Opportunities From: Five Rivers MetroParks

Do you love history and have skills in farming, historic restoration, and farm animal care you want to share? Would you like to discover what life would have been like living on a farm in the 1880s? Make an impact by helping staff in the fields, in the barns, and around the farm at the Daniel Arnold Historic Farm at Carriage Hill MetroPark. 

Impact

The Historical Farm at Carriage Hill MetroPark tells important stories that celebrate our agricultural heritage in the Miami Valley. This heritage includes a significant portion of our local landscape shaped by generations of farmers who groomed and cared for the land. Visitors to Carriage Hill Historical Farm will be immersed in 19th-century farm life, a time when the sustainable farm, home and craft practices we see today were simply practical. Within the preserved house and farm buildings there are demonstrations of heritage skills and crafts by living-history interpreters, both staff and volunteers. Caring for the animals and maintaining historical integrity is imperative to connecting visitors with its history.

Tasks  

Under the supervision of the assigned staff, volunteers will support and assist with the following:

A variety of farm chores including Barn and Animal Care including feeding, watering, stall cleaning. Animals include drafts horses, hogs, sheep, chickens, cows, and donkeys. 

Eligibility  This opportunity is open to the following volunteers: Adults (ages 18 and older), Short-Term and Long-Term.  Learn more about our types of service here.Additional Notes: Parking & Meeting Instructions: Parking and meeting a staff lead at the Daniel Arnold Historical Farm - Meet at the big red barn: 7860 E. Shull Rd., Dayton, OH 45424. Please plan to arrive 10 minutes before your shift to allow for parking, checking in, and connecting with the staff lead. Cancelation  If you need to cancel a shift last minute or are running late, please call the Park Manager, Nick Wheeler, at (937) 508 - 9833.Environment & Physical Demands: Allergy Alert: Farm Animal, Dust, and Hay. Requires routine walking, bending, kneeling, squatting, and lifting up to 25lbs.  Dress: Dress for the weather, and must wear steel-toe boots. If signing up to support multiple shifts or returning to support this opportunity multiple times, volunteers will be asked to dress in period-correct clothing (provided by Carriage Hill MetroPark).  Resources: Click here to learn more about the Daniel Arnold Historic Farm, and click here to review the Carriage Hill Interpretive Guide. Look for additional details about this opportunity at the bottom of this listing! See the Park Maintenance Volunteer Position Description for more detailed information.

​The 2nd Street Market supports small, local entrepreneurs with a strong emphasis on food, agriculture, gardening, and home decor in an atmosphere that provides a comfortable and inviting gathering place for the diverse population of the greater Dayton area. Our 2nd Street Market is looking for WEEKEND custodial support to help us keep the place sparkling clean. Not only will you get to flex your cleaning muscles, but you'll get to meet and interact with some amazing people from your community.

Impact

Five Rivers MetroParks provides clean, safe parks and conservation areas for the public to enjoy year-round. Our Park Maintenance volunteers help to manage and sustain 18 beautiful parks, 11 conservation areas, and 160 miles of hike, bike, mountain bike, and horseback-riding trails for park visitors to safely enjoy.

Tasks

Under the supervision of the Staff Lead, support and assist with the following:

keeping the Market tidy during operational hours, as well as light sweeping, table cleaning, and helping with trash removal after closing. Eligibility This opportunity is open to the following volunteers: Long-Term, Short-Term, and Youth.  Learn more about our types of service here.
Youth Volunteers: Youth volunteers ages 14-17 are not required to complete a background check. If you are a new youth volunteer, contact volunteer.services@metroparks.org to have your background check waived.  Additional Notes: Parking & Meeting Instructions: There is free parking available in the Market lot or street parking nearby: 600 East 2nd Street, Dayton, OH 45402. Please enter through the Market office entrance (the door nearest Webster Street), where you will meet with Market Manager, Lynda Suda, or Market Coordinator, Sally Leatherman.Environmental & Physical Demands: This project takes place primarily indoors; However, you will be outside occasionally. Volunteers should dress for the weather and plan for and be aware of possible indoor allergies (i.e., dust). You can expect to participate in walking, bending, standing, reaching, and/or lifting objects of 30lbs. or more during your volunteer shift.  Cancelation:  If you need to cancel a shift last minute or are running late, please call Lynda Suda at 937-228-2088. Dress: Volunteers should dress to be indoors; However, you may occasionally walk trash out to the dumpster or need to complete outdoor tasks, so please be prepared for the weather. Please wear comfortable shoes, too! Look for additional details about this opportunity at the bottom of this listing! See the Park Maintenance Volunteer Position Description for more detailed information

Come learn, grow, and give back to the trails you love with this exciting trail maintenance volunteer opportunity! Led by our Trail staff, these trail maintenance opportunities will focus on revitalizing the trail systems in the Twin Valley. Learn alongside like-minded individuals on the why’s and hows of building and maintaining a sustainable trail system on these hands-on workdays.

