Five Rivers MetroParks Volunteer Newsletter - February 2025

FEATURE: Volunteering Once a Week Helps You Live Longer & Happier

New research shows that just one weekly activity could help you live a longer, happier life: volunteering! A new study found that volunteering, even for just an hour a week, can lead to slower biological aging, especially among retirees.  Volunteering can help you live longer thanks to a combination of physical, social, and psychological benefits. Additionally, the more someone volunteers, the greater the positive impact on their health and wellbeing.

While the physical activity involved in many volunteer opportunities is very beneficial, the social activity involved has also shown to have pronounced benefits for well-being. People are becoming more and more isolated leading to loneliness and volunteering gives them a way to meet and make connections, many of which become lasting friendships. 

Volunteering also provides people with a sense of purpose, helping them make a direct impact in their community supporting a cause they care about. This provides a psychological lift that is so good for our mental health. 

In short volunteering is so good for your heart. You can read more on the health benefits of volunteering here.  

Join us this month in the parks to give back to the parks, your community, and yourself! Find a volunteer opportunity below and get involved or join us at one of two February Volunteer Open Houses to meet with a Volunteer Coordinator. We'll help you find the right opportunity for you, complete your volunteer onboarding and get started!

Not sure about attending a Volunteer Open House yet, check out our brand-new information sessions - a brief introduction to volunteering with Five Rivers MetroParks with no commitment to service. 

Volunteer Updates: Please Complete our Annual Volunteer Survey!

Volunteers ages 14 and up are invited to tell us about their volunteer experience this year in our annual volunteer survey. This feedback is vital to providing data to our organization, grants, sponsors, and the broader community regarding volunteer involvement. If you are a registered volunteer with us ages 14 and up, please provide this helpful feedback by February 28th. If you would prefer to speak with a Volunteer Coordinator regarding your volunteer experience, or if you need assistance with the survey, please reach out to us at volunteer.services@metroparks.org or by phone at #937-275-7275. Thank you for supporting us in this effort!

Volunteers Jodi Stitt and Cheryl Maci learn about setting up tents and backcountry skills during our recent Backcountry Program Support Volunteer Training. 

CONSERVATION TIP: Stay Active this Winter

While our tendency is to slow down and stay inside during the cold months of winter, we want to encourage you to stay active and get outside this season! There are plenty of ways to get involved with Five Rivers MetroParks this winter - attend a MetroParks program, volunteer, go for a winter hike in the parks, ice skate at RiverScape MetroPark, or pick up a new hobby - anyone tried snowshoeing or cross-country skiing?!

While you're out and about in the parks, don't forget to recycle those  holiday lights! The last call for dropping of your holiday lights for recycling at MetroParks is February 28th! (extended deadline)

The deadline to drop off your live trees for tree sinking at Eastwood MetroPark has passed. Trees that were dropped off at Eastwood MetroPark by January 13th will be sunk into the lake by our team of staff and volunteers to support a healthy fish population in the lake. 

Steve McNew joined MetroParks as a volunteer in November 2019. As a retired teacher, and primary caregiver for his daughter, he was looking for a way to get engaged in the community. Eager to give back and share his love for history, Steve found his volunteer home at the Historic Farm at Carriage Hill MetroPark. 

Steve trained first to become a Historic Interpreter on the farm sharing his love for history with a variety of park visitors. He then completed additional training to qualify as a Historic Woodworker and Textile Demonstrator supporting workdays, special events, programs, and regular farm visitation. When asked what his favorite opportunity is, Steve shared "the opportunities where I can talk with people and share interesting things with them." 

"He has taken on the role of talking to and educating the farm visitors with more than a memorized spiel. Visitors are made welcome. As Steve walks with them, he shares stories related to the 19th century methods and ways, and when possible, shows them. In those moments, the visitor is made to feel they are the only one on the grounds," says Deb Spencer, Education Specialist and Staff Lead. 

Steve has also supported several key projects on the farm including his very first large project working alongside staff to replace the windows in the historic farmhouse. Steve developed this skill when he was young and accidentally broke a window at home pitching a baseball. His father showed him how to take responsibility and replace the glass, repairing the window himself.

Steve shared that many of his skills come from his parents' emphasis on being able to care of himself. He was able to contribute a great many home- grown sewing skills to the newly re-engaged Textile Workdays on the farm crafting period clothing for volunteers and staff.

