Five Rivers MetroParks Volunteer Newsletter - March 2026

Inside this edition of the Volunteer Newsletter: 

FEATURE

Bloom With Us This Spring

STAFF LEAD HIGHLIGHT

Todd Strong, Horticulturalist at Cox Arboretum

FEATURED VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES & TRAINING

Bloom with Us with our March Featured Opportunities!

VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION

Thank you for Volunteering at The Adventure Summit!

Parkways Online Featured Articles

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!

Staff Lead Highlight: Todd Strong, Horticulturalist at Cox Arboretum

Staff 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 excited to highlight Todd Strong, Horticulturalist at Cox Arboretum MetroPark, whose passion for plants, food production, and community impact is evident in everything he does.

Todd joined Five Rivers MetroParks in March 2025 as a Horticulturalist at Cox Arboretum, bringing with him a wide range of experiences and a lifelong love of gardening. Before coming to MetroParks, he spent several years traveling and working in vegetable production, garden centers, and greenhouses. His path into horticulture was driven by a simple desire to work outside and grow things that matter. He holds a bachelor's degree in horticulture, but his hands-on experience began much earlier. "I've had a garden for as long as I can remember,"  he shared. From digging up mint to growing dozens of hot pepper plants in his backyard, tending plants has always been part of who he is.

What Todd enjoys most about his work at MetroParks is the feeling that what he's doing truly matters. "I like feeling good about the job that I'm doing," he shared. "I like doing something that benefits the community and the environment, something I can go home at night knowing I've done something meaningful."  One of the most rewarding parts of his role is growing food that can be donated to help feed others. He also finds a lot of fulfillment in the educational side of horticulture, especially seeing visitors and volunteers enjoy learning about the gardens. 

That same mindset shapes how Todd approaches being a Staff Lead for volunteers. For him, communication is key, but enjoyment matters as much. "I want them to enjoy their time here, so they want to come back," he said. He focuses on making sure volunteers feel welcomed, supported, and appreciated, and that they walk away feeling like they gained something from the experience. "They're so appreciated," Todd added. "Letting them know how much they make a difference is really important to me."

Volunteers play a major role in the success and beauty of Cox Arboretum. Todd Credits the Gardening Ambassadors volunteer group as "basically the entire reason it looks as good as it looks," along with regular gardening volunteers who help maintain garden spaces throughout the park. Volunteer groups have also made a huge impact through large mulching projects. "We were able to get almost the entire park mulched this year because of our community groups," he shared, noting that this kind of work would not be possible for staff to accomplish alone. 

To Todd, volunteerism is at the heart of what makes MetroParks work. "This is a community effort,"  he said. "We can't do what we do without the support of our community." He sees volunteers as essential partners in caring for the gardens, supporting staff, and helping Cox Arboretum remain a welcoming and vibrant place for everyone.

Thank you, Todd, for your passion, your dedication, and the care you bring to both the gardens and the volunteers who help them thrive. We're grateful to have you on our team and appreciate the impact you make every day.

Join Todd and other Cox Arboretum Horticulture staff at one of the upcoming Cox Arboretum Gardening shifts! 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.

FEATURED March Volunteer Opportunities and Trainings

Bloom with us with these featured volunteer opportunities including Gardening Ambassador Volunteer Training, Historic Interpreter Volunteer Training, Backcountry Camping Volunteer Training, Fishing Programs Season Kick off and more! Plus Adopt-A-Park! Check out our featured volunteer opportunities below, and view all of our volunteer opportunities on Get Connected. 

Want to learn more? Meet with a volunteer coordinator during a Volunteer Open House or join us for an informative volunteer info session. View upcoming opportunities and RSVP today!

New! Gardening Ambassador Kick Off Training

If you already find joy in caring for plants or tending your own garden, the Maimon Memorial Garden is a beautiful place to put those skills to work. Our Gardening Ambassadors play an important role in keeping this space thriving, helping with watering, weeding, and seasonal planting while also creating a welcoming presence for visitors.  Because this role often involves working independently, volunteers who have some prior gardening or plant-care experience tend to feel especially comfortable jumping in. 

Join us for the Gardening Ambassador Kickoff Training on April 16 at 9am.  During this session, you'll learn more about the role, meet horticulture staff, tour the garden, and take part in a hands-on planting so you can get a feel for what volunteering as a Garden Ambassador is like. 

Come grow something meaningful with us! View more details and to RSVP to the training, click the green RSVP button below. 

Plus, Sharpen Your Skilled 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 20 at Cox Arboretum to learn the art and science of proper pruning. We'll start indoors with a quick PowerPoint 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! View more details and to RSVP to the training, click the green RSVP button below. 

Dig In and De-Stress: Join Our MetroParks Gardening Crew!

There's something special about getting your hands in the dirt - feeling the sun on your face, breathing in the fresh air, and watching something beautiful grow. Whether you're an experienced gardener or just love the idea of spending time in nature, we have the perfect spot for you! View all this season's gardening opportunities by clicking the blue VOLUNTEER button below.

Backcountry Season Kick Off & Volunteer Training

We are excited to be kicking off the backcountry season with this volunteer training! Are you a volunteer interested in outdoor recreation at Five Rivers MetroParks who enjoys hiking, backpacking, and camping? Then, this is the training you don't want to miss! We invite you to attend an engaging and interactive session at the Twin Valley Welcome Center, the hub of many of our backcountry programs. During this session, you'll participate in hands-on activities and interactive stations designed to empower you with the knowledge and skills necessary to make a real impact supporting these programs. View more details and RSVP by clicking the green RSVP button below. 

Historic Interpreter Spring Training

Do you enjoy working with people? Have an interest in history? Historic Interpreter volunteers are part of the programming team bringing the Daniel Arnold Historic Farm to life by interpreting 19th century farm life. New and returning volunteers are invited to attend this hands-on training for the Historic Farm at Carriage Hill MetroPark. The training will create an enriching experience for newer volunteers, as well as leadership opportunities for returning volunteers. It will aide volunteers in being well-rounded in all things Carriage Hill and enhance the visitor experience by helping the staff plan for dynamic living history offerings during farm open days. Volunteers can choose either date: March 12 or March 14 to participate in this in-person training. Learn more and RSVP by clicking the green RSVP button below. 

Fishing Programs Season Kick Off

Join us as a volunteer and become part of something meaningful! Volunteers will be introduced to the new Ohio Division of Natural Resources First Cast Curriculum, learn some fly-fishing basics, and explore the lineup of fishing programs and volunteer opportunities scheduled for 2026. This engaging session offers hands-on experiences across various stations, empowering you to build your fishing knowledge and skills while strengthening our vibrant fishing community. View more details and to RSVP for the training, click the green RSVP button below.

Adopt-A-Park
Adopt-A-Park is back Saturday, April 25th! Five Rivers MetroParks celebrates Earth Day on Saturday, April 25th, during Adopt--A-Park, our annual public volunteer service day that invites community members of all ages, accessibility levels, and backgrounds to come together to help protect the region's natural heritage and MAKE A DIFFERENCE. View all of this year's opportunities and sign up to support by clicking the blue VOLUNTEER button below.

Adopt-A-Park Service Kits are available again this year for safe, independent litter pick-up! These kits are perfect for families with younger children and larger groups looking to make a difference together in MetroParks, in your neighborhood, or other community green spaces. Click here to learn more and reserve your kit, then schedule your kit pick-up at one of our drive-thru service kit distributions.

   


Volunteer Appreciation

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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.