Five Rivers MetroParks Volunteer Newsletter: August 2026

Jul 27, 2026

by Volunteer Services

Five Rivers MetroParks Volunteer Newsletter - August 2026

Inside this edition of the Volunteer Newsletter:

FEATURE

Together Outside this August

AUGUST FEATURED VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES & TRAINING

Stay Active All Summer Long with these Great Opportunities!
VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT

Making Friends and Giving Back - Friendship Grows from a Shared Cause

GET CONNECTED TECH TIP

See Who Else Has Signed Up to Volunteer!

VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION

Summer Care Campaign

Parkways Online Featured Articles

Together Outside this August

August has a way of reminding us to slow down and savor the season. As summer begins to wind down, there's still plenty of time to get outside, explore somewhere new, and reconnect with the people and places that help us feel our best.

August is National Wellness Month, a reminder that well-being isn't just about healthy habits. It's also about spending time outdoors, staying active, building meaningful connections, and finding moments to recharge. Whether you're hiking a favorite trail, paddling the river, volunteering with friends, or simply enjoying a quiet walk through the gardens, every visit to Five Rivers MetroParks is an opportunity to care for yourself while connecting with nature and your community.

This month, we're especially grateful for the people who make Five Rivers MetroParks what it is.

Five Rivers MetroParks staff gathered to celebrate National Park and Recreation Professional Day. Every trail maintained, garden cared for, program offered, and visitor welcomed is made possible by people who care deeply about connecting our community to the outdoors. From our dedicated staff to our incredible volunteers, thank you for helping make Five Rivers MetroParks a place where everyone belongs.

MetroParks staff members, Brandon Wilson and Brittany Belcher were both recognized for their outstanding service to the parks by a proclamation for National Parks and Recreation Professionals Day by U.S. Senator Jon Husted's office and Montgomery County Probate Court Judge David Brannon. Both these employees go above and beyond to ensure that our parks are clean, safe, welcoming, accessible and ready to use, said MetroParks' CEO Karen Hesser.

As summer begins to wind down, there's still plenty of time to make the most of the season. Whatever you'd still like to accomplish this summer, know that there's a place for you at Five Rivers MetroParks.

Make the Most of August
Finish the MetroParks Trails Challenge
There's still time to complete the 2026 MetroParks Trails Challenge before it wraps up. Lace up your hiking shoes, discover a new favorite trail, and celebrate another season spent exploring the outdoors.

Volunteer This Summer
Looking for a meaningful way to spend time outdoors? Whether you're interested in caring for our parks, supporting community events, or planning ahead for a fall day of service, there's a volunteer opportunity for everyone.

- Service Saturdays - Saturday, August 15 and September 19
Join volunteers from across the community for a morning of hands-on stewardship at one of our MetroParks. Service Saturdays are a fun way to give back, meet new people, and help care for the parks we all enjoy.

- The Wagner Subaru Outdoor Experience - Saturday and Sunday, October 3 and 4

Save the date! The Midwest's premier outdoor adventure festival returns this October, and volunteers are at the heart of making it a success. Volunteer opportunities will be posted soon, so keep an eye on Get Connected for your chance to be part of this exciting weekend of outdoor recreation, adventure, and community.

- Make a Difference Day - Saturday, October 24

Mark your calendar! Registration opens September 1 for Five Rivers MetroParks' annual Make a Difference Day, taking place on Saturday, October 24. Gather your friends, family, coworkers, or neighbors and be ready to sign up for a morning of giving back in parks across the community.

Experience Something New

National Wellness Month is a great reminder to try something that gets you moving and reconnects you with the outdoors. Whether you're attending a concert, paddling the river, exploring a new trail, or joining a family program, August is full of opportunity to stay active while enjoying the natural beauty of your MetroParks.

See You Outside

There's no single path to wellness. However you choose to spend your time outdoors, we hope you'll find a place for yourself, your friends, and your family at Five Rivers MetroParks this August.

August Featured Volunteer Opportunities and Trainings

View this month's featured volunteer opportunities and volunteer trainings below, including opportunities to join our School Programs, serve as a Field Trip Host, and for The Wagner Subaru Experience coming up in October!