Steve continues to learn new skills - weaving methods, hand and machine knitting, 19th century cookery - through his volunteering on the farm. This expands his ability to support historical clothing needs, demonstrations, programs, and training brand new volunteers, and expands what the farm is able to offer park visitors. Steve's regular presence brings stability to the volunteers at the farm, and his support of a variety of farm volunteer opportunities has made him the perfect mentor for brand new volunteers. 

Steve McNew's willingness and desire to learn something new, share something old, and lend a helping hand whenever he can, go beyond something we see every day. 

Thank you, Steve, for your outstanding service to Five Rivers MetroParks and the community. You have created a warm, welcoming space for our community to visit and explore 19th century life on the farm and for our volunteers to get involved in providing the public with a full historic experience. 

Thanks to the support of volunteers like Steve, we are seeing a renewed interest in volunteer opportunities on the historic farm. Join us! Learn more and get involved here. 

Volunteer Positions & Upcoming Opportunities

Volunteering is a wonderful way to warm your heart! Check out how you can make a difference this month below. Become a FAN by selecting the volunteer positions you support most.

See something that interests you and want to learn more? Contact your Volunteer Services team at volunteer.services@metroparks.org or give us a call at #937-275-7275. 

Click here to view where we need the most help right now.  

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.

Volunteer Colleen Girard supports a variety of data entry projects at our Main Office. 

Wagner Subaru Outdoor Experience Data Entry:

Looking for a warm indoor volunteer opportunity? Short-term and long-term volunteers are needed weekdays to help staff with survey and waiver data entry from The Wagner Subaru Outdoor Experience at our Main Office in downtown Dayton. Shifts are currently Monday afternoons from 2-4pm and Thursdays from 1-3pm.

Learn more and sign up to support this volunteer opportunity by clicking the blue VOLUNTEER button below. This will link you to a Computer Skills Assessment form where we can learn more about your skills to match you with appropriate administrative opportunities. 

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.

Visitor Center Ambassador Volunteers Jin Sherman and Erica Blackford welcome guests at Cox Arboretum MetroPark. 

Visitor Center Ambassadors:

It might be cold outside now, but Spring will be here before we know it! We're getting ready for it here at MetroParks. If you have the gift of gab or are enthusiastic about sharing your love of Five Rivers MetroParks with others, then we'd love to have you as one of our Visitor Center Ambassadors!

To get started, RSVP for our upcoming in-person Visitor Center Ambassador Training. Click the green RSVP button below. 

Master Recycler:

Are you passionate about sustainability and looking for a program to help you learn more and share with others? Learn how to reduce, reuse, recycle, compost, and advocate for waste reduction through the Master Recycler class series, a partnership between Montgomery County Environmental Services and Five Rivers MetroParks. Participants ages 14 and up are invited to participate in this 5-session series that occurs once a week for 5 weeks from 6-8pm. Then, join us in Master Recycler volunteer efforts to reduce waste in our community.

Learn more and register on metroparks.org by clicking the green RSVP button below. 

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.

Volunteer Richard White helps keep the stalls clean at the Carriage Hill Riding Center even in the chilly winter season.

New Volunteer Training: Carriage Hill Riding Center Barn Aide 

Do you love being around horses and don't mind getting your hands dirty? Or maybe you're looking for a way to give back and get a great workout? Consider joining our team of Carriage Hill Riding Center volunteers as a new Barn Aide!

Barn Aide Volunteers are critical to providing daily care for the horses and ponies, and the equestrian facility in which these beloved animals live, work, and play. Daily tasks include cleaning stalls, turning horses out to pasture, and providing fresh food and water. The work is hard, but the rewards are great! All new Riding Center volunteers begin as Barn Aide but can complete additional training to support a variety of programming opportunities at the Carriage Hill Riding Center.

Start your Barn Aide training today by learning more about this volunteer opportunity here and then click the green RSVP button to get started.

Conservation

Protecting 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.

Volunteer Teresa Santo enjoys spending chilly days in the warm greenhouse at Cox Arboretum MetroPark.

Propagation Operation: 

NEW! Ready to play, learn, and connect with others while you support our reforestation efforts? Beginning in March, join our Propagation Operation team at Cox Arboretum MetroPark! In addition to trees and shrubs, the group will be growing herbaceous plants and propagating native plants to be used for restoration and conservation projects throughout the district. 

