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.

Volunteer Services is available if you have questions or need assistance with Get Connected.

Contact us at volunteer.services@metroparks.org or call #937-275-7275 and ask to speak with a Volunteer Coordinator.