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Volunteer Appreciation: Thanks and Gratitude for Our Special Event Volunteers!

Thanks and Gratitude for Our Volunteers! Spring is a busy season, and in May, we had not one, but two special events: Bike to Work Day and Passport to MetroParks that required a large number of volunteers. Volunteers, long-term and public/single day volunteers, play a vital role in supporting events from set up through tear down including registration, sustainability, program activity areas, and hospitality.

Five Rivers MetroParks Volunteer Newsletter - June 2026

June Featured Volunteer Opportunities & Training: Celebrate Great Outdoors Month with these GREAT Volunteer Opportunities!

Volunteer Spotlight: Twin Valley Trail Volunteers, Stewards of the Trails

Trail volunteer workdays play an important role in the overall stewardship of Twin Valley MetroPark. Through hands-on support, volunteers help keep trails safe, sustainable, and welcoming for everyone.

FEATURE: Find Your Place Outside This June

June has a way of drawing people outdoors. Longer evenings, warmer mornings, and parks full of movement and activity invite us to slow down, explore, and reconnect with the world around us. It feels fitting, then that June is recognized as the Great Outdoors Month, a time to celebrate many ways parks, trails, rivers, and green spaces bring people together. Here at Five Rivers MetroParks, we have a place for you in the outdoors.

Five Rivers MetroParks Volunteer Newsletter - May 2026

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.

May Featured Volunteer Opportunities & Trainings - Bike to Work Day, Passport to MetroParks, the Return of Service Saturdays, and MORE!

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!

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 volunteers wear during their service. This helps staff, other volunteers, and the public recognize you as a volunteer they can approach for assistance. It ensures that they can confidently identify you as a dedicated and reliable member of our team.

Volunteer Spotlight - Special Events at RiverScape MetroPark

"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.

FEATURE: May is Bike Month at MetroParks

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.

Volunteer Appreciation - Thank You from Karen Hesser, CEO

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, and at our programs and events. You make MetroParks possible - thank you for all you do! Enjoy this thank you from Volunteer Services and CEO, Karen Hesser.

Five Rivers MetroParks Volunteer Newsletter - April 2026