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Five Rivers MetroParks Volunteer Newsletter - August 2025

FEATURE: 2024 FRMP Annual Report - Getting a Jump on Pervasive Invasives

As a conservation agency, protecting natural spaces is at the heart of MetroParks' mission. While all MetroParks staff have a hand in protecting the region's natural heritage, the agency's conservation team is responsible for studying, researching, planning, providing guidance, and often doing the hands-on work necessary to protect - and often restore - precious habitats.

Summer Safety Tip: Be Tick Smart

It is tick season! Let's take a look at some prevention techniques to be tick smart through this summer season. The best way to prevent tickborne diseases like Lyme Disease and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, is to prevent tick bites. In Ohio, tickborne illness are most often transmitted between early spring and late fall since ticks are most active during warmer months.

August Volunteer Opportunities: Beat the Heat with Indoor Opportunities this Month! Plus, Volunteers Needed for Events, Trail Workdays and More!

August may be called the Dog Days of Summer, but we're helping to keep our volunteers cool this month with a variety of indoor opportunities like 2nd Street Market Ambassador, Textile Workdays, and Beer Sales and Support.  Plenty of outdoor opportunities are still available and your support is needed in our gardens and on the trails, as well as at our special events. Cool down from the heat with a frozen fruit popsicle from our Summer Care Campaign.

Volunteer Spotlight: Ellen Eveland - Historic Interpreter, Textile Demonstrator, and Helper Extraordinaire!

Growing up in Illinois, Ellen Eveland's parents took her on family camping vacations from coast to coast, visiting historic sites along the way and sparking her interest in living history. She fondly remembers bringing her children to Carriage Hill MetroPark in the 1980's and 1990's for Christmas on the Farm, participating in scouting opportunities, hiking the trails, visiting farmers in the barn, and exploring the endless possibilities for fun and adventure on a historic farm. She knew then that she would someday become a volunteer. Fast forward to summer of 2022, when they visited the park to see the steam engine and ended up spending several hours chatting with the historic interpreters in the house - At that momen

Get Connected Tech Tip: Customize Your Volunteer Experience

Volunteers like you think about community engagement in diverse ways and Get Connected empowers you to find the perfect fit for your skills and passions. Did you know that by adding your skills and interests and fanning volunteer positions, you'll receive tailored suggestions that align perfectly with what you care about?

Volunteer Appreciation: Thank you, Mud Day Volunteers! Plus, Summer Care Campaign is ON; and Help Your Staff Lead Win BIG with Staff Lead Bingo!

We recently celebrated International Mud Day at Wegerzyn Gardens MetroPark, and each year more and more people attend with family, friends, or just by themselves to enjoy being outside and the fun of playing in the dirt. Our volunteers helped get people excited and creative, and even helped them get cleaned up after their muddy adventures.

Staff Lead Highlight: Haily Hayslip, Education Specialist at Wegerzyn Gardens MetroPark

Staff Lead Highlights are a great way for volunteers to get to know our staff and for our staff to share their work with volunteers. This month we are pleased to highlight Haily Hayslip!

Try Volunteering with Tatum: Cox Arboretum Gardening

Try Volunteering with Tatum: Cover Mapping!

My third volunteering opportunity this summer was Cover Mapping! I really enjoy hiking and being immersed in nature, so this was right up my alley. I also learned a few things about invasive species and plants in the area.

Five Rivers MetroParks Volunteer Newsletter - July 2025

FEATURE: Summer Volunteer Care Campaign & Staff Lead Bingo Return!

Our annual Summer Volunteer Care Campaign returns! Plus, Staff Lead Bingo is Back!