Impact

Five Rivers MetroParks provides clean, safe parks and conservation areas for the public to enjoy year-round. Our Park Maintenance volunteers help to manage and sustain 18 beautiful parks, 11 conservation areas, and 160 miles of hike, bike, mountain bike, and horseback-riding trails for park visitors to safely enjoy. Volunteers who support Trail Maintenance help MetroParks provide safe, consistent, and high-quality trail experiences for visitors with varied interests and levels of abilities in a manner that protects and sustains the natural resources and habitats at each park.

Tasks

Under the supervision of the assigned staff, support and assist with the following:

​Basic trail maintenance in the Twin Valley; Corridor clearing, drainage clearing, and tread maintenance.

Eligibility This opportunity is open to the following volunteers: Long-Term, Short-Term, Adults. Learn more about our types of service here.Additional Notes Parking & Meeting Instructions: Click here for a map of Germantown MetroPark. Volunteers should park and meet staff at the Germantown Maintenance parking lot located at 6675 Conservancy Rd, Germantown, OH 45327, and look for the 'Volunteer Event' signage.  Environment & Physical Demands:  Hiking long distances alone or with a group. The terrain is regularly uneven and muddy, with steep and slippery slopes. You must wear hiking boots. Volunteers will be working in all weather conditions. Routinely bending, kneeling, reaching, and lifting objects of 15 lbs or more. Cancelation:  If you need to cancel a shift at the last minute or are running late, please call Park Manager Chris Landis at (937) 277-4159.Dress: Volunteers should dress for the weather, wear long pants and closed-toe, sturdy hiking boots, and have their favorite work gloves, water bottle, sunscreen, and bug spray. ​ Please wear your volunteer name badge and, if you have one, your green or blue volunteer shirt. Look for additional details about this opportunity at the bottom of this listing! See the Park Maintenance Volunteer Position Description for more detailed information. 

Do you like getting your hands dirty, learning new skills, and supporting a variety of parks and conservation efforts? Get ready to join in the fun at the Hills & Dales Volunteer Workdays! You'll have the chance to get involved in a range of exciting park and conservation projects, such as gardening, tree plantings, invasive species removal, and mulching. It's a great opportunity to make a positive impact and enjoy the outdoors with a fantastic group of volunteers!

Impact

Urban woodlands like those at Hills & Dales are critical to the health and quality of life within our cities. They are dynamic ecosystems that provide clean air and water. This historical urban forest has been a natural refuge for Daytonians since 1907. Our Park Maintenance volunteers help to manage and sustain Hills & Dales MetroPark for park visitors to safely enjoy.

Tasks

Under the supervision of the assigned staff, volunteers will support and assist with the following:

a variety of parks and conservation projects including invasive species removal, garden maintenance, native tree and shrub planting, mulching, sanding park benches, and other priority projects. EligibilityThis opportunity is open to the following volunteers: Long-Term, Short-Term, Public Service, and Adults.  Learn more about our types of service here.Additional Notes Please sign up for your volunteer shift at least 1 day in advance. Parking & Meeting Instructions: Click here for a map of Hills & Dales MetroPark. Volunteers will receive an email the day before their shift with instructions on where they should meet the staff lead in the park. Look for the 'Volunteer Event' signage. Cancelation: If you need to cancel a shift last minute or are running late, please call Volunteer Coordinator, Allie Zimmerman, at (937) 247-3176. Environment & Physical Demands: ​​This project takes place outdoors - Please be aware of outdoor exposure risks (i.e., sun, poison ivy, insects, etc.). Volunteers should be aware of seasonal allergies (i.e., grass, pollen, bees, etc.), and can expect to participate in bending, kneeling, pulling, lifting, hiking on potentially uneven terrain, and lifting and dragging objects 15lbs or more.  Dress: Volunteers should dress for the weather, wear long pants, long sleeves, and closed-toe shoes, and have their favorite work gloves, water bottle, sunscreen, and bug spray.  Look for additional details about this opportunity at the bottom of this listing!  See the Park Maintenance Volunteer Position Description for more detailed information   

Come learn, grow, and give back to the trails you love with this exciting trail maintenance volunteer opportunity! Led by our Trail staff, these trail maintenance opportunities will focus on revitalizing the trail systems in Englewood MetroPark. Learn alongside like-minded individuals on the whys and how's of building and maintaining a sustainable trail system on these hands-on workdays.