Click the blue VOLUNTEER button to learn more about each featured opportunity and RESPOND to sign up, get outside and give back this month.

You can always view all of our volunteer opportunities on Get Connected.

This symbol designates our high-priority volunteer needs.

Help Keep Our Trails Adventure-Ready:

Every hike, bike ride, and walk on a MetroParks trail is made possible by the care and dedication of staff and volunteers. If you enjoy spending time on the trails, consider joining one of our Trail Maintenance Crews and help care for the places you love.

Our Trail Maintenance volunteers work alongside Park Maintenance staff to improve and maintain natural surface trails through corridor clearing, drainage improvements, tread maintenance, and other hands-on stewardship projects. Along the way, you'll also learn the techniques behind building and caring for sustainable trail systems.

Volunteer crews meet regularly at Eastwood Metropark, Twin Creek & Germantown MetroParks, and Englewood MetroPark. No previous trail maintenance experience is required. Whether you're looking to learn new skills, spend time outdoors, or give back to your favorite parks, we'd love to have you on the trail. View upcoming shifts and sign up by clicking the blue VOLUNTEER button below.

School Programs and Field Trip Hosts:

Are you ready to make a real difference this Fall? Join a dynamic team of volunteers and become an integral part of an enriching experience for young minds as we launch our school field trip season with our Fall school programs and field trip hosts trainings. This is your chance to inspire and ignite curiosity in students and the wonders of nature and MetroParks!

Carriage Hill Field Trip Host Training
Welcome school groups, share tidbits about Carriage Hill as you stroll along the path to the Historic Farm, introducing students to the historic interpreters waiting for them at each station. Help ensure a smooth and engaging field trip experience from arrival to exit allowing children to discover what life was like on a 19th century farm.

School Programs New Volunteer Welcome and Training
Imagine guiding enthusiastic youth on thrilling nature-based adventures, helping them connect classroom lessons to the beauty of the natural world. Through additional training, you will gain valuable insights into the activities planned for each field trip while enjoying immersive experiences at Cox Arboretum, Germantown, and Taylorsville MetroParks.

You don't need a teaching degree to make a significant impact; all you need is a passion for exploration and a desire to share that with others. By volunteering, you'll play a vital role in shaping memorable experiences that resonate with students long after their visit. Start your journey with us and contribute to fostering a love for nature and learning! View more details and to RSVP to one or all of the upcoming trainings, click the green RSVP button below.

The Wagner Subaru Outdoor Experience

Your favorite event is coming back this October! Plan your volunteer schedule NOW by signing up for your preferred event volunteer opportunities and shifts. Opportunities are posting all month - Whether you like Info Central and Waivers, want to be behind the scenes in Hospitality, or prefer being in the middle of the action with the Try It activities in Paddlesports or Action Sports like Try Mountain Biking, Try Cycling, Pump Track and more - grab a friend and sign up to have some fun while making a big difference! Click the blue VOLUNTEER button below to start viewing event opportunities.

Small Farm and Food Fest:

Volunteers are still needed for this Saturday, August 1st at Carriage Hill MetroPark! Have a few hours? Lend a hand as a Wagon Ride Host, Program Assistant, Exhibitor Support, Event Ambassador, or Sustainability Team volunteer. We need YOU this weekend on the farm! Click the blue VOLUNTEER button below to view available opportunities and RESPOND to sign up and lend a hand.

Luke Spagnola and Jon Meyer have been volunteering at the annual Wagner Subaru Outdoor Experience, a production of Five Rivers MetroParks, for over a decade. In the early 2010s, they were looking for a short-term, weekday volunteer opportunity to take advantage of paid volunteer time offered by their employers. Helping to set up MetroParks' outdoor adventure festival fit the bill perfectly, and they've made a tradition of volunteering every year since.

Meyer and Spagnola recall meeting early on in their volunteer journey, and their friendship grew as they volunteered together each year. "We were part of the same volunteer group, and we have interests in common," shared Meyer. "Our friendship naturally developed from there. Now we always plan to sign up for the same shifts so we can volunteer together."

"Volunteering really does have a way of pulling people together," said Jenny Hymans, Human Resources Manager and lead of MetroParks' Volunteer Services team. "The friendship that grow out of working side by side toward a shared purpose are especially strong and long-lasting."