Learn more and sign up to support this opportunity by clicking the blue VOLUNTEER button below. 

You never know who you'll see in our wildlife photos!

Wildlife Photo Classification:

NEW! Do you love wildlife? Are you searching for a flexible opportunity that fits seamlessly into your schedule? Become a Wildlife Photo Classification Volunteer and help us uncover the hidden wonders of Spring Run Conservation Area!

Our trail cameras have captured thousands of wildlife photos, and we're looking for dedicated remote volunteers to identify species and classify these images. This flexible role requires just 2 hours a month, keen attention to detail, patience, basic computer skills, and an interest in wildlife. We'll provide virtual training and resources to support you every step of the way. Due to limited camera placement, this opportunity is open to 10 volunteers. 

Interested? Click the blue VOLUNTEER button to complete the interest form by February 21st for consideration. Together, we can make a difference.

Where there's smoke, there's fire and our Prescribed Burn Team!

Prescribed Burn Training:

NEW! Our Conservation Team is seeking dedicated and dependable volunteers to join our Prescribed Burn Team this season! Prescribed burns are a vital conservation tool used to restore ecosystems, promote biodiversity, and improve habitat for wildlife. This training will prepare you for the physical and mental demands of working on a fire line, including hiking over uneven terrain, handling equipment, and responding quickly to changing conditions. If you're ready to commit to weekday availability from March 3rd through April 15th and contribute to meaningful conservation efforts, this is your chance to make a real difference in your community. 

Click the green RSVP button to learn more and RSVP to this required in-person training.

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.

Location for new Hillside Rock Garden Restoration at Aullwood Garden MetroPark.

Hillside Rock Garden Restoration: 

Help restore History at Aullwood Garden! Get ready to roll up your sleeves and move some rock! We're looking for volunteers to help restore the beautiful rock garden on Aullwood Garden's Sycamore Hillside. Created by John and Marie Aull, this historic garden has changed over time due to erosion, and now it's our chance to bring it back to life using old photographs and Marie Aull's journals.

Your mission: assist with rock placements, soil amendments, and stabilizing the hillside to protect the trees above. Next up, we'll restore the rock garden tiers and plant historically accurate greenery from Marie's original design!

Shifts are Friday mornings, starting in March! Don't miss your chance to be a part of this exciting project! 

View more details and sign up by clicking the blue VOLUNTEER button below. 

Lead Horticulture Technicians Franz Kirchner (pictured) and Jacob Cradic will be leading this new volunteer training!

NEW! Sharpen your Skills with Proper Pruner Training!

Calling all green thumbs - whether you're a seasoned gardener or just starting out, this training is for you! Join us on March 21st at Cox Arboretum to learn the art and science of proper pruning. 

We'll start indoors with a quick PowerPoint presentation on tools and techniques, then head outside for hands-on practice. It's a fun way to boost your gardening know-how and help keep our parks looking their best. Don't leaf this opportunity hanging - RSVP today! 

Click the green RSVP button to learn more and sign up for this training. 

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 like Kathleen Shanahan-Aughe (left) help keep our trails safe and in shape.

Trail Maintenance:

TRAIL SUPPORT! If you love the outdoors and want to help keep trails in good condition, join us at our trail maintenance volunteer opportunities! We're looking for enthusiastic volunteers to help keep our trails in tip-top shape for all visitors to enjoy. No experience is necessary, just a willingness to get your hands a little dirty and a love for the great outdoors. Plus, you'll get to meet some like-minded folks and maybe even spot some wildlife along the way.

Learn more about our trail maintenance volunteer opportunities 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.

Oreo snaps a selfie with volunteer Monika Evans at the Carriage Hill Riding Center!

Carriage Hill Riding Center Program Support - Valentine's Day with the Ponies:

Do you love being around horses? Are you looking for an opportunity to jump in and support the Carriage Hill Riding Center that DOESN'T involve barn aide tasks? Join us in this fun new program support opportunity celebrating Valentine's Day with the Ponies at the Carriage Hill Riding Center! No Barn Aide experience or training required.

Learn more and sign up to lend a hand at this special holiday program by clicking the blue VOLUNTEER button below.

Volunteer Chanie Corbitt supports Adventure Central by helping to prepare and serve meals for the afterschool program.

