From urban skylines to beautiful river vistas, the Great Miami River Trail has something for everyone. The 57-mile trail winds its way through several MetroParks including RiverScape, Deeds Point, Island, and Taylorsville, as well as museums, picnic facilities, acres of natural land, and over gently rolling terrain-a perfect match for the runner, skater, or cyclist. Learn more here!
In this edition of the Volunteer Newsletter:
- Adopt A Park: Thank You Volunteers & Ron's Story
- Conservation Tip: Earth Day Every Day
- FRMP Welcomes New CEO
- Volunteer Spotlight: Bill Macek-Having Fun on the Farm as a Volunteer
- Upcoming Opportunities: Bat Box Monitoring, May the 4th Be With You, Service Saturdays, New Gardening Ambassador opportunity, and more!
- Get Connected Tech Tip: Training & Event RSVPs
- Staff Lead Highlight: Kelly Kingery, Outdoor Recreation Specialist
- Nature is Open: Upcoming Programs
ADOPT-A-PARK: Thank You, Volunteers!
Over 330 volunteers joined us in person for this year's Adopt-A-Park! Volunteers helped us with a variety of high-impact projects that made a difference in our parks including native tree, shrub, and flower plantings, mulching, trail maintenance, invasive species removal, fence repair, and more! In addition to these in-person projects, volunteers also supported litter pick up with our Adopt-A-Park Service Kits picking up litter in our parks, along our trails and waterways, and in their community greenspaces.
Over 100 service kits went out into the community, each with enough gloves and trash bags for up to 5 individuals to safely and independently collect litter. We have asked all of these volunteers to report back on their litter collection efforts and we will share that data with you in next month's volunteer newsletter.
There are many ways to carry this service forward. If you volunteered at this year's event, you received some wildflower seed bombs as a thank-you gift. We hope that you will plant those at home, watch them grow, and remember the difference that an individual can make while also supporting our local pollinators. We also hope you will consider joining us again at next year's Adopt-A-Park, making a commitment to this annual day of service.
Ron's Story: At this year's event, we had the pleasure of meeting volunteer Ron Jackson who has done just that, and not only has he made a commitment to volunteer each year but he has asked his family to join him in giving back as his birthday present! This year 6 members of Ron's family joined him in planting native trees and shrubs at Taylorsville MetroPark to celebrate Ron's birthday. Ron says it's good for them to get together and give back as a family and he plans to increase the size of his family volunteer team each year. Thank you, Ron, and family for your service--What a great way to celebrate a birthday!
Consider joining us for upcoming public volunteer days. Service Saturdays begin in May and run from 9 am-Noon on the third Saturday of each month from May-September. You can view May's Service Saturday opportunities here and sign up to volunteer. We hope you'll also consider joining us for Make A Difference Day, Saturday, October 28th from 9 am-Noon.
If you'd like to learn more about becoming an ongoing, long-term volunteer, consider joining us at an upcoming Volunteer Open House. This is a great opportunity to learn more about ongoing volunteer service with us, talk about your interests, and complete the required volunteer onboarding qualifications in Get Connected one-on-one with a volunteer coordinator. You can view our upcoming Volunteer Open House schedule here and RSVP to let us know you'll be coming by to speak with us during that time.
Thank you for volunteering and supporting your MetroParks at this year's Adopt-A-Park!
Adopt-A-Park is Five Rivers MetroParks' annual Earth Day service event and is generously supported by these sponsors: CareSource Foundation, Montgomery County Environmental Services, Keep Montgomery County Beautiful, and QEI Engineers--Thank you!
Conservation Tip: Earth Day Every Day
Although Earth Day may have passed, at Five Rivers MetroParks we believe every day is Earth Day. There are many ways we can show up for our planet in the way we live. While some of these changes may seem small and insignificant, they really can add up over time. In fact, small everyday changes not only add up, but they help us feel as if we are doing something to positively contribute to climate solutions.
If you are looking for some simple changes, you can start today by considering:
Walk or bike when you can. Try to avoid unnecessary trips in the car or take public transport when available. Carpooling can also help reduce your carbon footprint.
Avoid single-use plastics. This may be tricky but pay attention to the products you choose with unnecessary plastic packaging. Take reusable bags when shopping and reuse produce bags when you can. Purchase reusable silverware and straws to use when on the go instead of taking disposable items when you must be on the go.
