected to recreation, music, history, family, and most of all nature. Special Event volunteers serve a critical role in ensuring that each special event or large-scale program runs smoothly from set-up to tear down.

Holiday Events with MetroParks

Volunteer this Holiday Season! Get ready for two beloved traditions: the Aullwood Winter Luminary Walk and Christmas on the Farm! We're looking for volunteers to help bring these events to life - from greeting guests to serving cocoa, lighting luminaries, and sharing holiday cheer. There's something for everyone - Click the blue VOLUNTEER button to view all the holiday volunteer opportunities available, sign up, and make a difference this holiday season.