Five Rivers MetroParks Volunteer Newsletter - May 2026

Inside this edition of the Volunteer Newsletter: 

FEATURE

May is Bike Month at MetroParks

VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT

Special Events Volunteers at RiverScape MetroPark

MAY FEATURED VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES & TRAINING

Bike to Work Day, Passport to MetroParks, the Return of Service Saturdays, and MORE!

GET CONNECTED TECH TIP

Add Your Volunteer Profile Photo & Request a Volunteer Name Badge

VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION

Thank You from Karen Hesser, CEO

Parkways Online Featured Articles

May is Bike Month at MetroParks

With the return of warm weather and longer days, your calendar is likely already filling up with graduation parties, outdoor picnics, festivals and family gatherings. But these temperate days are also ideal for considering alternative ways to get from here to there!

May is National Bike Month and it's a great time to explore all the wonderful benefits of bike riding. From boosting your mood and focus, to building confidence and helping you to manage stress, research shows that cycling can support your mental well-being. Regardless if you are new to biking or already a pro, you will find lots of ways to participate in this month-long celebration at Five Rivers MetroParks. 

Whether you are interested in biking as an individual, with a friend or larger group, our website has some wonderful tips and tricks to get started. With over 350 miles of free-to-enter, paved and multi-use recreational trails in the Miami Valley region, access to safe bikeways is easy!

Ready to try a new adventure? Come to MoMBA and experience mountain biking for free on May 5th. Thinking about making your commute on a bike? Join us on May 11th at Cox Arboretum to learn the basics of how to choose the right bike, equipment and route! Wish you could help keep the trails in great shape? Check out this great ongoing volunteer opportunity at MoMBA and connect with fellow enthusiasts! Or you can go the extra mile and become part of our MetroParks Volunteer Patrol (MVPs)!

The month's festivities continue at Five Rivers MetroParks with Bike to Work Day on May 15th from 7am-9am. You can join fellow cyclists for the annual celebration at RiverScape. This free event includes live music, cycling related exhibitors, a fun photo booth, along with pancakes, coffee, juice and fruit. Register as part of a team or as an individual rider and be entered to win prizes in the raffle. Volunteers can get in on the action by signing up to catch pancakes, serve breakfast, assist with bike parking, and more for this fun community event!

Whatever your interest, knowledge or ability, there are plenty of ways to get involved! You can explore all of our available volunteer opportunities on Get Connected, check out our featured high-need opportunities or make plans to join us at Bike to Work Day.

Looking to volunteer as a group? Families, friends, neighbors, and coworkers are always welcome. You can submit a Group Volunteer Request to find an opportunity that fits your crew and your schedule. 

Not quite ready to sign up, but looking for inspiration?

Check out this Five Rivers MetroParks' article for ideas on spending time together outdoors while enjoying all our parks have to offer. We also invite you to join us at our upcoming Volunteer Open House at the Twin Valley Welcome Center on May 20th where you can meet your Volunteer Services team and get one-on-one support from a Volunteer Coordinator!

However you choose to get involved, whether on wheels or on foot, thank you for giving back!

Volunteer Spotlight - Special Events at RiverScape MetroPark

By Rachel Baney, RiverScape Program Coordinator & Staff Lead

"Volunteers are the breath of fresh air. In the event world at RiverScape MetroPark, by the time we get to the event itself, I can feel overwhelmed with managing logistics, materials, performers, promotion, etc. And then...the volunteer arrives. Suddenly, there's new energy.  A smiling face that's eager to help, and the load feels lighter. Sometimes the load is quite literally lighter! Their supportive presence is always such a positive boost that helps us keep going when we are in the thick of it; that helps us produce a great event or program for our community. 

Beyond their willingness to help wherever it is needed as we prep for an event, watching them interact with the public during is amazing. They share their expertise and passion for specific parks and activities, which ultimately helps people connect even better to the MetroParks.

It's an honor to get to know these people and understand their love for the MetroParks and their community, to understand why they chose even RiverScape and us specifically. Whether they are hopping around town putting up posters, setting up at Passport to MetroParks, serving in festival hospitality, pouring beer at an event, or passing out ice skates in the winter, I have immense gratitude for all they do."

