Summer is the time for prairies to shine and for you to discover full sun native plants! You can find out more about the prairies in MetroParks using this link, Prairie Power, and plan a visit. In this edition of the Volunteer Newsletter: FEATURESummer Care Campaign CONSERVATION TIP Support Our Mission at YOUR Home VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT Sue Steinke - Volunteer Variety is the Spice of Retired Life AUGUST VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES Summer Volunteers Wanted to Support Gardening, Park & Trail Workdays, Woodman Fen Prairie Management, and more! GET CONNECTED TECH TIP The Get Connected User Dashboard STAFF LEAD HIGHLIGHT Jennifer Davit, Horticulturalist & Staff Lead at Cox Arboretum VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION Request your Volunteer Shirts, Hats, & Milestone Service Pins! |
Volunteer Steve McNew cools off with a frozen popsicle and a cooling towel at Carriage Hill MetroPark. Feature: Summer Care CampaignWe're providing some cool treats for volunteers at scheduled opportunities through August to help keep you cool and say thank you for your support during the hot summer months. Frozen fruit popsicles are available for all volunteers, plus cooling towels for ongoing short-term and long-term volunteers. Thank you for supporting your MetroParks this summer! Be sure to check out the newly renovated Family Farm Trail at Carriage Hill MetroPark, featuring family-friendly activities and new interpretive signage all generously provided by the Friends of Carriage Hill Farm and the Five Rivers MetroParks Foundation.
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Sue started volunteering with MetroParks through the Textile Workdays in November 2022. She has always had an interest in history, combined with sewing, it made for a perfect opportunity to begin volunteering. She has mended, altered, and repaired many of the historic apparel items worn by the historic interpreters and given new life to some items like our tents and bags used in recreation. One of the other volunteers noted, "She has a way about her that works well with the high school students who have come to help at Carriage Hill, and even taught one how to weave a scarf." Sue shared that she likes to plant the seed when the kids show interest and curiosity about what she is doing and maybe continue to learn more. Staff lead, Deb Spencer shared, "Sue epitomizes grace and patience, a willingness to learn new things, a heart for giving and sharing, and displays infectious joy and delight in whatever she may be working on. She has problem-solved some difficult mending within the textile group, and I am so pleased to be able to work with her." Sue does look to see if other opportunities may interest her, and noticed MetroParks was looking for volunteer couriers, and thought she would try it out. When asked if it is a boring opportunity, she beams and says " I LOVE being a courier. You get to see the MetroParks, talk to staff and other volunteers, and it is a lot of fun." She says one of the great things about volunteering at MetroParks is the variety of opportunities to get involved. Sue volunteered this past winter with the administrative volunteers and shared that "some opportunities that are only for a limited time, are great when you want to do different things, but you still get to work with great staff and meet lots of new people" She shared that all the opportunities she has supported have been a wonderful experience, and are her favorites at the time she is doing them. "There are so many interesting opportunities, and the staff, parks, and programs are wonderful. With so much variety, there is something for everyone." Sue's newest opportunity is the Aullwood History Research. With a love of history and research, she says this is another opportunity right up her alley!
Thank you, Sue, for your outstanding commitment, dedication, and service to Five Rivers MetroParks! Meet more amazing Metroparks' volunteers in our monthly Volunteer Spotlights here. |
 Volunteer Positions & Upcoming OpportunitiesSummer Volunteers Needed!Come on out and support your MetroParks this month! Volunteers are needed to support gardening, park & trail workdays, Woodman Fen prairie management, and more! Learn more and sign up to lend your helping hands below. See something that interests you but have questions? Contact a volunteer coordinator at volunteer.services@metroparks.org or by phone at #937-275-7275.
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ConservationProtecting open space and natural areas is a priority for Five Rivers MetroParks, which protects nearly 16,000 acres of land - 90 percent of it in its natural state. Conservation volunteers are a part of our regional conservation story by assisting in implementing a variety of natural area management plans.
