Frequently Asked Questions

Your most frequently asked questions answered by your Volunteer Services Team! Have a question you'd like to see answered and added to this list? Contact us at volunteer.services@metroparks.org or give us a call at #937-275-7275.  

New Volunteers

  • What's the best way to get started as a volunteer with Five Rivers MetroParks?
  • Review our Become A Volunteer page, and when you're ready, click the green Sign-Up button at the top of your screen to create your Get Connected volunteer account.
  • Explore our volunteer opportunities, and when you find the right one for you, click "Respond" to complete any required qualifications and sign up.
  • RSVP to an upcoming Volunteer Open House to sit down one-on-one with a Volunteer Coordinator who can help you get started, answer all your questions, discuss your interests, skills, and availability, and help match you to the right volunteer opportunity for you!
  • Do I need a unique email address to register as a volunteer? 

Yes, each volunteer needs their own unique email address in order to set up and maintain a Get Connected volunteer account. We can help you set up a free email account if you do not have one. Join us at a Volunteer Open House where we can sit down with you one-on-one and help you get started. View our Volunteer Open House schedule and RSVP to the one you are able to attend.

  • Can I volunteer if I don't have a smartphone or internet internet-capable device? 

Yes! You will need an email account, but we can help you set up a free email account if you do not have one. Join us at a Volunteer Open House where we can sit down with you one-on-one and help you get started. View our Volunteer Open House schedule and RSVP to the one you are able to attend.

  • I forgot my password. Now, what do I do?

No problem! You can easily click the "Forgot My Password" button on the login screen to reset your password. 

 

  • How do I learn more about how to use this Get Connected site? 

We've developed a fast track and step-by-step guide to using the Get Connected site as a volunteer. View these training resources here. We also feature monthly Get Connected Tech Tips in our Volunteer Blog. View the latest tech tips here to sharpen your Get Connected skills. 

  • How do I get trained for these volunteer opportunities?

We are proud to offer an online Volunteer Training Library right here on Get Connected for volunteers to begin training for a variety of volunteer opportunities when and where it is most convenient for them. You can access our Volunteer Training Library anytime from the main site menu on the left of your screen, view the trainings available, and get started today!

A variety of in-person volunteer trainings and annual skills, equipment, and vehicle check-offs are held throughout the year. Visit our Training and Events to see the latest schedule and RSVP for the in-person trainings you are interested in and qualified for. 

  • Is there an orientation I need to attend? 

No, there isn't a mandatory in-person volunteer orientation required of all new volunteers. We do, however, provide a brief volunteer orientation video along with some additional information to help new volunteers like you get started on our Become A Volunteer page. Check it out here.

We would also encourage you to join us at an upcoming in-person Volunteer Open House where our helpful and knowledgeable Volunteer Services Team can meet you, get to know your interests and availability better, and help you get started as a volunteer with us. You can view our Volunteer Open House schedule under Training and Events on Get Connected, or simply click here.

  • How do I know if the park is open or if there has been a delay in opening or a park closure? 

For the most up-to-date information on our parks and trails, please visit https://www.metroparks.org/park-alerts/.  

  • What do I need to bring? Do I need to bring my own tools with me? 

Thanks so much for your support! Our staff will provide everything you need in order to safely and effectively complete the tasks outlined in your volunteer opportunity, including all necessary tools, gloves, and any other personal protective equipment needed. The only thing you need to bring is your helping hands, and typically a refillable water bottle, closed-toe shoes, sunscreen and/or bug spray, and your volunteer nametag and volunteer shirt (if you have one). Always review the full opportunity listing, including Notes and Additional Details, for information on anything else you might need to be prepared for volunteer service. 

  • Why don't you provide sunscreen or bug spray for volunteers?

We encourage our volunteers to plan ahead for their individual volunteer needs by bringing their own sunscreen and/or bug spray if and when needed. The volunteer opportunity description will outline opportunities where it may be helpful to consider applying these items before coming to service and/or bringing them with you. MetroParks does not provide these items due to everyone's unique needs and potential response to chemical ingredients. 

Background Checks

  • Do you require background checks for all of your volunteer opportunities?

No, we do not require background checks for our public, single-day volunteer opportunities. You can view those opportunities here. These opportunities are not open to Court-Appointed volunteers. 

  • How long does a background check take?

Background checks with our partner, Sterling Volunteers, typically come back in just a few hours but may take as long as a few days. We recommend completing yours right away so that you are ready to get outside and volunteer as soon as possible! If you need any assistance completing your background check, please contact us. Background checks are valid for 3 years and are paid for by Five Rivers MetroParks. (Note: Only volunteers qualifying as vehicle drivers will need to complete an annual motor vehicle screening.)

Opportunities

  • I just want to volunteer a couple of times a year, do I really need to onboard and complete qualifications?

No! You can quickly and easily sign up for our public/single-day volunteer opportunities. These opportunities do not require volunteer onboarding or the completion of multiple qualifications. You can easily view public volunteer opportunities here. 

  • How do I volunteer with my group?

You can easily view available opportunities for teams on Get Connected. You can filter by opportunities open to Teams on the Opportunities page. Not seeing one for you? Consider requesting a private group volunteer opportunity for your group. Learn more and submit a Group Volunteer Request Form here.

  • Do you offer court-appointed service?

Yes! Learn more about Court-Appointed Service with Five Rivers MetroParks and apply here.

  • What opportunities are available for kids/youth?

You can easily filter for youth opportunities by age and family-friendly opportunities from the Opportunities page, or use these quick links: 

Youth Opportunities (Ages 14-17)

Family-Friendly Opportunities

  • Are there opportunities for scouts? 

Yes! Learn more about completing your Scout project with Five Rivers MetroParks and get started here. Interested in a group project for your scout group? Learn more and request a private volunteer opportunity for your group here.