You can support Rachel and her team at Passport to MetroParks happening later this month. Then, check out these seasonal opportunities at RiverScape MetroPark: RiverScape Summer Music Series Ambassador and Beer & Wine Sales Support. Also, this month and at RiverScape MetroPark, check out our Bike to Workday Pancake Breakfast. Come on out and enjoy the festive atmosphere of RiverScape MetroParks, Dayton's front porch, while giving back. 

Read more great stories like this one about the incredible work volunteers at RiverScape MetroPark do, along with those across our agency in this year's Volunteer Impact Report.

Thank you Special Events Volunteers! 

May Featured Volunteer Opportunities and Trainings

Check out our featured volunteer opportunities this month, including Bike to Work Day, Passport to MetroParks, and the return of Service Saturdays! Click the blue VOLUNTEER button to learn more and RESPOND to get outside, enjoy some sunshine and fresh air while lending a hand to the parks that you love. 

View all of our volunteer opportunities on Get Connected. 

Need help signing up? 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!

Make It a Habit: Service Saturdays Are Back!
Looking for an easy way to give back, get outside, and be part of something bigger? Service Saturdays are back, and they're one of the simplest ways to jump in and make a difference. 

Join us every third Saturday from May through September for hands-on volunteer projects across our parks including our gardens. No onboarding, no long-term commitment, no pressure. Just sign up, show up, and get to work alongside staff and fellow volunteers.

Here's what you can expect:
-Projects that make a real difference for our parks and community
-Friendly staff on-site to guide the work (and bring the tools)
-A welcoming, low-pressure way to try something new
-A good reason to spend your morning outside

Come on your own, bring a friend, or make it a group outing. Whether you're planning to join us once or turn it into your new monthly rhythm, there's a spot for you.

Take a look at upcoming projects and grab your spot. Some fill quickly, especially those that work well for groups. Explore all available projects and sign up today by clicking the blue VOLUNTEER button below. 

Program Support at Wegerzyn Gardens MetroPark:

Join Five Rivers MetroParks horticulture education team and support family programming throughout the year and help connect visitors of all ages to the natural world through gardening and meaningful exploration of the outdoors! Program Support volunteers assist with activities such as helping program participants explore different habitats, search for bugs, take brief hikes, create natural art, and will encourage sensory exploration in the different garden spaces. A volunteer favorite is to support enchanting storytime experiences in the garden.

Program Support volunteers do not need to be experts in the activities but should be enthusiastic about finding discoveries in the garden and enjoy working with children and families. Some gardening knowledge is a definite plus! Learn more and sign up by clicking the blue VOLUNTEER button below.


Love the gardens and sharing them with others? Consider becoming a Garden Guide. Click the link to learn more!

Program Support: Trail Surveys:
Volunteers are needed to assist our staff with the 2026 Miami Valley Trail Users Survey. This survey is vital in helping us hear from our community of trail issues to better understand the value of our trails and help us prioritize our efforts in the coming years. Volunteers will be stations at key locations along the trail - Riverfront Park in Miamisburg, RiverScape MetroPark, Eastwood MetroPark, and Taylorsville MetroPark - to engage trail users in conversation and encourage them to take just a few minutes to complete this year's survey. Learn more and sign up by clicking the blue VOLUNTEER button below.

2026 Safety Boater Training and Check Off
Volunteers are needed to support the Outdoor Recreation team at our paddlesport programs in and out of the water this season! Volunteers who qualify as a Safety Boater play a key role in our Try Paddlesports and Flat-Water Float programs including Try Paddlesports at The Wagner Subaru Outdoor Experience. These key volunteers serve as an extra set of eyes on the water ensuring the safety and well-being of all participants.

Safety Boaters must complete this required annual in-person training and demonstrate these important paddling safety skills in order to check off and serve as a safety boater with us this year. Learn more and RSVP YES to attend this training by clicking the green RSVP button below.

Passport to MetroParks:

We're inviting the community to kick off the season with us at Passport to MetroParks, Friday, May 29th at RiverScape MetroPark! This event introduces our community to all the wonderful parks, programs, and events the MetroParks provides in a fun, family-friendly atmosphere with food, music, educational booths and activities. 

A variety of volunteers are needed to help us make this event a success:

Sustainability Team

Program Support

Floating Event Ambassadors

Event Tear Down

Learn more about this year's opportunities and respond by clicking the blue VOLUNTEER button below. 