Consider additional ways to be sustainable at home. Look for ways to reduce what goes into the trash. Everyday items that are thrown away can add up. Evaluate what these may be in your home and find washable, reusable, or less-waste alternatives. For example, can a plastic storage bag be washed and used again? Can an old t-shirt be repurposed as a rag to reduce paper towels?
Is there a change you can begin today? Get your family involved to make your change more lasting. Starting small and involving your family helps ensure your changes will last longer. A fun way to involve your family is to calculate your carbon footprint. This takes less than five minutes and can help you identify ways to improve. Good luck in your journey to be more sustainable!
Check out our upcoming Sustainability volunteer opportunities here and sign up to volunteer.
Adapted from the Live Healthy, Live Well Blog from The Ohio State University Extension
FRMP Welcomes New CEO
Happy retirement, Becky! Chief Executive Officer Rebecca Benná (pictured above) retires with over 40 years of public service, 12 of which were served at Five Rivers MetroParks. Her dedication to protecting the region's natural heritage and providing outdoor experiences that inspire a personal connection with nature has made Montgomery County a better place to live, work and play. Chief of Operations, Karen Hesser, (pictured right) takes her place as Five Rivers MetroPark's new CEO effective May 1st.
Karen Davis, the Five Rivers MetroParks board president, said Hesser was selected after a national search. Because the region's parks are so widely known, Davis said there was a good deal of interest in the position, but they ultimately picked Hesser due to her experience and leadership.
"Her ability to not only manage and work with the budget but also lead workgroups and the cross-functional teams has been stellar," Davis said.
Davis also cited Hesser's knowledge of the levy that provides MetroParks with 80% of its funding, last re-upped in 2018. That levy costs taxpayers about $5 per $100,000 in property value, and brought in about $19.7 million in 2022, according to the Montgomery County Auditor's Office.
Hesser said her priority when she gets into her new position will be working on the strategic plan for the area, which includes equity and inclusion and sustainability goals.
Bill Macek - Having Fun on the Farm as a Volunteer
If you visit the Historic Farm at Carriage Hill MetroPark, chances are you'll meet volunteer Bill Macek. Bill Macek has become an integral part of the Historic Farm team supporting Carriage Hill Farm Chores and Historic Woodworker Demonstrations since beginning his volunteer journey with us in September of 2022.
Bill told us he has been doing woodworking since he was "knee high to a grasshopper", and it was through many visits to the farm as a child that he developed interests in a variety of skilled trades, working with animals, and history. When he moved back to the area in 2022, it was only natural for Bill to reconnect with the farm he grew to love as a child and find ways to support it.
For Bill, volunteering fills a void, but the things that keep him coming back are the feeling of being part of a team and having fun while volunteering with the staff. Bill says " he gets to do things and learn things he always wanted to do." The extra plus, he says, is he is so relaxed when he leaves.
"Bill is a true joy to work with at the Historic Farm. His warm, welcoming personality, his willingness to help where ever needed, and his excitement about learning and sharing his passion are evident when you work with him."- MetroParks Staff
Thank you, Bill, for your outstanding commitment, dedication, and service to Five Rivers MetroParks!
Volunteer Positions & Upcoming Opportunities
We're highlighting some new and upcoming volunteer opportunities below, but remember to check your email for the Get Connected Weekly Digest for those volunteer opportunities that Spring up throughout the month. Not getting a weekly digest email or seeing something that interests you, but have questions?
Contact a Volunteer Coordinator at volunteer.services@metroparks.org or call #937-275-7275 and ask to speak with a volunteer coordinator.
Want to help wherever we need the help most right now?
Ambassador
Ambassadors 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. Are you a people person? Here is a great opportunity to share your enthusiasm for Five Rivers MetroParks, 2nd Street Market, and shopping local!
Ambassador Anthony Starr supporting events at RiverScape MetroPark. Thank you, Anthony!
