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Special thanks to all the volunteers who have joined us in the parks this fall season! We appreciate you!
In this edition of the Volunteer Newsletter:
- Feature: Five Rivers MetroParks has A LOT to be Thankful for!
- Sustainability Tip & November Challenge: Be a little lazy with your landscaping this fall & Stay Active Outdoors
- Volunteer Spotlight: Cox Arboretum Woodworkers & The NEW Nature Play
- Volunteer Positions & Opportunities: Artisan Skills & Heritage Cookery November 4th, plus Holiday Events, Barn Aide Training, Administrative Projects, and more!
- Get Connected Tech Tip: Volunteer Hours
- Staff Highlight: Angela Collie, Program Coordinator at Adventure Central
- Volunteer Appreciation: Volunteers with 25 hours or more invited to join us for a special holiday event- Sunset at the Market!
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Five Rivers MetroParks Has A LOT to be Thankful for!
We have A LOT to be thankful for this November. After a couple of hard years due to the Coronavirus epidemic, we are thrilled to share that volunteer engagement with Five Rivers MetroParks is thriving! To date, 3,562 community members have registered to volunteer with us, 1,403 are brand new volunteers this year. We have offered over 800 high-quality, meaningful volunteer opportunities for a variety of volunteers including: public/single day, short-term, and long-term volunteers as well as youth/students, families, and groups. Together volunteers have already served 22,846 hours! That's an increase of over 4,000 hours from last year's total annual hours! In 2022, volunteers served 18,038 hours.
This year volunteers have helped us complete some impressive projects through their skilled craftsmanship and dedication to quality service like the new Nature Play at Cox Arboretum MetroPark crafted by our Cox Arboretum Woodworking volunteers and featured in this month's Volunteer Spotlight. Volunteers have also helped us host some awesome events, three of which were held this month:
-The Wagner Subaru Outdoor Experience with 358 volunteers serving 936.55 hours,
-Fall Family Adventure with 42 volunteers serving 112.47 hours,
-and Make a Difference Day held this past Saturday with 164 volunteers serving an estimated 490.56 hours.
This is incredible! We are so thankful for each of you, our dedicated MetroParks volunteers! Thank you for getting outside and giving back with us.
As a thank you for your dedicated service with us in 2023, we will be offering volunteer incentives through the end of the year including volunteer t-shirts, hats, and service pins, as well as a brand-new, long-sleeved volunteer shirt! We are also inviting all of our volunteers with 25 or more hours in 2023 to join us for an evening of holiday fun at Sunset at the Market! Look under Volunteer Appreciation in this post for more details!
We are also very thankful for a brand-new grant! Five Rivers MetroParks has been awarded $1,450,450 - that's right, nearly $1.5 MILLION dollars - from the Urban and Community Forestry Program for the Possum Creek MetroPark and Spring Run Conservation Area Forestry Project!
The project includes:
-assessing tree and forest inventories,
-removing invasive plant species,
-protecting ash trees against non-native insect pests,
-purchasing new small tools and equipment,
-conducting wildlife surveys, and
-planting native trees and shrubs to expand the urban canopy.
Read more about this grant here.
Volunteer support will be needed to support these efforts over the next 5 years. We hope you will join us in support of this project in the years ahead as we continue to protect our region's natural heritage! Look for volunteer opportunities beginning in 2024 and sign up to lend a hand and make a big impact!
Looking for other ways to support Five Rivers MetroParks? Consider a donation to the Five Rivers MetroParks Foundation. You can make a one time or recurring donation to support our parks, programs, events, and conservation efforts. Every amount helps and every donation is tax-deductible. Learn more about supporting Five Rivers MetroParks with a financial gift here.
Did you know that your recorded volunteer hours helped us apply for this grant as well as many others? Grants like this one require detailed reporting of volunteer service in the grant application process. Thanks to Get Connected, we were able to provide very accurate details on volunteer service for this grant. Help us and extend your service by ensuring that every time you volunteer, you are documenting your volunteer hours in Get Connected! Need help? Check out this month's Get Connected Tech Tip to learn more about documenting hours and give us a call for additional assistance.