Impact

Volunteers who support Trail Maintenance help MetroParks provide safe, consistent, and high-quality trail experiences for visitors with varied interests and levels of abilities in a manner that protects and sustains the natural resources and habitats at each park.

Tasks

Under the supervision of the assigned staff, support and assist with the following:

​Basic trail maintenance at Englewood MetroPark; Corridor clearing, drainage clearing, tread maintenance, and invasive removal.

Eligibility This opportunity is open to the following volunteers: Long-Term, Short-Term, Adults. Learn more about our types of service here.Additional Notes Parking & Meeting Instructions: Click here for a map of Englewood MetroPark. Volunteers should park at the Englewood Park Office: 987 Pattys Rd, Vandalia, OH 45377.Environment & Physical Demands:  This project takes place outdoors - Please be aware of outdoor exposure risks (i.e., sun, poison ivy, insects, etc.). Volunteers should be aware of seasonal allergies (i.e., grass, pollen, bees, etc.), and can expect to participate in hiking long distances, bending, kneeling, reaching, dragging, and lifting objects of 15 lbs. The terrain is regularly uneven and muddy, with steep and slippery slopes. You must wear hiking boots. Volunteers will be working in all weather conditions.  Cancelation:  If you need to cancel a shift last minute or are running late, please call Ron Bicknell at (937) 999-7972.Dress: Volunteers should dress for the weather, wear long pants and closed-toe, sturdy hiking boots, and have their favorite work gloves, water bottle, sunscreen, and bug spray. ​Please wear your volunteer t-shirt and name tag. Look for additional details about this opportunity at the bottom of this listing! See the Park Maintenance Volunteer Position Description for more detailed information. 

Just a few miles north of RiverScape, where the Stillwater River flows into the Great Miami, is an urban oasis with a long Dayton history: Island MetroPark. Your participation in an Make a Difference Day volunteer service project allows MetroParks to continue its mission to protect the region's natural heritage and provide outdoor experiences that inspire a personal connection with nature.  

Impact

Five Rivers MetroParks provides clean, safe parks and conservation areas for the public to enjoy year-round. Our Park Maintenance volunteers help to manage and sustain 18 beautiful parks, 11 conservation areas, and 160 miles of hike, bike, mountain bike, and horseback-riding trails for park visitors to safely enjoy.

Tasks  

Under the supervision of the assigned staff, volunteers will support and assist with the following:

Litter pick-up around the park and shelters using pickers and buckets. Loading small branches and limbs into the back of a truck to be hauled away. EligibilityThis opportunity is open to the following volunteers: Long-Term, Short-Term, Public Service, Youth (ages 14-17 - See specific age requirements below), Family, and/or Groups.  Learn more about our types of service here.
Family Volunteers: This opportunity is family-friendly. Families with youth volunteers under the age of 14 are welcome to volunteer. The family must include one parent or guardian per 3 children who engage in service and assume supervisory responsibility for the children during volunteer service.Background Check: We do not require a background check for our public volunteer opportunities; however, persons with a criminal record may be disqualified and prohibited from service. Please review our background check policy here. For those required to complete Court Appointed Community Service, please click here.Additional Notes Parking & Meeting Instructions: Click here for a map of Island MetroPark. Volunteers should park at 101 E. Helena St. Dayton, Ohio 45404, and meet staff near the map kiosk. Look for the 'Volunteer Event' signage. Cancelation: If you need to cancel a shift at the last minute or are running late, please call project staff lead Ramon Watson at (513)435-1525. Environment & Physical Demands: ​​This project takes place outdoors. Please be aware of outdoor exposure risks (i.e., sun, poison ivy, insects, etc.). Volunteers should be aware of seasonal allergies (i.e., grass, pollen, bees, etc.). Volunteers can expect to participate in bending, kneeling, twisting, reaching, walking on potentially uneven or muddy terrain, and lifting/dragging objects 10 lbs or more.  Dress: Volunteers should dress for the weather, wear long pants, long sleeves, and closed-toe shoes, and have their favorite work gloves, water bottle, sunscreen, and bug spray.  Look for additional details about this opportunity at the bottom of this listing! See the Park Maintenance Volunteer Position Description for more detailed information. 

Enjoy the best wilderness experience in the region. Part of the Twin Valley Conservation Corridor, Twin Creek MetroPark offers mature forests within the breathtaking ravines — an ideal spot for hiking, backpacking, and camping. Get the wild natural beauty of a National Park, just 20 minutes south of Dayton. Your participation in a Make a Difference Day volunteer service project allows MetroParks to continue its mission to protect the region's natural heritage and provide outdoor experiences that inspire a personal connection with nature.

