Snowdrops at Cox Arboretum MetroParks. Photo Credit: Jacob Cradic, Park Technician
Bloom With Us This Spring
After months of cold days and gray skies, spring has a way of waking something up in all of us. Longer days stretch into the evening. Warmer air slowly replaces the winter chill. The first hints of green begin to appear in places that felt quiet just weeks ago. With the change in season comes a familiar feeling. The urge to get outside. To move. To gather. To reconnect with the world around us.
Spring does not demand a reset or a grand plan. Instead, it offers a gentle invitation to begin again. Volunteering this time of year can feel like a natural extension of that invitation. It is a chance to step back into community, spend time outdoors, and be part of something growing alongside the season.
"To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow." - Audrey Hepburn
When Spring Returns, So Do the Gardens
As spring begins to take hold, gardening season begins to wake up, too.
Across the MetroParks, volunteers return to garden beds and green spaces that have been quietly waiting through the winter months. From Wegerzyn Gardens to RiverScape, Carriage Hill, Aullwood Garden, Possum Creek, and Cox Arboretum, volunteers help keep these spaces vibrant and welcoming for everyone.
There is something uniquely satisfying about spring gardening. Feeling the sun on your face, breathing fresh air, and taking part in the work that helps the gardens return each year.
Spring also brings opportunities to learn new skills and refresh old ones. Join us on March 20 at Cox Arboretum from 12:30-3pm for the Proper Pruning: Tools & Techniques Training, where volunteers will learn the art and science of pruning. The session begins indoors with a short presentation on tools and techniques before heading outside for hands-on practice. It is a fun way to build gardening knowledge while helping keep the parks looking their best.
For those interested in a more flexible, independent gardening role, spring also bring an opportunity to get involved at the Maimon Memorial Garden at Cox Arboretum through the Gardening Ambassador training on April 16 at 9am. Gardening Ambassadors support staff in caring for the garden while serving as a welcoming presence for visitors. After training, volunteers can help with watering, weeding, and general upkeep on a flexible schedule.
The Garden That Feeds Our Community
The Maimon Memorial Garden shows what happens when gardening, education, and community come together. The nearly acre-sized edible landscape has been part of Cox Arboretum since 2008 and provides fresh produce to local partners, including The Foodbank and Miami Valley Meals.
As a Horticulturalist, Todd Strong shared, "This is a community effort. We can't do what we do without the support of our community." Last year alone, volunteers helped grow and donate more than 1,400 pounds of fresh food from the Maimon Memorial Garden. What begins as seeds and careful planning becomes nourishment for neighbors across Miami Valley.
March is also National Nutrition Month, making this a natural time to recognize how gardening volunteers help connect fresh, locally grown food with the community. The time spent planning, tending, and harvesting adds up to something much bigger than a garden. It becomes a shared effort that supports both people and place.
Fresh Air, Movement, and a Time Outside
"Parks are essential to the health and happiness of people." - Frederick Law Olmsted
Whether you are signing up on your own or volunteering alongside friends, family, or coworkers, there are plenty of ways to get involved this season. Explore all available volunteer opportunities on Get Connected, check out the featured high-need opportunities, or start planning ahead for our annual Adopt-A-Park community volunteer event on Saturday, April 25, held in celebration of Earth Month.
Looking to volunteer as a group? Families, neighbors, community groups, and workplaces are always welcome. You can submit a Group Volunteer Request to find an opportunity that fits your crew and your schedule.
If you are looking for another way to spend more time outdoors this season, consider joining the 2026 Trails Challenge, featuring 28 new trails to explore across the MetroParks. It is a fun way to stay active, discover new places, and enjoy the parks at your own pace while the landscape comes back to life.
However you choose to get involved this spring, thank you for being part of a community that grows, gives back, and shows its care through service! 
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