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Sustainability Tip: Be a little lazy with your landscaping this fall
Put down that rake and take a hike instead! Our conservation team reminds you it's okay to be a little lazy with your landscape. Leaving leaves, sticks, clippings and more natural yard materials provides homes for wildlife and helps create a healthy ecosystem in your yard. Learn more by reading this month's blog.
November Challenge: Stay active outdoors as it cools down
Your inclination might be to stay inside as the temps become frosty, but spending time outdoors year-round is critical for your mental and physical health.
As temperatures continue to drop, layer up and spend time outdoors doing your favorite activities. Even if you can't be outside for as long, you will still get some much-needed vitamin D, fresh air and exercise. Learn more about cold weather activities in MetroParks.
When volunteering, don't forget to check the weather and plan ahead: dress in layers to stay warm, check your email the morning of your scheduled volunteer shift for updates including weather-related cancellations, and, if you need to cancel a scheduled volunteer shift, please unregister for the shift in Get Connected.
Note: Park restrooms with running water and water fountains will be winterized and closed beginning November 1st to protect them during the winter season. Park winter hours also begin on November 1st with most parks open from 8am-8pm. Please remember to check www.metroparks.org/alerts for the latest information on park delays and closures.
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Cox Arboretum Woodworkers - Connecting Kids to Nature through NEW Nature Play
For more than 20 years, woodworking volunteers at Cox Arboretum MetroPark have used their skills to support the work of MetroParks staff. Building anything from bat boxes to benches, these volunteers meet once a week to work on projects, learn from each other and build camaraderie. Now, this team of woodworkers - led by MetroParks park technician Uriah Langmeyer - completed their largest project to date: portions of the nature play at Cox Arboretum MetroPark.
Cox Arboretum MetroPark's nature play opened in fall 2023. The woodworking volunteers constructed two bridges, a sloped climbing wall and the pergola - resulting in considerable time and cost savings. The group spent 850 hours completing these structures, which would have otherwise been built - and billed - by contractors.
Langmeyer is especially proud of MetroParks' staff and the volunteers' accomplishments. Staff spent nearly 3,000 hours on the project, much of it working side-by-side with volunteers. "Teamwork makes the dream work," said Langmeyer, who values the woodworking team's collective learning experiences and process more than simply completing a project. "We're all learning together," he said. "Each person gets the chance to participate in everything that's going on. We problem solve together."
With great challenges come great rewards: The woodworking volunteers and MetroParks staff are thrilled to see the community's reception to the project. "It's a wonderfully unique experience to be able to build a playground," Langmeyer said, "then get to watch kids of all ages enjoy it every day you go to work."
The Nature play features structures created from natural materials that encourage kids to explore nature and connect to the natural world. John Kennedy elementary was the first school group to enjoy this new feature just as it was opening to the public. The students were excited by the new feature, and one was having so much fun, she shared with her teacher that "this is so much better than the playgrounds at school."
Thank you to our Cox Arboretum Woodworkers for your outstanding commitment, dedication, and service to Five Rivers MetroParks:
Gilbert Aguilar, John Baldwin, Frank Beitel, Peter Bertolini, Dori Dick, Gary Drake, Don Erwine, Terry Kutter, Brian McNicholl, Rex Miller, John Szelog, Larry Turner, Jim Wafzig, and Paul Westhafer!
Read the full article here. Look for this feature in the next issue of Parkways!
Learn more about Skilled Trades volunteer opportunities like this one here.
Meet more amazing Metroparks' volunteers in our monthly Volunteer Spotlights here.
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Volunteer Positions & Upcoming Opportunities
See how you can support your Five Rivers MetroParks this season. View our upcoming volunteer opportunities below. Don't forget to FAN the Volunteer Positions you support. When you FAN a volunteer position you receive a weekly digest email for that position that includes new volunteer opportunities. It also lets your Volunteer Services team know that you are interested in that position and its opportunities.
See something that interests you, but have questions? Contact a Volunteer Coordinator at volunteer.services@metroparks.org or call #937-275-7275.