Impact

Five Rivers MetroParks provides clean, safe parks and conservation areas for the public to enjoy year-round. Our Park Maintenance volunteers help to manage and sustain 18 beautiful parks, 11 conservation areas, and 160 miles of hike, bike, mountain bike, and horseback-riding trails for park visitors to safely enjoy.

Tasks

Under the supervision of the assigned staff, volunteers will support and assist with the following:

Picking up litter along Morningside Road, Lake George, and the trailhead.Eligibility
This opportunity is open to the following volunteers: Long-Term, Short-Term, Public Service, Youth, and/or Groups. Learn more about our types of service here. Background Check: We do not require a background check for our public volunteer opportunities; however, persons with a criminal record may be disqualified and prohibited from service. Please review our background check policy here.  Family Volunteers: This opportunity is family-friendly. Families with youth volunteers under the age of 14 are welcome to volunteer. The family must include one parent or guardian per 3 children who engage in service and assume supervisory responsibility for the children during volunteer service.Additional NotesParking & Meeting Instructions: Click here for a map of Twin Creek MetroPark. Volunteers should park at Twin Creek MetroPark, Camp Hook, located at 8539 Morningstar Rd., Franklin, OH 45005. Park on the left side of the parking lot. Look for volunteer signage and the MetroParks truck. Cancellation: If you need to cancel a shift at the last minute or are running late, please call the Volunteer Coordinator, Allie Zimmerman, at (937) 274-3176. Environment & Physical Demands: This project takes place outdoors - Please be aware of outdoor exposure risks (i.e., sun, poison ivy, insects, etc.). Volunteers should be aware of seasonal allergies (i.e., grass, pollen, bees, etc.), and can expect to participate in walking, bending, kneeling, pulling, and reaching.  Dress: Volunteers should dress for the weather, wear long pants, and closed-toe shoes, and have their favorite work gloves, water bottle, sunscreen, and bug spray.  Look for additional details about this opportunity at the bottom of this listing! Look for additional details about this opportunity at the bottom of this listing! See the Park Maintenance Volunteer Position Description for more detailed information.

MetroParks has the only trails in the area built specifically for and open exclusively to Mountain Biking at the MetroParks Mountain Biking Area (MoMBA) within Huffman MetroPark. Come learn, grow, and give back to the trails you love with this exciting trail maintenance volunteer opportunity! Your participation in a Make a Difference Day volunteer service project allows MetroParks to continue its mission to protect the region's natural heritage and provide outdoor experiences that inspire a personal connection with nature.  

Impact

Five Rivers MetroParks provides clean, safe parks and conservation areas for the public to enjoy year round. Our Park Maintenance volunteers help to manage and sustain 18 beautiful parks, 11 conservation areas, and 160 miles of hike, bike, mountain bike, and horseback-riding trails for park visitors to safely enjoy. Volunteers that support Trail Maintenance help MetroParks provide safe, consistent and high-quality trail experiences for visitors with varied interests and levels of abilities in a manner that protects and sustains the natural resources and habitats at each park.

Tasks

Under the supervision of the assigned staff, support and assist with the following:

​Basic trail maintenance at MetroParks Mountain Biking Area (MoMBA); Corridor clearing, drainage clearing, and tread maintenance. Eligibility This opportunity is open to the following volunteers: Long-Term, Short-Term, Public Service, Youth, and/or Groups. Learn more about our types of service here. Background Check: We do not require a background check for our public volunteer opportunities; however, persons with a criminal record may be disqualified and prohibited from service. Please review our background check policy here. For those required to complete Court Appointed Community Service, please click here. Additional Notes Parking & Meeting Instructions: Click here for a map of Huffman/ MoMBA. Volunteers should park in the MoMBA parking lot located at 4485 Union Rd., Dayton, OH 45424. Look for the 'Volunteer Event' signage.   Cancellation: If you need to cancel a shift last minute or are running late, please call Connor Perry at 937-818-9073. Environment & Physical Demands: This project takes place outdoors - Please be aware of outdoor exposure risks (i.e. sun, poison ivy, insects, etc.). Volunteers should be aware of seasonal allergies (i.e., grass, pollen, bees, etc.), and can expect to participate in bending, kneeling, pulling, lifting, cutting, hiking on potentially muddy, uneven terrain, and lifting objects of 15lbs or more. Dress: Volunteers should dress for the weather, wear long pants and closed-toe shoes, and have their favorite work gloves, water bottle, sunscreen, and bug spray. ​ Look for additional details about this opportunity at the bottom of this listing! See Park Maintenance Volunteer Position Description for more detailed information.