August Volunteer Opportunities: Beat the Heat with Indoor Opportunities this Month! Plus, Volunteers Needed for Events, Trail Workdays and More!

Jul 28, 2025

by Volunteer Services

Five Rivers MetroParks Volunteer Positions & Upcoming Opportunities

August may be called the Dog Days of Summer, but we're helping to keep our volunteers cool this month with a variety of indoor opportunities like 2nd Street Market Ambassador, Textile Workdays, and Beer Sales and Support.

Plenty of outdoor opportunities are still available and your support is needed in our gardens and on the trails, as well as at our special events. Cool down from the heat with a frozen fruit popsicle from our Summer Care Campaign.

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. Looking for opportunities where we need the most help right now?

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.

Volunteer Ralph O'Quinn helps visitors at the 2nd Street Market.

2nd Street Market Ambassadors:

If you love spending your weekend in the vibrant, bubbling atmosphere of the 2nd Street Market, talking with your neighbors, friends, and meeting new folks, we have the perfect opportunity for you! 2nd Street Market Ambassador volunteers are stationed near the entrance at the Welcome Wagon and they help enhance the visitor experience by greeting and welcoming Market visitors. These volunteers also provide needed services for the community by conducting sales of MetroParks merchandise, processing EBT and senior nutrition program sales, providing wayfinding assistance, and promoting the MetroParks by passing out literature. Get connected and give back at the 2nd Street Market!

View available opportunities and RESPOND to sign up by clicking the blue VOLUNTEER button below.

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.

Volunteers support general maintenance tasks at Hills and Dales MetroPark.

Hills & Dales Workdays:

Do you like getting your hands dirty, learning new skills, and supporting a variety of parks and conservation efforts? Hils & Dales volunteer workday engages volunteers in a variety of parks and conservation projects, from gardening to tree plantings, and from invasive species removal to mulching.

View available opportunities and RESPOND to sign up by clicking the blue VOLUNTEER button below.

Staff Lead and Trail Technician, Connor Perry, leads a team of volunteers in de-berming part of a trail during a Trail Work Day.

Trail Workdays: Calling All Trail Lovers

Do you love our trails? Here's your chance to give back to the paths that give us so much. Join our Trailblazers - our hands-on volunteer crew helping care for the trails at Twin Valley and Englewood MetroParks.
These weekday opportunities are perfect for anyone with a flexible schedule who enjoys fresh air, getting their hands dirty, and making a visible impact. Whether you're new to trail work or a seasoned volunteer, your time and energy help keep these scenic spaces safe, beautiful, and ready for adventure.
So, lace up your boots, grab a tool, and help us blaze the way!

View available opportunities and RESPOND to sign up 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.

School Field Trip Volunteers gather before each season to get ready for the kids, learn new activities, and share some best practices to make each field trip full of discoveries and adventure.

School Field Trip Volunteer Training:

You don't need a teaching degree - just a passion for inspiring children to explore the outdoors! As fall approaches, we're excited to invite both returning volunteers and newcomers who are eager to inspire the next generation of explorers and environmentalists. Your involvement is crucial in creating enriching experiences that ignite students' curiosity about nature. Join us for our annual training focused on Fall School Programs. In this 4 day training (August 27, 28, 29 and September 3), you'll receive field trip updates, learn best practices for engaging students, and discover unique features of MetroParks' while visiting Germantown and Wegerzyn Gardens MetroParks.
Take this opportunity to make a meaningful impact. Click the green RSVP button to secure your spot and help us create unforgettable outdoor learning experiences. Together, we can make a brighter future for these students! Not able to make all the dates, but still want to be involved? Contact volunteer.services@metroparks.org to learn next steps.

Making memories catching that very first fish!

Fishing Program Support: Youth Group

Join us this month for our Community Fishing Day! This exciting introductory program is perfect for kids who want to explore the joyful world of fishing. It is designed to help beginners learn the basics and experience the thrill of casting their lines while enjoying the beauty of nature.