RiverScape First Friday Concert Ambassador:
The free First Friday Concerts feature a wide variety of regional acts performing live on the main stage under the pavilion at RiverScape MetroPark. Volunteers help enhance the visitor experience by greeting and welcoming park patrons, answering questions, and handing out literature as they stroll around the pavilion. Once the show starts, volunteers are welcome to take a break and enjoy the show. The shift will conclude by collecting and stacking the folding chairs at the end of the evening. View available volunteer opportunities and sign up to volunteer here:
Visitor Center Ambassadors: 
Volunteers will enhance the visitor experience by greeting, welcoming, and interacting with a variety of diverse audiences, and recommending all the best things to see and do while visiting our parks. This volunteer opportunity will be offered at Cox Arboretum Visitor Center on weekdays and on weekends and at the Carriage Hill Visitor Centers on the weekends only, spring through fall. RSVP for an In-Person Visitor Center Ambassador Training by clicking the green button below.
Pictured Right: Visitor Center Ambassador, Ken Evanchuck is ready to assist visitors at Cox Arboretum MetroPark. Thank you, Ken!
"Beautiful, drew a lot of people to the park. A lot of positive interaction and smiles. Good day!"
-Visitor Center Ambassador Volunteer
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.
Bat Box Monitors:
Are you looking for a COOL way to spend your summer evenings? We are looking for several small teams to monitor bat boxes during the summer. Volunteers will watch, count, and identify bats that exit the boxes. The purpose of this project is to determine the species of bat utilizing the box and the approximate size of the roosting populations. By tracking the difference in colony size across the season and across several years, we can start to understand where bats are living and how their populations are changing in our state. View the training and RSVP here:
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.
New gardening volunteer Laxmi Mishra supporting our beautiful gardens at Island MetroPark--Thank you, Laxmi!
Gardening Work Days:
Could gardening actually improve your diet? What are the positive effects of gardening on mental health? Learn more about the holistic benefits gardening can have in this Live Healthy Live Well online article from The Ohio State University Extension, Division of Family and Consumer Sciences. Then, grab your favorite hat and garden gloves and click the blue volunteer button below to see a variety of gardening volunteer opportunities in YOUR MetroParks.
"We love working with Austin! He's personable, knowledgeable, and gives great guidance. This week we also got to work with Justin and that too, was a great experience!"
-Cox Arboretum Gardening Volunteer
Note: these volunteer shifts are WEATHER DEPENDENT. If you have responded to a shift, keep an eye out in your email inbox for a message from your staff lead regarding inclement weather and potential volunteer shift cancellations.
NEW! Garden Ambassador Opportunity:
Are you a self-starter? Looking for a flexible volunteer opportunity? Then look no further. Whether on the weekend or a day during the week, early in the morning, or after work for some exercise, this is the perfect opportunity to give back to your community on your own time! Join us at Cox Arboretum MetroPark on Saturday, May 6 for an informational session on this new garden volunteer opportunity! Click the green button below to RSVP to the Garden Ambassador Information Session:
Group Workdays: Want to bring a group out to help support our beautiful gardens? Group volunteers are critical in helping us maintain our many beautiful gardens. Learn about scheduling a group volunteer workday at one of our garden parks and submit a request here.
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.
University of Dayton volunteers out supporting our parks.
Service Saturdays:
Service Saturdays are BACK! Service Saturdays are scheduled for the third Saturday of each month from 9 am-Noon, kicking off in May and concluding in September. These public volunteer service days are an easy and convenient way for community members to support our mission and make a difference at Five Rivers MetroParks! Join us for a Service Saturday project and help us with some of our high-priority park needs. View available opportunities and sign up to volunteer here:
Hills and Dales Workdays:
Do you like getting your hands dirty, learning new skills, and supporting a variety of parks and conservation efforts? Register to volunteer at the Hills & Dales volunteer workday! The 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 the opportunities available and sign up to support by clicking the blue volunteer button below.
Pictured Right: Volunteers support general maintenance tasks, like mulching, early in the season at Hills and Dales MetroPark.
"I worked with staff and other volunteers in mulching sections at the White Oak Camp."
-Hills and Dales Workday Volunteer
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. 
