Blog | Five Rivers MetroParks

Five Rivers MetroParks Volunteer Newsletter - June 2024

May 30, 2024 by Volunteer Services

June is National Great Outdoors Month and June 1st is National Trails Day - Celebrate with us outside on the region's best trails! In this edition of the Volunteer Newsletter: FEATURE Volunteer Updates - Kiosks coming to Carriage Hill, New Staff Lead Bingo, and more! VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT Frank Beitel - Exploring Our Trails and Our History JUNE VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES Heirloom Gardening, Mud Day, and Service Saturday opportunities to support our gardens and our trails! GET CONNECTED TECH TIP Engage MORE with Volunteer Training! SUSTAINABILITY TIP Leave No Trace and join our volunteers in protecting nature! STAFF HIGHLIGHT Meet the FRMP Trail Team VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION Are you using your volunteer discount?

Five Rivers MetroParks Volunteer Newsletter - May 2024

May 1, 2024 by Volunteer Services

Inside this edition of your Volunteer Newsletter: FEATURE Volunteer Updates - What's NEW in Volunteerism this Month VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT Colleen Girard - Trail Enthusiast and Park Ambassador MAY VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES Service Saturdays Return! Native Planting, Gardening, plus a host of programs and events that need YOUR support! SUSTAINABILITY TIP Sustainable parks and homes GET CONNECTED TECH TIP FAQS - Your Frequently Asked Questions, Answered! STAFF HIGHLIGHT Elisabeth Bacon, Horticulture Technician at Wegerzyn Gardens MetroPark VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION Adopt-A-Park was a Success! Thank you!

Feature: Volunteer Updates - What's New in Volunteerism this Month!

Apr 30, 2024 by Volunteer Services

New Volunteer Orientation and Volunteer Handbook, New Get Connected Kiosks coming to Carriage Hill MetroPark, New Volunteer Discounts and more!

Volunteer Spotlight: Colleen Girard - Trail Enthusiast and Park Ambassador

Apr 30, 2024 by Volunteer Services

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.

May Volunteer Opportunities: Service Saturdays Return! Native Planting, Gardening, plus a host of programs and events that need YOUR support!

Apr 30, 2024 by Volunteer Services

There are so many ways for you to get outside and support your MetroParks this month as a volunteer including Service Saturdays, our public volunteer days, Native Planting, Gardening, a host of programs and several events. Check them out below and on Get Connected!

Sustainability Tip: Sustainable Parks and Homes

Apr 30, 2024 by Volunteer Services

All of us are stewards of the natural heritage of our MetroParks. As a volunteer, you already are helping us in protecting that heritage, and supporting the opportunity for others to enjoy our parks and participate in our programs. Sustainability goes beyond just recycling and can be done in the parks, in your home, and by being an ambassador of good information to others. Here are a few key points for what can be done in the parks:

Get Connected Tech Tip: FAQs

Apr 30, 2024 by Volunteer Services

Your most frequently asked questions, answered by your Volunteer Services Team, is available on Get Connected! Here are just a few examples:

Staff Lead Highlight: Elisabeth Bacon, Horticulture Technician at Wegerzyn Gardens MetroPark

Apr 30, 2024 by Volunteer Services

Elisabeth Bacon has been working with Five Rivers MetroParks for three years as a Horticulture Technician at Wegerzyn Gardens MetroPark Her primary responsibility is to maintain visually appealing displays, gardens, and landscapes within the park

Volunteer Appreciation: Adopt-A-Park was a Success - Thank YOU!

Apr 30, 2024 by Volunteer Services

287 volunteers joined us in person for this year's Adopt-A-Park! Volunteers helped us with a variety of high-impact projects that made a difference in our parks including native tree, shrub, and flower plantings, mulching, trail maintenance, invasive species removal, fence repair, and more! In addition to these in-person projects, volunteers also supported litter pick up with our Adopt-A-Park Service Kits picking up litter in our parks, along our trails and waterways, and in their community greenspaces.

Five Rivers MetroParks Volunteer Newsletter - April 2024

Apr 1, 2024 by Volunteer Services

There's nothing quite like Aullwood Garden MetroPark in the Spring! Enjoy the early Spring blooms while helping out in the gardens with these great volunteer opportunities. Inside this edition of your Volunteer Newsletter: FEATURE Volunteer Updates - What's NEW in Volunteerism this Month VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT Ed Stevenson - A Heart for Service APRIL VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES Spring is here! Join us outside in the parks for one of our most beautiful seasons! GET CONNECTED TECH TIP Responding as a TEAM STAFF HIGHLIGHT Elizabeth Landford, Horticulturalist - Aullwood Garden MetroPark VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION Happy National Volunteer Month! Introducing a brand-new volunteer incentive!

Volunteer Appreciation: Its National Volunteer Month! We're launching a new discount program exclusively to volunteers!

Mar 31, 2024 by Volunteer Services

NEW! This year, as a thank you for ongoing volunteer service this year, we are expanding our VIP, Volunteer Incentive Program to include volunteer discounts! Volunteers serving 25 or more hours this year will qualify for discounts towards MetroParks programs and routine rentals including shelters and campsites up to $250 in 2025.

Staff Lead Highlight: Elizabeth Langford, Horticulturalist at Aullwood Garden MetroPark

Mar 31, 2024 by Volunteer Services

Elizabeth Langford has been long acquainted with the outdoors and gardening which in part led her to an Apprenticeship position with Five Rivers MetroParks at Aullwood Garden in 2014. In 2022, Beth became the horticultural technician, then in early 2023, she became the Site Leader at Aullwood Garden and in the fall of 2023, she became the Horticulturalist.