School Program Volunteer
Seasonal Training
Five Rivers MetroParks offers a wide range of onsite educational programs for local school groups. These field trips are adaptable to various curricula and align with Ohio Academic Content Standards Benchmarks. They are designed to connect children with practical applications of what they learn in school, featuring engaging activities and discoveries. To view the complete lineup of educational field trips we offer, please visit the community resource page on our website.
We welcome back current volunteers and are recruiting new volunteers to support our educational field trips. Volunteers do not need a teaching degree, but they should enjoy helping children learn about nature and fostering their curiosity and excitement about new discoveries!
Our training for school programs is annual and seasonal, with sessions held in the Spring and Fall. This training will focus on the upcoming Fall season and will include updates on program offerings and details, new activities, best practices for working with students in nature, strategies for engaging different age groups and special needs, and opportunities for volunteers to become better acquainted with the unique features of the MetroPark sites. We will also cover specific skills and activities to help volunteers enhance their capabilities.
We anticipate a busy field trip calendar! Volunteers who are enthusiastic about working with youth play a crucial role in making these field trips enjoyable and educational for each group. Training will take place over four days, featuring field trips to Germantown and Wegerzyn Gardens MetroParks.
Day 1 - Cox Arboretum MetroPark
Wednesday, August 27 - Morning Session - WELCOME Volunteers
8:30 AM -Noon PM, Meade Theater
Cox Arboretum MetroPark continues to be our most requested field trip location. Volunteers will spend mornings discussing and reviewing procedures (ie. safety and Get Connected features), strategies for engaging different age groups and special needs, and reviewing activities to keep kids engaged and create meaningful connections.
***Beverages and snacks provided, please pack a lunch if you are attending both sessions this day.
***This session will be indoors, with some outdoor activity.
Agenda for the other sessions (please sign up for all you can attend):
Day 1 - Part 2: Cox Arboretum MetroPark
Butterflies and Bees Field Trip
Wednesday, August 27, Noon - 3:30 PM
Bring a lunch and join the morning participants for lunch. Session will officially start at 12:30 PM. It will be an interactive session with volunteers participating in many of the activities offered and discovering ways to engage young learners in activities and topics related to the Butterflies and Bees fieldtrip.
Day 2 - Germantown MetroPark
Animals of Ohio and Ordovician Expedition
Thursday, August 28, 9:00 AM -3:30 PM, Twin Valley Welcome Center
This is a great location to introduce volunteers to our wildlife ambassadors and do some creek exploration. We will familiarize ourselves with the animals and activities, learn about fossils, and correct ID techniques. Volunteers will learn about useful tools and tidbits, that are helpful to have with them during various fieldtrips.
***Beverages and snacks provided, please pack a lunch for this session. Please dress for the weather!
Day 3 - Cox Arboretum MetroPark
Ordovician Expedition and Discover Fall Trees
Friday, August 29, 8:30 AM - 3:30 PM - Kettering Learning Lab
Volunteers will finish activities for the Ordovician Expedition field trip in the morning, including walking the trails and discovering the best locations for fossil experiences. The afternoon will focus on the Discover Fall Trees field trip.
***Beverages and snacks provided, please pack a lunch for this session. Please dress for the weather!
Day 4 - Wegerzyn Gardens MetroPark
Growing Gardeners Field Trip
Wednesday, September 3, 8:30 AM - Noon - Skeeters Garden
Volunteers will be at Wegerzyn Gardens MetroPark and focus on Growing Gardeners stations and cool park features to be discovered. This is a year-round field trip and volunteers will have a chance to learn about the many elements to explore at Wegerzyn during a field trip. It will be an interactive session with volunteers participating in many of the activities offered and discovering ways to engage young learners in activities and topics such as plant identification, guided nature hikes, and basic gardening tasks.
***Beverages and snacks provided, please dress for the weather. This session is outside.
Additional Notes
- This is a Long-Term Volunteer Opportunity. Learn more about our types of service here.
- Volunteers will be standing, walking, bending over, and reaching. Walking through the field trips will require hiking (about 1-1.5 miles), pond-dipping, and insect netting.
- Volunteers should make every effort to attend all four sessions.
- If you can not attend all sessions but still want to support field trips, contact Yvonne.Dunphe@metroparks.org to schedule shadow experiences. Please RSVP for dates you can attend.
- Dress for the weather, wear comfortable shoes for hiking, and wear your volunteer t-shirt and name badge.
DO YOU QUALIFY? This training and opportunity are reserved for long-term volunteers who have completed their onboarding qualifications and have received an eligible background check (for volunteers 18 and older), Learn more about our volunteer orientation and onboarding here.
Learn more about the Programming Volunteer Position here.