NEW! MAY THE 4TH BE WITH YOU:
Calling all Rebel Forces...or rather, our Volunteer Forces! This program's activities are Star Wars-based, which will be used to foster a connection with nature for kids who may be new to getting out and exploring nature. Volunteers are needed to assist staff with the following program elements, teaching children about nature and gardening: THE REBEL BASE scavenger hunt in the Children's Vegetable Garden, an ASTEROID HUNT, STORM TROOPER BOWLING, and a JEDI OBSTACLE COURSE! Click the blue volunteer button to sign up for a volunteer shift and May the 4th Be With You:
Program Support Volunteers:
From school field trips to family-friendly programs, volunteers are needed to support our Horticulture Education staff in connecting others to nature through gardening! We currently have opportunities in Garden Education & Exploration programming at Wegerzyn Gardens MetroPark as well as opportunities for volunteers to support school field trips at Wegerzyn Gardens. Program Support Volunteers help with participant check-in, passing out supplies, and engaging participants in a variety of activities during the programs and field trips.
Program Support Volunteers are also needed at Passport to Kindergarten which recognizes teachers, children, and families who have participated in the kindergarten readiness program for the past year. The celebration event will focus on nature through hands-on exploration and activities. There are a variety of different stations that are in need of support. The event will take place on May 11th at Wegerzyn Gardens MetroParks from 5 to 8 pm.
Click the blue volunteer button below to view these great program support opportunities and sign up to volunteer!
Pictured Right: Volunteer Sandra Worley shows this youngster how to plant a seed, one of the activities at Passport to Kindergarten. Thank you, Sandra!
Adventure Central Kitchen Support:
Do you know your way around a kitchen? Support our kitchen staff in preparing, serving, and cleaning up simple meals for the after-school program kids at Adventure Central. Great for student service hours! Learn more about the opportunity and respond by clicking the blue volunteer button below.
Pictured Right: Teen Volunteers support the food program at Adventure Central preparing a full free meal for all after-school program participants.
Historic Interpreters:
Do you like local history? Do you enjoy sharing information or depicting various activities for people to learn? Carriage Hill Metroparks' Historic Farm may be the perfect fit for you! The interpretative purpose of the farm is to use the Arnold Family, who once lived at Carriage Hill Farm, as a guide to how a real conservative farm family in real-time at a real place lived. The individuals who volunteer their time and talents help put excitement and perspective into the activities at the Carriage Hill Historic Farm. The farm is open for the season, and volunteers are needed to bring it to life. Learn more about becoming a Historic Interpreter volunteer and start training by clicking this link, or RSVP for an upcoming in-person Historic Interpreter and House Volunteer Training by clicking the green RSVP button below.
Pictured Right: New volunteer Maddie Mobarry learns some new things to do at the Historic Farm.
"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
Skilled Trades
Five 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.
Volunteer Scott Hinson, Historic Woodworker Demonstrator, works on a simple project demonstrating the 1800s tools and techniques. Thank you, Scott!
Historic Blacksmiths and Historic Woodworkers:
Are you interested in helping us interpret life on the Daniel Arnold Historic Farm? Interested in learning to demonstrate historic blacksmithing or woodworking? We are looking for volunteers to train as Historic Blacksmiths and Historic Woodworkers this season. No previous experience is necessary! Learn more and get started here: Historic Blacksmith Volunteer Training or Historic Woodworker Volunteer Training.
Textile Support:
Training Opportunities using the Treadle Sewing Machines are now being offered monthly at Carriage Hill MetroParks. Volunteers who are interested in supporting the textile programs and building their skill sets on the sewing machine can register for the upcoming sessions. View the schedule and respond to the sessions that fit by clicking the green RSVP button.
Special Events
Volunteers from a variety of volunteer positions support our special events including Park Maintenance, Conservation, Programming, and Ambassadors. In addition to these long-term volunteers, single-day or public volunteers are also recruited to ensure we have enough eyes, ears, and helping hands to make each event safe and friendly for our many visitors.
Volunteers Michael and Karen McCarty along with our newly retired CEO Becky Benna supporting Bike to Work Day as Breakfast Servers--Thank you! Breakfast Servers are needed for this year's event. Learn more and sign up below!