Students with the Dayton Regional STEM School assisted staff with an invasive species removal project at Woodman Fen. Woodman Fen Prairie Management Ready for an adventure in nature? Join us on Wednesday, August 21st at Woodman Fen, a 33-acre haven with a rare groundwater-fed wetland! Help us protect this unique habitat by cutting back woody species and discovering the amazing diversity of prairie plants. Work with passionate staff and volunteers, make new friends, and learn about native wetland plants. Dress for the weather, bring your energy, and become a conservation hero! Are YOU in? To view more details and respond to the opportunity, click the blue VOLUNTEER button below.
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GardeningGardening 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.
Volunteer Jackie-Lynn Van Tilburgh shares her plant and gardening knowledge with youth at Adventure Central while harvesting for lunch and AC family sharing.
Are you ready to dig deep and make a difference in your community? Adventure Central is looking for some green-thumbed volunteers to help maintain their vegetable and flower gardens while also educating and involving youth. We need volunteers who are willing to sow the seeds of knowledge and cultivate a love for gardening in the next generation. We're looking for volunteers who already have some gardening skills, such as knowledge of planting, weed identification, and basic garden maintenance. But if you're a beginner, no worries - we'll still provide you with all the training you need to succeed! And the best part? You'll be working alongside a staff member and some amazing young individuals who are excited to learn and grow alongside you. So let's blossom together at Adventure Central and get our hands in the soil! Click the blue VOLUNTEER button to learn more about the opportunity and sign up.
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Park MaintenanceFive 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? Hills & 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 more details and to respond to the opportunity, click 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.
Ready to get your hands dirty and make a difference? Join our trail maintenance crew and help keep our beautiful trails in tip-top shape. We're calling all adventurers to lend a hand at Twin Valley and MoMBA, plus our *brand new* opportunities at Possum Creek and Sugarcreek! Whether you're free on weekdays or weekends, we've got a spot for you-no experience necessary. Why wait? Sign up today and let's blaze some trails together! View more details and to respond to a trail opportunity, click the blue VOLUNTEER button below.  |
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ProgrammingFive 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.
Historic Interpreter volunteer Amy Korpieski helps a
young visitor try her hand at crocheting.
Bring history to life by engaging park visitors in simple everyday activities and demonstrating 19th century life skills at Carriage Hill MetroParks' historic farm! Learn more about being a Historic Interpreter and begin the training by clicking this link. Additional opportunities are available during Small Farm & Food Fest, Saturday, August 3! Use the blue VOLUNTEER button to learn more about these opportunities and sign up.
Program Support volunteers Maureen Horwath and Vickie
Wong enjoy talking about flowers to visitors at Small Farm & Food Fest. Program Support Volunteers Do you enjoy helping others learn? How about a perfect opportunity to learn while helping others enjoy the many programs offered through MetroParks? Program Support volunteers are critical in ensuring we can provide the public with high-quality, engaging programming like "try it" activities, skill building in beginning textile classes and workdays, and more individualized attention in youth and family activities to the public while not needing to be the expert at the activities. Click the Program specific links below or the blue VOLUNTEER button to learn more about these opportunities and sign up.
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Skilled TradesFive 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. 
Textile workdays are about learning and doing! Volunteer Kim Weyrich is teaching volunteer Avi Soin a new skill, the basics of weaving. Textile & Fiber Arts Volunteers Textile Workday - Share your skills and join the fun! Are you interested in helping behind the scenes or maybe demonstrating these skills? Volunteers are supporting Carriage Hill and other park program teams using a variety of textile skills to repair items, make historic apparel, and build a unique team. Carriage Hill offers a Textile workday where volunteers assist staff with various textile projects, as well as learn new skills like using a knitting machine or weaving. These opportunities are also available for youth ages 16 and up. Learn more and sign up to join us at a workday by clicking the blue VOLUNTEER button below. |
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Special EventsFive 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.  Mark Your Calendars and sign up to help at The Wagner Subaru Outdoor Experience!
Do you like working behind the scenes to help make the excitement of an event happen? Maybe you're enthusiastic about sharing outdoor adventuring with your community? Whatever your reason for volunteering, we've got the opportunity for you at the Wagner Subaru Outdoor Experience!