Adventure Central Program Assistant:

Looking for a fun way to give back after work or after school? We have the perfect opportunity for you - Join the fun at Adventure Central, our nature-based after school program in Wesleyan MetroPark! Volunteers ages 14 and up are needed to provide basic homework help, meal prep, and outdoor play monitoring evenings Mondays - Thursdays. Volunteers are welcomed and encouraged to get involved and play games with the kids!

Learn more and sign up to join the fun by clicking the blue VOLUNTEER button below. 

Program Support Volunteers Becky Goerling and Julie Grunwald help prepare elderberry treats at a recent program at Possum Creek MetroPark.

Program Support Volunteers:

Do you enjoy learning new things and helping others? Join our team of short-term and long-term volunteers who provide support at a variety of MetroParks programs! No previous knowledge, skills, or experience is required. You'll assist with a variety of routine and entry level tasks that help make our programs great. 

Learn more and sign up to lend a helping hand while learning something new by clicking the blue VOLUNTEER button. 

Astronomy Assistant Pat Craig works with new astronomy assistant volunteer Jon Reed to set up the telescope for a family program.

Astronomy Assistant Volunteers:

MetroParks is looking toward the skies, venturing into another aspect of nature with a new team of volunteers! Are you interested in Astronomy? Do you like sharing what you learn with others? Consider supporting a variety of astronomy programs as an Astronomy Assistant!

Learn more and submit your interest form by clicking the blue VOLUNTEER button below. 

Volunteers enjoy the special programs and events at the Historic Farm - Volunteer Marcia Jurscsin knows biscuits are everyone's favorite!

Historic Interpreter Volunteer: 

The Historic Farm at Carriage Hill MetroPark tells important stories that celebrate our agricultural heritage in the Miami Valley. This heritage includes a significant portion of our local landscape shaped by generations of farmers who groomed and cared for the land and their families who built everyday life on it.

Visitors to Carriage Hill Historic Farm are immersed in 19th century farm life thanks to our dedicated historic interpreter volunteers. We're looking for new volunteers to join us this season on the farm to help us interpret 19th century farm life to visitors during the historic farm's open hours, and during programs and special events. No previous knowledge or skills required - We will train you! All you need is a love for history, a desire to support the historic farm at Carriage Hill MetroPark, and a willingness to learn and share with others. Winter is a great time to get started!

Learn more and start your training by clicking the blue VOLUNTEER button below. 

Get Connected Tech Tip: Update & Enhance your Profile, Qualifications, and more!

The beginning of the year is a great time to update your volunteer profile and renew or complete new volunteer qualifications for volunteer opportunities in 2025!

Enhancing your profile with accurate interests, skills, and your most current availability will help the Get Connected site and your Volunteer Services team match you with the opportunities available that will be the best fit for you. 

To update your volunteer profile including your contact information and availability, log in to Get Connected and click "Edit Profile". From here you can update your contact information on your left and your availability on your right, then click the blue Update button to save your edits. This is also where you can upload a profile photo to your account that we will print on your permanent volunteer name badge.

To easily update your interests and skills, click "View Profile" from your User Menu and then select "Manage Interests" and "Manage Skills" to update these areas. 

To review and update your qualifications, click "Qualifications" from your User Menu. 

Here's some additional information you may find helpful:

• Interests - are those areas that you are actively interested in learning more about and supporting through volunteer service.
• Skills - refers to specific skills sets you already have and are willing to share during volunteer service.
• Availability - Five Rivers MetroParks will never schedule you for an opportunity. We do; however, use this information to help us find volunteers available for our various volunteer opportunities. 
• Volunteer Positions - All of our volunteer opportunities are organized under 9 core volunteer positions that support 9 main functions across our agency. Fanning Volunteer Positions helps our Get Connected site and our Volunteer Services team better recommend and match you with opportunities you are most interested in. 
• Qualifications - Qualifications are how we track the completion of training and annual skills check offs for volunteer opportunities across the agency including those that involve the use of equipment and/or vehicles. Qualifications generally expire each year and must be renewed through additional training and/or an annual check off. 

We recommend spending some time browsing our online Volunteer Training Library to view a variety of readily available online trainings to kickstart your new year of service. This is a great way to renew your training and qualifications or find a new volunteer opportunity and get started. 