Bike to Work Day:
Celebrate with us at Bike to Work Day and our traditional pancake breakfast! Culinary interest, people skills, love cycling, or just want to be around enthusiastic people early in the morning to have fun? There is an opportunity for you at Bike to Work Day! It will be at RiverScape MetroPark on Friday, May 19th from 7 am - 9 am with all the activities you love including the free pancake breakfast. Volunteers will be needed for set up and tear down, as well as provide breakfast support. Details for Bike To Work Day, and available opportunities, can be found here:
Passport to MetroParks:
Meet new people, assist with event staging and organizing, and be an advocate for our mission! Kick off the event season at this year's Passport to MetroParks, on Friday, May 26 at RiverScape MetroPark! This event aims to build awareness of Five Rivers MetroParks, highlighting our parks and the various events and programs we offer throughout the summer. What a great opportunity for Special Event volunteers to serve a critical role in ensuring events and large-scale programs run smoothly and are needed in a variety of positions including set-up, tear-down, vendor check-in, and in ambassador roles. View available volunteer opportunities and sign up to volunteer here:
Get Connected Tech Tip - Training & Event RSVPs
If you have submitted and RSVP for a Training & Event in Get Connected, you'll know that keeping track of the training you signed up for can be a little tricky. The site will send you email confirmations but it does not track your RSVPs on your Volunteer Schedule. You can; however, view all of your RSVPs for Training & Events from your Volunteer Dashboard. (This is your landing page when you log in to Get Connected.)
If you navigate to your Dashboard you'll see your Total Volunteer Service Hours, Impact Value of Service, Opportunity Responses, and Training & Events:
If you click on Training & Events, you'll be able to view all the Training & Events you have RSVP'd for. From here, you can change your RSVP if needed and even share the Training & Event on social media or copy the link to send to a friend who may be interested:
Want to learn more about Get Connected or about volunteering with us? Join us at an upcoming Volunteer Open House where you can meet members of your Volunteer Services Team, ask questions about the many ways you can make a difference in YOUR MetroParks, and receive one-on-one assistance with Get Connected so you can find the right opportunity for you and start volunteering. View our upcoming Volunteer Open Houses here and submit your RSVP to let us know you'll be dropping by.
Need help with your RSVP? Call #937-275-7275 or email us at volunteer.services@metroparks.org for assistance.
Staff Lead Highlight: Kelly Kingery
Kelly Kingery has been with MetroParks since starting as a horticulture technician at Cox Arboretum. Her background is in habitat and wildlife management, so it wasn't long before she shifted to be part of the conservation team. During her tenure, she realized more could be accomplished by including others and helped organize the habitat healer volunteers to support her and MetroParks. Kelly enjoys many aspects of the outdoors, and when MetroParks expanded to offerings to include what was known then as Five Rivers Outdoors, it was too much to resist. Kelly wore many hats early on but shared she "enjoyed teaching people new skills they could do on their own to connect to nature."
Kelly wanted to make an impact while she was here. When asked about volunteers, she smiles and says "I love them!" As a staff lead for outdoor recreation program opportunities, she says it is important to be organized, be prepared, and communicate with the volunteers before, during, and after the opportunities. Kelly builds a strong following and says it is about building a relationship and getting to know the volunteers. If you have an interest in fishing, Kelly has been working on creating a strong volunteer support team for all the programs being offered. See the opportunities here.
Thank you, Kelly, for being a true supporter of volunteers and volunteerism at MetroParks! Join Kelly and volunteer at one of her upcoming programs. View available volunteer opportunities here.
Interested in Programs and activities happening in MetroParks, then check out the MetroParks' blog! Nature is Open provides articles of interest and can lead to new discoveries. You'll find a list of programs and events for all ages, from children to life-long learners, in addition to MetroParks must-dos, sustainability tips, and information on what's growing in the parks this month by following this link.
Volunteer Services
We are here to support YOU!
Volunteer Services is available if you have questions or need assistance in signing up. RSVP to an upcoming Volunteer Open House to meet with us in person to discuss your volunteer interests and answer all your volunteer questions. View our Volunteer Open House schedule here and RSVP. Or, contact us by email at volunteer.services@metroparks.org or by phone at #937-275-7275.
Your Volunteer Services Team
Candy Holloway - Horticulture & Sustainability #(937) 275-5006
Yvonne Dunphe - Outdoor Connections Programming #(937) 277-4147
Allie Zimmerman - Parks & Conservation #(937) 274-3176
Janelle Leonard - Business Operations & Visitor Services #(937) 277-5445
Jenny Hymans - Human Resources Manager of Volunteer Services #(937) 567-1413
Help us spread the word about volunteering with MetroParks! Print and post a volunteer flyer on the community boards at work, school, or your favorite community spot. Download and print the volunteer flyer here.