View all available opportunities and shifts for this exciting event by clicking the blue VOLUNTEER button below!
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Resident Riding Center cat, Waddles, is sharing the news about the Adopt an Animal program! NEW! Adopt an Animal at the Carriage Hill Riding Center Have you ever wanted to help support the animals at the Carriage Hill Riding Center? Now you can! The Riding Center has created an "Adopt-an-Animal Program" for each of the horses and cats who call the Riding Center home. All donations go directly toward the animals' care. Not only does this program help our animals, but you will receive benefits in return for your generosity. Depending on the level of your donation, benefits may include name recognition on the stall of the horse/cat you chose, a trading card of your horse/cat, a trail ride, or even a riding lesson! Click here to learn more about the Adopt-an-Animal program, and donate now! Additionally, you can support the Carriage Hill Riding Center by becoming a Volunteer. Check out our Carraige Hill Riding Center Volunteer Training Page to get started. |
 New Training & Event: Calling all birders or the birding curious! Join us Friday, August 16th from 10am-11:30am at Cox Arboretum MetroPark to learn about the NEW MetroParks Birding Challenge set to debut in March 2025 and provide feedback on developing challenge components. Light refreshments will be provided. Volunteers who are experienced birders, new birders, and those who love nature and discovering new activities are encouraged to attend! RSVP is requested but walk-ins are welcome. Learn more and RSVP Here. |
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Staff Lead Highlight: Jennifer Davit, Horticulturalist & Staff Lead at Cox Arboretum MetroParkAt Five Rivers MetroParks, we're lucky to have dedicated staff who truly bring our mission to life. One standout is Jennifer Davit, our talented Horticulturist at Cox Arboretum MetroPark. Jennifer joined us in April 2023, starting with the Urban Zone before moving to Cox Arboretum in October. At Cox, she's inspired by the Pollinator Habitat, the Barbara Cox Center for Sustainable Horticulture, and the Maimon Memorial Garden, which focuses on edible landscaping.Jennifer's journey into horticulture began at Wright State University, where she studied biology and managed a greenhouse, growing wetland plants for habitat restoration. This experience ignited her passion for ecology and horticulture, leading her to earn a master's degree from Cornell University. With over 20 years in public gardens across the country, Jennifer brings a wealth of experience to our team. For Jennifer, the most rewarding aspect of her role is the positive feedback from visitors. Jennifer shares, "So many of them (visitors) appreciate the level of care we provide for the landscape and use the Arboretum daily. It's great to feel we are part of people's daily connection to nature. I also find inspiration in watching visitors and my own kids enjoy the new Nature Play at Cox." While Jennifer's time outside work is limited due to her responsibilities as a mother to two young children, she dedicates her own volunteer efforts to their school activities and sports teams. Jennifer believes that developing personal relationships with volunteers is crucial. She enjoys learning about why they choose to volunteer and hearing their stories. Many volunteers come in pairs, having been friends for years, and she finds joy in learning about their friendships and how volunteering at Cox has become a part of their bond. Jennifer shares, "Two of our volunteers, Joyce and Terry, worked as ICU nurses together and now volunteer at Cox together every Thursday- they have great stories to tell and I always enjoy working alongside them". Gardening volunteers at Cox handle essential tasks like weeding, planting, mulching, and seed sowing. Jennifer emphasizes that their support is crucial to the park's operations, and their presence makes the work more enjoyable. "Volunteers play a crucial role in getting projects done, but they also serve as Five Rivers MetroParks ambassadors in our community. They recruit friends to come volunteer, encourage people to attend our programs and visit our parks", said Jennifer. Jennifer Davit's dedication to her work and our volunteers embodies the spirit of Five Rivers MetroParks. Her commitment to building relationships and engaging with the community ensures our parks remain vibrant and welcoming for everyone. Join Jennifer at the Cox Arboretum Gardening opportunities! View Cox Arboretum Gardening volunteer opportunities 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, Jennifer, for being a true supporter of volunteers and volunteerism at MetroParks! |
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Aug 1, 2024
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by Volunteer Services
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View our high-need, high-priority volunteer opportunities here 