  • Do you offer internships? I need to complete one for school.

Volunteer Services offers job shadows and a variety of other unpaid, volunteer experiences, including project-based learning, service-learning, and partnerships. For information on these opportunities, please visit our Experiential Learning Program page here. We do not, however, offer internships. Please visit www.metroparks.org/careers for information on paid internships.

  • I need to complete a job shadow for school. Do you offer job shadows? 

Yes, we offer job shadows, project-based learning, service-learning, and partnerships. Learn more by reviewing our Experiential Learning Program here.  

  • What if I want to volunteer for your highest need? 

Thank you! You can view our most immediate high-priority volunteer needs under "High Priority Needs in the main Get Connected site menu on your left, or simply click here.

  • Can I bring a friend or my family? 

Yay! Thank you for encouraging others to come out and support our parks! We do ask that all volunteers sign up on Get Connected and meet the requirements of the volunteer opportunity. Please encourage your friends and family to register as volunteers and sign up for the volunteer opportunity.

There are also many opportunities available throughout the year open to team registration. This means that you can create a team and sign up your whole team for an opportunity. View opportunities open to teams here.

  • Can I just show up or drop in? 

Thank you for your enthusiasm for volunteering! We'd love to have your help, but first, we will need you to register on Get Connected and sign up by responding to the appropriate volunteer opportunity. Need help? That's what we're here for! Contact us at volunteer.services@metroparks.org or give us a call at #937-275-7275. We are also available in person at our upcoming Volunteer Open Houses. View our schedule and RSVP here.

  • Can employees of Five Rivers MetroParks volunteer?

Yes! Employees can volunteer! Employees are eligible to volunteer at our public volunteer days and any ongoing long-term or short-term volunteer opportunities that they qualify for. Employees are prohibited from volunteering in areas that they would typically be paid for. Example: A Programming employee can volunteer for opportunities under Conservation, Gardening, and Park Maintenance volunteer positions, but cannot volunteer for Programming opportunities. If you're unsure if the opportunity you want to support qualifies, contact Volunteer Services.  

Employees who leave paid service with our agency, are welcome to volunteer at any of our public volunteer days right away including Adopt-A-Park, Make A Difference Day, and Service Saturdays; but must wait at least 3 months before volunteering with us under a volunteer position with tasks similar to those they would have previously been paid for. 

Family members of MetroParks employees and MetroParks employees who wish to volunteer with the organization cannot report directly to the MetroParks employee or be supervised by the staff member they are related. Family members of MetroParks employees who wish to become Official MetroParks Volunteers will be required to complete the volunteer onboarding process. Family members include, but are not limited to, spouse, partner, parent, and child. 

Qualifications

  • The system keeps asking me to "Submit Qualifications".

You can view all of your "Incomplete Qualifications" and "Completed Qualifications" under Qualifications in your Get Connected volunteer account menu. If the site is asking you to submit a qualification when responding to an opportunity, it most likely means that one or more of the required qualifications for that opportunity are incomplete or expired. Contact volunteer.services@metroparks.org or call #937-275-7275 for assistance with your qualifications.

  • I received an email saying I need to resubmit my volunteer profile qualification. I updated the information, now what? 

After you have double-checked that all the required fields are complete and correct in your profile, email volunteer.services@metroparks.org or call #937-275-7275 and let us know that your volunteer profile is ready for review and approval.

  • I've already done all this stuff, but it's asking me to do it again?

    Most qualifications will have an expiration date shared in the system and/or communicated to you through your Staff Lead and Volunteer Services. Onboarding qualifications like your Volunteer Handbook signature and your volunteer background screening will expire every 3 years and need to be renewed. Most other qualifications will expire annually and need to be renewed each year, including any equipment, vehicle, or skills training and check-offs.

Volunteer Hours

  • I forgot to check in to my volunteer opportunity. How do I record my volunteer hours?

No problem! Just click "Add Hours" at the top of your screen, or "Track Hours" from your right drop-down volunteer account menu. From here, you can easily add hours to any opportunity you have already responded to.  For more information on tracking hours, visit our Get Connected Site Training available in the Volunteer Training Library here.

  • Why do I need to record my volunteer hours? I don't want the credit. 

Accurately tracking your volunteer hours in Get Connected is part of your volunteer service to Five Rivers MetroParks. We use this information to convey the impact volunteers make across our agency each year. This helps our agency make important budgeting decisions like funding resources that support volunteers in service, including staffing, tools and equipment, training, appreciation, and more. 

Additionally, this data is critical for applying for grants and sponsorships. Did you know MetroParks was just awarded a million-dollar conservation grant?! It was data like this that helped us secure this incredible support.

It is also vital that we keep our "boots on the ground" volunteer hours separate from time spent in training, meetings, and at gatherings. This is why we only record volunteer service hours, and we do not record hours for trainings, meetings, and other gatherings as volunteer service in Get Connected.

Please help us by continuing to accurately track your volunteer hours so we can continue to make the most of every opportunity to support our parks. 

  • Can I make a donation to Five Rivers MetroParks? 

Absolutely! Thank you for supporting your Five Rivers MetroParks. You can learn more about making a one-time or recurring gift to the parks here.

Contact us at volunteer.services@metroparks.org or #937-275-7275 (PARK). 

Join us at an upcoming Volunteer Open House! 

Your Volunteer Services Team

Yvonne Dunphe - Outdoor Connections Programming #(937) 277-4147 

Allie Zimmerman - Parks & Conservation #(937) 274-3176 

Amanda Wheatley - Ambassador & Special Events #(937) 277-4109 

Jenny Hymans - Human Resources Manager of Volunteer Services #(937) 567-1413