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Colleen Girard, who started volunteering in 2023, has already given over 150 hours of service to Five Rivers MetroParks. She said she participated in the MetroParks Trails Challenge (now
4th year), and once she retired, she wanted to continue her outdoor activities and meet new people while giving back to the community. Colleen came to an open house to learn about the different ways she could volunteer and wanted to explore many different opportunities. She decided to start as a Visitor Center Ambassador at Cox Arboretum. She enjoys sharing with people all the interesting things they can see and do at Cox Arboretum, including which trails are the shadiest in the summer. When we asked her if Cox was her favorite park, she said she had many parks she enjoyed and highlighted the interesting things about each - a definite trait of a true MetroParks Ambassador!
Her interest in hiking, talking with people, and being outside made the Hike with Older Adults Program Support opportunity an obvious choice as she branched out her volunteer efforts. She said there are lots of opportunities in the community to volunteer, but what she enjoys about MetroParks is "there are so many choices, you can choose ones that interest you, you can pick things that fit into your schedule, and you can do something different each time you volunteer." She says there is something for everyone! She has supported many of our events, helped with several of the school field trips, and has even come inside to help with our administrative needs. Staff leads that have worked with Colleen have all said, "Her quiet enthusiasm and excitement about MetroParks is contagious."
Although she continues to explore new opportunities as they are posted, she says we'll continue to find her on the trails supporting the outdoor recreation team or at Cox Arboretum helping visitors discover all that is new, fun, and unique about that park like the brand-new nature play feature. Colleen plans to spend some time enjoying this fun new feature, built by our very own Cox Woodworking volunteers, with her sons who happen to be engineers and her grandkids.
Thank you, Colleen, for your outstanding commitment, dedication, and service to Five Rivers MetroParks!
Interested in volunteering to support MetroParks in our High Need Areas? Click here to find where volunteers are needed most.
Meet more amazing Metroparks' volunteers in our monthly Volunteer Spotlights here.
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.
Return to the Volunteer Blog here.