Our dedicated volunteers ensure that everyone feels welcome and safe while learning essential fishing skills. You don't need to be a fishing expert to make a difference - your enthusiasm can help others discover a rewarding hobby that lasts a lifetime. Don't miss this opportunity to create lasting memories and foster a love for fishing within our community!

View available opportunities and RESPOND to sign up by clicking the blue VOLUNTEER button below.

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 Kathleen Lange enjoys sharing her talents, crocheting an addition to period apparel, in the new textile workspace at Carriage Hill MetroPark's Visitor Center.

Textile & Fiber Arts Volunteers:

Are you looking for a fun indoor activity during the warmer months? Join us to share your skills, learn new ones, and have a great time! If you're interested in helping behind the scenes or demonstrating your skills, we would love to have you on board.
Volunteers are needed to support Carriage Hill and other park program teams by using their talents to repair items, create historical apparel, and other essential items. Carriage Hill offers a Textile Workday where volunteers can assist staff with various textile projects while also learning new skills such as using a knitting machine or weaving. We are building a unique team and are inviting you to be a part of it. These opportunities are open to volunteers ages 16 and up. If you're unsure about your skills, but want to get involved, consider signing up for a Textile Program Support opportunity!

View available opportunities and RESPOND to sign up by clicking the blue VOLUNTEER button below.

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 service a critical role in ensuring each special event or large-scale program runs smoothly from set up to tear down.

Small Farm & Food Fest

Happening this weekend at Carriage Hill MetroPark! More than 40 volunteers are still needed to support programming, sustainability, set up and more. Lend a hand and join us down on the farm this Saturday!

View available opportunities and RESPOND to sign up by clicking the blue VOLUNTEER button below.

The Wagner Subaru Outdoor Experience:

Mark your calendars, Save the Date, and Join us as a Volunteer! The Wagner Subaru Outdoor Experience is Five Rivers MetroParks largest event of the year, and we need many hands to make this action-packed and exciting event possible. This free family-friendly event is held at Eastwood MetroPark, Saturday and Sunday, October 4th and 5th. Designed to connect participants to nature by introducing visitors to the vibrant outdoor adventure lifestyle and culture present in the Miami Valley, event participants are invited to camp, connect, compete, and experience dozens of outdoor activities. Volunteers are needed to support of a variety of these activities, as well as event set up, exhibitor support, sustainability, hospitality, and more. With over 300 volunteers needed, we'd love to have your support!

View available opportunities and RESPOND to sign up by clicking the blue VOLUNTEER button below.

Volunteer Levy Moody serving smiles and drinks at RiverScape.

Beer and Wine Sales Support:

We would love to have your support at the RiverSape Cafe as a Beer and Wine Sales Support Volunteer! RiverScape offers exciting programs and events throughout the summer, and the cafe offers alcohol sales to support our mission. Volunteers, age 21 and over, are stationed inside the Rentals Office and assist staff by pouring and serving beer and wine to event participants. Staff members will be on site to check identification and approve or deny service. Join the fun this season at RiverScape while "serving" our mission as a Beer and Wine Sales Support Volunteer!

View available opportunities and RESPOND to sign up by clicking the blue VOLUNTEER button below.

Opportunities to Support Our Partners

Volunteer at the Wegerzyn Gardens Annual Garden Party!

The Wegerzyn Gardens Foundation is seeking friendly, dependable volunteers to help make our Annual Garden Party a blooming success!

Guest Greeters- Help welcome guests as they arrive and assist with nametags. Be the smiling face that starts their evening off right!

Silent Auction Assistants - Help wrap up the excitement by assisting with closing out bids and announcing winners.

Table Centerpiece Help - Lend a hand arranging and setting out floral centerpieces before the event.It's a fun and elegant evening in the gardens-and a wonderful way to support the Wegerzyn Gardens Foundation's mission.

If you love beautiful spaces, good company, and lending a helping hand, we'd love to have you!

Interested? Please email contact@WegerzynGardensFondation.org.