Bike to Work Day:

Ready for flying pancakes? Join us at this year's Bike to Work Day! Five Rivers MetroParks celebrates National Bike Month with our annual Bike to Work Day Pancake Breakfast on Friday, May 15th from 7am-9am at RiverScape MetroPark. This event features live music, a fun photo booth, an expo of cycling-related businesses and clubs, and, of course, a FREE pancake breakfast.

Whether you're a seasoned cycling commuter, a first-time bike rider, or are just willing to lend a helping hand, join us at RiverScape to share the culture and the fun of biking to work as a Bike to Work Day volunteer! Learn more about this year's opportunities and respond by clicking the blue VOLUNTEER button below.

Get Connected Tech Tip: Add Your Profile Photo & Request a Volunteer Name Badge

Volunteer profile photos are visible to Five Rivers MetroParks staff within Get Connected and may also be visible to the public on our volunteer impact pages. More importantly, profile photos are printed on the official name badges that fully onboarded short-term and long-term volunteers wear during their service. Fully onboarded means that the volunteer has completed a Volunteer Profile, signed our Volunteer Handbook, and, for those 18 and up, completed a background check.

Volunteer name badges help staff, other volunteers, and the public recognize you as a volunteer they can approach for assistance. Having an official volunteer name badge signals that you are a dedicated and reliable member of our team and a resource for support.

If you do not currently have a profile photo added to your Get Connected volunteer account, here's how you can do it easily:

1. Log in to your Get Connected account. 

2. Click the User Menu drop-down in the top right corner of your screen next to your initials and select "Edit Profile".

3. Click the blue "Upload My Account" button and select a clear and clean headshot from your photo files.

4. When directed to confirm your account click the blue "Continue with your Email Address" button.

5. Click the camera icon next to your name and email address.

6. Select "Click to Add" and select a clear and clean headshot from your photo files to serve as your volunteer profile photo. Center it in the frame.

That's it! You've successfully uploaded your volunteer profile photo! You should now see your profile photo in the top right-hand corner of your screen next to your User Menu where your initials used to be. In that User Menu you can select, "View Profile" to view this change and any others you have made to your account. 

Now that you've added your profile photo successfully, you may want to go ahead and request a new volunteer name badge. You can do that easily in our VIP Item Request Form. Question #3 in this form will ask you if you'd like to request a new volunteer name badge. Simply select yes, and identify where you would like to pick up your new volunteer name badge once it is ready.

While you're in the VIP Item Request Form, you may also want to select some new volunteer apparel or an updated milestone service pin. You can do it all easily in this one form! Did you know that Five Rivers MetroParks has a volunteer incentive program designed to recognize, appreciate, and encourage ongoing volunteer efforts? Active volunteers who serve 25 hours or more can qualify for volunteer apparel, milestone service pins, volunteer discounts, and more each year. We encourage volunteers to wear their volunteer apparel with pride each time they volunteer with us.

Learn more about the volunteer incentive program, and start requesting your VIP Items including your volunteer name badge here.

If you need any assistance, please do not hesitate to reach out to us - We're here to help you! We'll even take your volunteer profile photo for you and help you upload it at an upcoming Volunteer Open House. View the schedule and RSVP to meet with us in-person here.

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

From Left to Right: Yvonne, Allie, Jenny, and introducing our newest Volunteer Coordinator - Cara! 

Volunteer Appreciation

At MetroParks, we heart our volunteers! This month and every month we look for ways to show heartfelt appreciation to our most dedicated supporters - those that readily lend a hand in the gardens, on the trails, at our visitor centers, at our programs and events, and so much more. You make MetroParks possible - thank you for all you do! Enjoy this thank you from Volunteer Services and CEO, Karen Hesser.

Then, be sure to take a look at this year's Volunteer Impact Report - this is so much more than a report, rather it is more of a yearbook of service dedicated to those that give so much to our parks. You'll find great volunteer photos, stories, and highlights of impact from across our agency along with a very sincere thank you for your service. 

Volunteer Thank You cards are on their way to addresses all over the Miami Valley, many of which include volunteer discount cards - valid for 2026 for 15%, 30% or even 50% off MetroParks programs and routine rentals. Look for yours in your mailbox soon!

The sun is finally out, and the temperatures are warming up, don't forget to request your NEW VIP Naturalist hat to protect you out on the trails and in the gardens this season. Click here to request your volunteer apparel.

Thank you for volunteering with MetroParks!

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.