Have a question or need assistance? Connect with our Volunteer Services team by phone at #937-275-7275, by email at volunteer.services@metroparks.org, or in-person at an upcoming Volunteer Open House - we're here to help you!

View more helpful Get Connected Tech Tips here. 

Staff Lead Highlight: Mary Andrick Horticulture Technician

Staff Lead Highlights are a great way for volunteers to get to know our staff and for staff to share their work with volunteers. 

This month, we're thrilled to highlight Mary Andrick, one of our talented Horticulture Technicians at Aullwood Garden MetroPark. With nearly two years at MetroParks, Mary brings a wealth of knowledge and a deep passion for plants, making a significant impact on our parks and the people who visit them. 

Mary has always loved working outdoors and with plants. Her journey began in flower shops, landscaping, and nurseries, eventually leading to a bachelor's degree in Conservation Social Science from the University of Idaho. Mary spent 16 seasons with the U.S. Forest Service in the Pacific Northwest, focusing on plant inventory and research. In 2022, she moved closer to family and found her place with Five Rivers MetroParks, where she's enjoyed expanding her knowledge of Ohio native and ornamental plants. 

For Mary, the variety of tasks and opportunities to be outdoors are the most rewarding parts of the job. Every day is different, whether it's collaborating with like-minded colleagues or meeting parks visitors and volunteers. "(MetroParks) is an amazing resource for Montgomery County," she shares. "I love the opportunity to interact with visitors and collaborate with staff." 

When it comes to leading volunteers, Mary believes that making volunteers feel welcomed, useful, and appreciated is key. At Aullwood Garden, Mary has been inspired by the dedication of volunteers, some of whom have been lending their expertise for over 15 years. "(Their) knowledge and insight of the gardens are priceless," she says. Volunteers not only help accomplish more in less time, but they also elevate the quality of work through their hard work and dedication.

Mary is proud of the role volunteers play in the success of Five Rivers MetroParks. "We could not do our jobs without our volunteers," she explains. "When we have 8 people working on something rather than just 2 of us, obviously, we will get done much faster. Our parks wouldn't look as good as they do without them."

Outside of her role, Mary has begun exploring volunteer opportunities in the community, having participated in Porchfest. Now that she's more settled in Dayton, she's eager to get more involved locally.

We're grateful for Mary's expertise, dedication, and enthusiasm in leading volunteers and enhancing our parks. Her commitment to teamwork and creating meaningful outdoor experiences makes her an invaluable part of MetroParks. 

Want to work alongside Mary and the team at Aullwood Garden MetroPark? Check out our Aullwood Garden volunteer opportunities! 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 or other opportunities! Click here to RSVP to an upcoming Volunteer Open House.

Thank you, Mary, for your outstanding leadership and support of volunteers at MetroParks!

Check out these and other great stories in MetroParks blog, Parkways Online available at www.metroparks.org:

MetroParks Monthly - Programs and Events for February
Free Adventure Speaker Series starts Feb. 5th

Mark Your Calendar: Astronomical Events in 2025

2nd Street Market Hosts Free Wellness Programs, Seasonal and Cultural Happenings

Volunteer Appreciation

Volunteer Services is partnering with your Staff Leads to prepare this year's Volunteer Impact Report and special thank you cards for volunteers who served in 2025. Look for these in your mailbox soon!

For those with 25 hours or more in 2024, your thank you card will also include your 2025 volunteer discount code card good for a 15%, 30% or 50% discount on MetroParks programs and routine rentals throughout 2025. 

In the meantime, don't forget to request your VIP apparel - milestone service pins, hats, and shirts through our VIP Item Request Form or by contacting Volunteer Services. This is also a great time to request a new or replacement name badge! You can also request this through the VIP Item Request Form.

Thank you for volunteering with us!

Volunteer Services

Volunteer Services is available if you have questions or need assistance in signing up. Contact us at volunteer.services@metroparks.org or #937-275-7275.

Your Volunteer Services Team

Allie 

Parks & Conservation # (937) 274-3176

Amanda

Ambassador & Special Events, Interim Administration # (937) 277-4109

Yvonne

Outdoor Connections Programming # (937) 277-4147

Jenny

Human Resources Manager of Volunteer Services

Interim: Animal Care & Animal Programming and Court Appointed Volunteer Service # (937) 567-1413