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Volunteers Carol Williamson and Michael McCarty support administrative projects at our Main Office--Thank you!
NEW! Project-Based Administrative Volunteers:
Detail-oriented individuals will put their computer skills to good use by supporting staff in short-term administrative projects. Common tasks may include data entry, document creation, graphic design, writing or editing, photo or video editing, or compiling internet research. On-site or virtual opportunities may arise.
Submit your Computer Skills Assessment now to be added to our pool of Administrative volunteer!. As future project requests arise, these volunteers will be invited to join administrative projects that match their skill set.
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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!
Market Ambassador Volunteer Joe Untener shares his love of the 2nd Street Market with visitors. Thank you, Joe!
Market Ambassador:
Support the 2nd Street Market this Season! Join us in the vibrant, bubbling atmosphere of the 2nd Street Market, where you'll always run into a familiar face! Volunteers will be stationed near the entrance and will greet visitors, conduct sales of MetroParks merchandise, provide wayfinding assistance, and promote the MetroParks by passing out literature. Learn more and sign up by clicking the blue volunteer button below.
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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.
Barn Aide Volunteer Casey Bower opening the gate at the Carriage Hill Riding Center. Thank you, Casey for caring for these animals!
NEW! Carriage Hill Riding Center Barn Aides:
Calling all Horse Lovers! Fall Onboarding for new Carriage Hill Riding Center Volunteers! Do you love being around horses? Don't mind getting your hands a bit dirty? Consider joining our team of Carriage Hill Riding Center Volunteers! Barn Aide Volunteers assist with essential daily tasks of our equestrian facility such as cleaning stalls, turning horses out to pasture, and providing them with fresh food and water. All new Riding Center volunteers begin as Barn Aide, and then can complete additional training to assist with Pony Rides, Lessons, Camps, and Trail Rides.
Note: This opportunity is open to volunteers ages 14 or older. All volunteers at the Carriage Hill Riding Center begin as Barn Aides. Click the blue volunteer button to learn more about this opportunity and respond to begin the easy online training.
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Wegerzyn Gardening Angels:
Did you know Wegerzyn Gardens MetroPark celebrated its 50th anniversary on Tuesday, October 31st? Read the article "Love Letter to Wegerzyn" celebrating the 50th year anniversary published on Dayton.com here and learn more about how you can enjoy and support this beautiful garden park year-round.
Interested in joining our Wegerzyn Gardening Angels as a volunteer? View available volunteer opportunities and lend your helping hands to maintain these gardens on a regular basis by clicking the blue VOLUNTEER button below.
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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.
Make A Difference Day volunteers tackle invasive species along the trails at Possum Creek MetroPark--thank you!
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 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. Click the links below or the blue VOLUNTEER button to learn more about these opportunities and sign up.
-Possum Creek Trail Maintenance
-MoMBA Trail Maintenance
Market Custodial Support:
Calling all "neat freaks"! Our 2nd Street Market is looking for WEEKEND custodial support - Not only will you get to flex your cleaning muscles, but you'll get to meet and interact with some amazing people from your community. The 2nd Street Market supports small, local entrepreneurs with a strong emphasis on food, agriculture, gardening, and home decor in an atmosphere that provides a comfortable and inviting gathering place for the diverse population of the greater Dayton area.
So if you're ready to have some fun and donate a couple of hours to support in keeping this wonderful community space sparkling clean for the public to connect and gather, click the blue VOLUNTEER button below to view the opportunities available and sign up to support!
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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.
Bobbi Beyer, Historic Interpreter Volunteer, demonstrates use of the outdoor oven while interpreting the history of Carriage Hill MetroPark's historic farm. Thank you, Bobbi!
Historic Interpreter:
Historic Interpreter volunteers bring history to life, engage guests in simple activities, and demonstrate some skills important in 1800's and today.Carriage Hill MetroPark is looking for volunteer to serve as Historic Interpreters to help bring the historic farm to life year-round. No previous experience or training is required. All you need is a love of history and a willingness to share it with others. We'll train you on the rest! Learn more and sign up to get started by clicking the blue VOLUNTEER button below.
