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June is National Great Outdoors Month and June 1st is National Trails Day - Celebrate with us outside on the region's best trails! Join us Saturday, June 1st for the TVT Challenge at Germantown MetroPark. Sign up for the challenge as a participant and/or volunteer to support the event - There's just a couple volunteer slots left! In this edition of the Volunteer Newsletter:FEATURE Volunteer Updates - Kiosks coming to Carriage Hill, New Staff Lead Bingo, and more! VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT Frank Beitel - Exploring Our Trails and Our History JUNE VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES SUSTAINABILITY TIP Leave No Trace and join our volunteers in protecting nature! GET CONNECTED TECH TIP Engage MORE with Volunteer Training! STAFF LEAD HIGHLIGHTMeet our Dedicated Trail Team - Stewards of Nature and Volunteer Engagement VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION Are you using your volunteer discount? |
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Frank can be found regularly at Wesleyan MetroPark walking the trails and giving back as an MVP, MetroParks Volunteer Patroller, helping to keep the park and trails neat, clean, and safe for the kids and keeping the staff informed of any issues he sees. He said he enjoys this park because "it is a park on a small scale but offers so many things to visitors. It has easy access to the river, has hiking trails, and picnic areas, and is home to Adventure Central." Tyler Kessler, Ohio State University Extension Educator at Adventure Central, shared "I have seen volunteers come and go, but none have had the dedication I have seen in Frank. He takes great ownership of the park and is here in all seasons making it clean and safe for the kids. He communicates well with us and is so often seen, that you forget he is a volunteer. We are grateful for his dedication and service." Volunteering with MetroParks has also given Frank the opportunity to explore another interest, woodworking at Cox Arboretum MetroPark with the Cox Woodworkers and at Carriage Hill MetroPark as a Historic Woodworker. Frank's interest in woodworking and historic tools began at an early age watching his grandfather in his woodshop. Now, he enjoys "the chance to work with good tools, to learn more working in a woodshop, and to shape simple firewood into something useful for the historic house or garden." At the historic farm, Frank just lights up as he shares with visitors some of the history and uses of the tools in the woodshop. Frank enjoys the many different opportunities to volunteer and make a difference with Five Rivers MetroParks. To date, he has served over 435 hours in just 2 years of volunteer service.
Thank you, Frank, for your outstanding commitment, dedication, and service to Five Rivers MetroParks! Meet more amazing MetroParks' volunteers in our Volunteer Spotlights! |
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AmbassadorAmbassadors are often the first friendly face a visitor sees welcoming them to the park and can be counted on to share helpful information and answer a variety of questions.
RiverScape Summer Music Series Ambassador: The free Summer
Music Series features a wide variety of regional acts performing live on the
main stage under the pavilion at Riverscape MetroPark. Volunteer Ambassadors
share their enthusiasm for Five Rivers MetroParks with a variety of
diverse audiences during these performances. Volunteers are needed to help greet and welcome park
patrons, answer questions and hand out literature as they stroll around the
pavilion. Enjoy the music, be a part of the fun, and promote MetroParks all at
the same time! Click the blue VOLUNTEER button to learn more and sign up to make a difference. |
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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.