Both Spagnola and Meyer enjoy the change of pace volunteering brings to their daily routines. "It's nice to get away from my desk for a bit and go outside," said Spagnola. "Plus, you get to see the fruits of your work when you're done."

The work of special event volunteers like them is vital to the success of the largest MetroParks event of the year. In 2025, the Wagner Subaru Outdoor Experience spanned two days, over a dozen "try-it" activities, 20 workshops and clinics, 50 exhibitors, competitions, live music, food and more, attracting over 15,000 attendees.

Volunteers served more than 1,000 hours at the event in 2025, a value of $31,489. This support greatly extends MetroParks' resources and allows staff to move quickly and efficiently, giving them more flexibility to focus on last-minute details and overall event flow.

"The commitment that Luke and Jonathan give to the event is outstanding," said Brent Anslinger, Outdoor Recreation Manager. "Their flexibility and 'can do' attitude are exactly what is needed and we couldn't do it without them."

Meyer and Spagnola enjoy attending the Wagner Subaru Outdoor Experience after helping to set up. "I've brought my wife and son to the event for the last five years," said Meyer. "My son gets to try more new things each year!"

Both also visit MetroParks throughout the year, from playing on a broomball team at RiverScape MetroPark's Ice Rink to going surfing together in the Great Miami River. "MetroParks is a fantastic resource for the region," Meyer said. "I get a lot out of it, and I want to give back to the organization," Spagnola agreed, sharing that "Volunteering for MetroParks is really rewarding. I know I'm helping a good cause."

In 2025, 1,976 volunteers served 30,246 hours in MetroParks for a value to the agency of more than $943,000.

Join us at this year's Wagner Subaru Outdoor Experience! Volunteer opportunities for the event are posting this month, and many hands will be needed to make this year's event a success. Sign up with a friend or make one while volunteering! View available volunteer opportunities for the event here.

Are you a volunteer with us who regularly volunteers with a friend, either one you brought to volunteering with you or a friend you made while volunteering? Send us a photo of you and your volunteer friend(s) serving together to volunteer.services@metroparks.org, or post it and tag Five Rivers MetroParks on social media.

Get Connected Tech Tip: See Who Else Has Signed Up to Volunteer!

Coming soon! You'll be able to see who else has signed up to volunteer for a volunteer opportunity on Get Connected. Volunteers can choose to display their name so that other volunteers can see that they have signed up. You choose whether your name is visible to other volunteers. You'll be asked the next time you login, after this feature has been enabled, if you'd like your first name and last initial displayed to other volunteers.

You are welcome to choose to display your name or to choose not to display your name - it's up to you! The benefit is that if you opt in, you'll be able to see who else has signed up to volunteer and they will also be able to see you. We hope this helps you build friendships as you volunteer.

View more helpful Get Connected Tech Tips on our Volunteer Blog here.

Have questions about Get Connected? Need help finding the right volunteer opportunity for you? Join our Volunteer Services team at an upcoming Volunteer Open House where you can meet in-person with a Volunteer Coordinator. We'd love to meet you! Or, join us for an info session to learn more about season opportunities to volunteer in the parks.

Volunteer Appreciation: Summer Care Campaign

Our volunteers make every season brighter, but there's no doubt that summer volunteering takes a little extra grit. Whether you're caring for gardens, supporting programs, maintaining trails, providing animal care, or welcoming visitors, your time and dedication help make Five Rivers MetroParks a special place for our community.

As a small thank you for all you do, be sure to cool off with a frozen fruit popsicle after your next volunteer shift. Popsicles are available for volunteers at all MetroParks locations with scheduled volunteer opportunities through September to help you beat the heat and stay refreshed while serving with us this summer. Ask your staff lead where to find yours at your next opportunity.

Thank you for sharing your time, energy, and passion to connect people with nature. We appreciate you and hope you'll enjoy this sweet treat. Thank you for supporting your MetroParks this summer!

Don't forget to request your VIP items - milestone service pins and apparel! If you've served 25 hours or more, you qualify! Click here to learn more and request your items today. Or reach out to volunteer.services@metroparks.org for more information and assistance.