NEW! Not sure if this opportunity is right for you, but interested in learning more?
Join us at a new program on the farm-Artisan Skills and Heritage Cookery, Saturday, November 4th at Carriage Hill MetroPark. Our Historic Interpreter volunteers and staff will be offering a variety of demonstrations giving you the chance to see them in action and learn more to see if you might like to join the interpretive team. Mark your calendars and plan to join us on the farm! You can learn more about this exciting new program here.
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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.
Textile and Fiber Arts:
Did you know skills like sewing, crocheting, knitting, and weaving are highly valued and in need? We are excited to start offering more opportunities for volunteers to share these valuable skills in support of MetroParks. Currently, we are looking for volunteers with sewing skills to support opportunities at Carriage Hill MetroPark and Possum Creek MetroPark. Some of these opportunities are behind the scenes, some are in program support, and some are at Carriage Hill Historic Farm as part of the Historic Interpreter opportunities. Learn more and sign up by clicking the blue VOLUNTEER button below.
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Event volunteers ensure that a positive, high-energy, outdoor enthusiasm tone starts at the welcome, and the event appears seamless and effortless for all who participate.
NEW! Artisan Skills and Heritage Cooking:
Have you ever wanted to learn a 19th-century skill? Join us at the historic farm at Carriage Hill MetroParks, Saturday, November 4th from 10am-3pm for the first Artisan Skills and Heritage Cookery Day! Staff and volunteers will demonstrate a variety of artisan skills and heritage cookery and you'll be able to join in the fun while learning more about how volunteers just like you can support the many exciting volunteer opportunities available on the historic farm year-round! Lend a hand and learn about historic cooking and baking. Watch a broom being made. Try some hand sewing or knitting. Watch demonstrations in the historic blacksmith and wood shops, and more!
Learn more about attending this year's event as a participant here or view available volunteer opportunities to support the event and sign up to volunteer by clicking the blue volunteer button below. Opportunities are available for program support, historic interpreters, and skilled trades volunteers. This is a great opportunity for new volunteers to complete the virtual training and shadow a qualified volunteer!
Aullwood Winter Luminary Walk:
Join us fort this year's Aullwood Winter Luminary Walk Saturday, December 2nd from 5-7pm at Aullwood Garden MetroPark! This treasured holiday tradition will be back to help our community kick off the holiday season and volunteers will be needed to help prepare the gardens for the event, decorate the house, set up the luminaries, serve refreshments, and more. Volunteer opportunities are available for youth ages 14 and up, adult volunteers, and groups before, during, and after the event. View the available volunteer opportunities and sign up by clicking the blue VOLUNTEER button below.
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Get Connected Tech Tip: Volunteer Hours
Volunteer hours are still an important part of showing impact which helps us apply for a variety of grants, and helps you earn rewards from our Volunteer Incentive Program (VIP). Hours are tabulated easily with Get Connected when you check in to your scheduled opportunity shifts. We have all had those times when we were in a rush and forgot.
A question we get asked many times is "How can we add in hours after the scheduled opportunity?" We have helpful videos in our training library to help with questions just like this. These videos are another way to help you discover more ways to use Get Connected. Use this link and see how easy it is to add your hours! Check out more videos like this one on our Get Connected Site Training page for volunteers here. Or check out our other Get Connected Tech Tips in the Volunteer Blog.
As the year is coming to a close, please take some time to review your volunteer hours in your Get Connected account. If you have questions about your volunteer hours, reach out to your Volunteer Services team for assistance at volunteer.services@metroparks.org or call #937-275-7275 an ask to speak with a Volunteer Coordinator.
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Staff Highlight: Angela Collie
Program Coordinator, Adventure Central
Staff Highlights are a great way for volunteers to get to know our staff and for staff to share their work with volunteers.
Adventure Central with its dedicated team of paid employees and volunteers has been transforming lives in the West Dayton area since 2000. This free after school and summer day camp program is the result of a partnership between Five Rivers MetroParks and The Ohio State University Extension developed by MetroParks' former Executive Director Marvin Olinsky. The goal was and continues to be positive youth development through connecting youth to nature. The center is located in beautiful Wesleyan MetroPark where the youth are invited to explore the parks many trails, playground, and Wolf Creek, as well as the center's established fish pond, nature play, and kickball field. Even with all these amenities, it's the staff that make the difference with youth in this program.