Volunteer Kevin Westbrook supports the 2nd Street Market with custodial tasks. "It was my 1st time visiting 2nd Street Market. It was busy, full of people and interesting shops. Everyone was friendly and cool. I first met Caroline who introduced me to Linda who gave me instructions on what needed to be done. I then met Gary who was a custodial worker. I cleaned windows, wiped down tables and swept. It was a good time." - Market Custodial Support Volunteer
Love spending time at
the 2nd Street Market? Want to give back to this awesome community hub? Well, do
we have the perfect opportunity for you! We're on the lookout for some extra
helping hands to tackle custodial tasks on weekend afternoons. Picture this:
you'll be the superhero of cleanliness, keeping the market clean and tidy
during operating hours, with some light sweeping, table tidying, and trash
removal after closing. And the best part? You'll be doing it all indoors, so
you can always depend on the weather to be consistent - unlike the weird, wacky
weather we've been having this early summer! Click the blue VOLUNTEER button to learn more and sign up to make a difference.  |
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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. |
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Volunteer Phil Bush shares tips on fishing success during one of the family fishing programs. "It was really great, I loved it, I like teaching kids how to - had a lovely time!" -Fishing Program Support Volunteer Fishing Program Support:
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Volunteer Amy Anslinger is getting ready to get on
the water as a safety boater for our first TRY Paddlesports program of the season!"Fitting people with PFDs was a lot of work! But it was fun, and I learned a lot about fitting PFDs on people. I discovered if they use one that is too big it is impossible to get it tight enough, so we have to go down a size. The kids were awesome too, and everyone seemed to be excited about getting on the water." - Try Paddlesports Program Support Volunteer Try Paddlesports Program Support: June says it is time to get on the water! Ready to support our Paddlesport programs? Paddling a kayak, canoe, stand-up paddleboard (SUP) or other paddle craft is a great way to explore nature and enjoy the region's various water features. Program support volunteers are critical in ensuring we can provide high-quality, engaging programming like these to the public. No experience is necessary to provide on land support with registration, life jackets, and on-dock boat assistance. Click the blue VOLUNTEER button to learn more and sign up to make a difference. Interested in on the water support? Check out our Safety Boater Training happening this month!
Historic Interpreter volunteer Steve McNew
demonstrates and allows families try making a rope the 1880's way."Just a joy working hard to ready the summer kitchen. A friendly team approach is so appreciated. Rick's stories and dedication to the experience is just phenomenal!" -Historic Interpreter Volunteer Historic Interpreters:Do you like local history? Do you enjoy sharing information and helping others learn? Historic Interpreters bring history to life! Join us on the historic farm this season and help us share the story of the Arnold Family and demonstrate life on a 19th century farm. No experience is necessary. We'll train you! Click the blue VOLUNTEER button to learn more and respond to get started or visit the Historic Interpreter Training page here.
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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 program runs smoothly from set-up to tear down. |
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Sustainability Tip
Leave No Trace and join our volunteers in protecting nature! The 7 Principles of Leave No Trace provide an easily understood framework of minimum impact practices for anyone visiting the outdoors. They can be applied ANYWHERE, are well-established and evaluated regularly.
Sustainability and conservation connect with Leave No Trace! Learn more at LEAVE NO TRACE. Want to learn even more? There is a FREE Online 101 course available: Click Here. |
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Engage MORE with Volunteer Training
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Summer is here, and
more opportunities are becoming available!
Some of our opportunities may include some training needs before you
participate. There are two kinds of training (virtual and in-person) and two
locations to find these trainings. The
Volunteer Training library can give you additional information as you get more
familiar with Get Connected.
Volunteer Training Library View high-quality online volunteer training in our Volunteer Training Library! All of the available trainings are Some trainings are required for specific volunteer opportunities. Not sure what's required for the volunteer opportunities you're interested in? Take a look at the Qualifications section of the opportunity listing to find out. For example, if we take a look at the Carriage Hill Farm Heirloom Gardening opportunity, scroll down past the available shifts, we'll find "Required Qualifications". This opportunity requires the following qualifications: Volunteer Profile, FRMP Volunteer Handbook Review and Acknowledgement, and Emergency Contact - your basic volunteer onboarding qualifications. Historic Interpreter at Carriage Hill's Historic Farm; however, requires the completion of the Historic Interpreter Virtual Volunteer Training and the in-person Historic Interpreter Volunteer Training & Check Off with a qualified volunteer or staff member:
Note: Some of our volunteer opportunities are not published publicly on the Get Connected site. You can learn more about these opportunities and, if interested, begin any required training right from our Volunteer Training Library! These include many of our flexible or unscheduled volunteer opportunities like: MetroParks Volunteer Patrol (MVP) and Bluebird Monitors, as well as scheduled but private opportunities like Garden Tour Guides. Training and Events Some volunteer opportunities require an in-person training, shadow experiences, and/or annual check off of skills or equipment. You can find scheduled in person trainings like these on the Training and Events page in Get Connected. We have many great trainings scheduled to prepare you for the busy volunteer season! Check them out on Get Connected:
You can find all our great Tech Tips in the Volunteer Blog. Click HERE to access all of them! Want to learn more about Get Connected or any of our volunteer opportunities? Join us at an upcoming Volunteer Open House! |
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Left to Right: Michael Cooper (Trail Manager), River Spicer (Trail Technician), Noah Browning (Trail Technician), Brittany Belcher (Trail Technician), and Connor Perry (Trail Technician) Staff Highlight: Meet our Dedicated Trail Team - Stewards of Nature and Volunteer Engagement
Staff Lead Highlights are a great way for volunteers to get to know our staff and for staff to share their work with volunteers. Meet the Team: Connor Perry: If you've joined our monthly trail workdays at MoMBA (MetroParks Mountain Biking Area), chances are you've crossed paths with Connor, our dedicated staff lead. With 9 years at MetroParks, Connor's expertise in trail maintenance and mountain biking keeps MoMBA's trails in prime condition! Noah Browning and Michael Cooper: For those who have lent a helping hand at the Twin Valley Trail Workdays, Noah and Mike need no introduction. They lead our volunteer efforts, ensuring meaningful experiences for all. Noah, with us for 6 months, and Michael, for over 8 years, excel at motivating and appreciating volunteers. Michael says, "...the most important aspect of being a Staff Lead is the ability to motivate and inspire the volunteers while providing the team with the necessary tools, knowledge, and resources to effectively complete their tasks," while Noah adds, "My volunteers are so helpful and I think it is important to let them know that I appreciate all of their time and effort". Brittany Belcher and River Spicer: You may have seen Brittany or River at one of our public service days, like Adopt-A-Park or Make a Difference Day, leading volunteers in an impactful service project. Brittany and River joined our team in the late spring/early summer of 2021. These exceptional trail technicians support a variety of trail maintenance projects in both the northern and southern parks. Our trail team's primary mission is to ensure that Five Rivers MetroParks trails provide safe, consistent, and high-quality trail experiences for visitors with varied interests and levels of abilities in a manner that protects the natural resources and habitats at each park. By providing opportunities for community members to actively contribute to trail maintenance efforts, our trail team fosters a sense of stewardship among our park visitors. If you're passionate about preserving the natural beauty of our parks and eager to make a meaningful impact, we invite you to sign up for our upcoming trail workdays at MoMBA and Twin Valley. Whether you're a seasoned trail enthusiast or a newcomer looking to give back, there's a place for you on our trail team. And don't hesitate to say hi to these staff if you spot them in the parks-they're always happy to chat about trails and share their insights. View Trail Maintenance 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, Trail Team, for being true supporters of volunteers and volunteerism at Five Rivers MetroParks! |
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and is already in use at the Carriage Hill Riding Center. The second will be installed by the Visitor Services desk inside the Carriage Hill MetroPark Visitor Center by June 1st.
Big Band Night at RiverScape MetroPark
organized under
our nine volunteer positions and can be accessed year-round at your
convenience.
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Active Outdoors
Youth & Family
Adult Nature Exploration
Earth Friendly Living
For Everyone
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VIP Item Request Form - Have you hit a volunteer service hour milestone with us? We've created a VIP Item Request Form to make collecting your earned Volunteer Incentive Program items like t-shirts, hats, and service pins even easier! We've added a link to our VIP Item Request Form in the main Get Connected navigation menu and in the image rotator. Click the link to learn more about our Volunteer Incentive Program and see if you qualify for volunteer incentive items.
Thank YOU for volunteering!
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 (PARK).
Join us at an upcoming Volunteer Open House!
Your Volunteer Services Team
Yvonne Dunphe - Outdoor Connections Programming #(937) 277-4147
Allie Zimmerman - Parks & Conservation #(937) 274-3176
Janelle Leonard - Administration & Animal Care #(937) 277-5445
Amanda Wheatley - Ambassador & Special Events #(937) 277-4109
Jenny Hymans - Human Resources Manager of Volunteer Services #(937) 567-1413