One of the brightest lights of the last 12 years at Adventure Central has been Angela Collie, affectionately known by the youth as Ms. Peaches. Ms. Peaches started her journey at Adventure Central as an Americorps Volunteer and when her service term ended, could not imagine leaving Adventure Central. As the kids often sing "AC is the place to be", and Ms. Peaches couldn't imagine being anywhere else. As luck would have it, a permanent position opened on the team, and she has been leading programming ever since, bringing smiles, joy, and laughter to learning in and through nature.
When asked why she enjoys her position and what she finds most rewarding, she says "Working with Five Rivers MetroParks has given me the opportunity to give back to my community by helping to create a safe space for kids and their families to learn, discover and explore nature at its finest."
From an early age, she says she was taught this quote by Shirley Chisholm: "Service is the rent you pay for the privilege of living on this earth." She still holds this dear today and believes her career choices reflect it with positions that are focused on service and are volunteer-driven.
As a staff lead at Adventure Central, Angela strives to provide the volunteers with a good volunteer experience. She says volunteers are an essential part of the program, and they support the team in being able to provide high-quality programs or meals to the large number of participants they serve. "It is very important that our volunteers feel valued and appreciated for their time as well as the much needed 'sweat equity' they provide."
Thank you, Angela, for all you do for the youth of Adventure Central and Five Rivers MetroParks!
Learn more about Adventure Central from Angela Collie here.
Join Ms. Peaches and the rest of the Adventure Central staff at an upcoming program assistant volunteer opportunity here!
Consider Notre Dame Mission Americorps service at Adventure Central. Learn more here.
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Volunteer Appreciation
Thank you for joining us this year to make a difference for your MetroParks through volunteer service! As I'm sure you've learned by now and even experienced, we certainly could not do what we do without YOU! To thank you and celebrate your service, we will be offering our volunteer incentive and appreciation items again this year including our service milestone pins for those with 25, 50, 75, 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900, and 1000 volunteer hours with us, and volunteer apparel for those active volunteers with 25 or more hours:
-Volunteer T-Shirt (Short-Sleeved)-25 hours
-Volunteer Hat (Knit or Baseball)- 50 hours
-NEW! Volunteer Long-Sleeved Shirt- 75 hours
Note: Volunteers with 50 or more hours may choose a short-sleeved t-shirt and a hat. Volunteers with 75 hours or more may choose a long-sleeved or short-sleeved t-shirt and a hat.
Additionally, we are inviting volunteers with 25 hours of volunteer service or more to join us for Sunset at the Market on Thursday evening, December 7th from 5:30pm-8:30pm at the 2nd Street Market. The Market in collaboration with the Arcade Holly Days, and Dayton RTA will be hosting a special downtown Dayton evening of Holiday shopping and entertainment. Roaming Carolers, Artisan, specialty and prepared food will be in attendance. A RTA shuttle bus service will be making stops at both locations as well as the Oregon District Parking Garage between 5:30 PM - 9:00 PM. Shop both locations this evening for a chance to win an festive artisan vendor Holiday basket!
Qualifying volunteers will receive $20 in Market Money to spend at the 2nd Street Market, as well as any volunteer incentive and appreciation items they have earned for 2023 volunteer service.
Learn more and RSVP to attend this special event here.
Note: This is a public event, and everyone is welcome to attend. This RSVP is specifically for the volunteer appreciation part of the evening including Market Money and volunteer incentive and appreciation items.
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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).
Your Volunteer Services Team
Yvonne Dunphe - Outdoor Connections Programming #(937) 277-4147
Allie Zimmerman - Parks & Conservation #(937) 274-3176
Janelle Leonard - Business Operations & Visitor Services #(937) 277-5445
Amanda Wheatley - New Volunteer Coordinator #(937) 277-4109
Jenny Hymans - Human Resources Manager of Volunteer Services #(937) 567-1413
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