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 at the 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.

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Do you LOVE being around horses and don't mind getting your hands a little dirty? Or maybe you're just looking for a way to give back while getting in a great workout? Consider joining our team of Carriage Hill Riding Center Volunteers as a Barn Aide!

Barn aide volunteers are essential to providing daily care for the horses and maintaining the equestrian facility where these beloved animals live, work, and play. This is an opportunity to make a big difference at every volunteer shift. If you're looking to make an ongoing commitment to service of 8 shifts or more per year that makes a real impact, consider joining us!

Note: All new Riding Center volunteers begin as Barn Aides. These volunteers can participate in additional training to support a variety of our equestrian programming opportunities.

Impact

Volunteers complete essential operational tasks and hands-on daily care which promotes the health and well-being of our horses and allows the Riding Center facility to function on a daily basis.

Tasks Clean stalls and paddocks Clean and refill water buckets Feed hay and/or grain Turn horses in and out Assist staff with general cleaning Groom horses Eligibility

This opportunity is open to the following volunteers: Long-Term and Youth volunteers, ages 14 and up, who have completed the required prerequisite training and are able to make an ongoing commitment to service at the Carriage Hill Riding Center.  Short term volunteers willing to commit 8 shifts or more may be considered.  

Learn more about becoming a MetroParks volunteer and our volunteer service types here. GET STARTED: Not currently in Barn Aide training, but would like to get started? Follow this link to begin virtual training today. Additional Notes Commitment: This opportunity requires an ongoing commitment of at least 8 volunteer shifts per year.Parking & Meeting instructions: Meet near the office inside the first barn or find a staff member.
Cancelation: If you need to cancel a shift last-minute or are running late, please call the Riding Center office cell phone number at #937-689-6939.
Environment & Physical Demands:
Volunteers should prepare to work in outdoor weather conditions, year-round. In this work environment, volunteers will be exposed to cat and horse dander, dust, and other environmental allergens. Dress: Please dress for the weather and working in a barn environment. Wear sturdy closed-toe shoes or work boots and clothes with long pants you do not mind getting dirty. No Steel Toe boots. Volunteers should wear their volunteer name badge and volunteer apparel if available. Note: Name badges are mailed out every 2 weeks for newly onboarded volunteers. If you have not received yours within this timeline, contact volunteer.services@metroparks.org. Volunteer apparel is distributed through our VIP program beginning at 25 hours. Look for additional details about this opportunity at the bottom of this listing! See the Animal Care Volunteer Position Description for more detailed information.  

**Note: This opportunity is only open for volunteers in training to be qualified Barn Aides at the Carriage Hill Riding Center. **

Barn Aide volunteers are critical to providing daily care for the horses and the equestrian facility in which these beloved animals live, work, and play. Now that you have completed your virtual and scheduled in-person training, you are ready to shadow qualified volunteers and Carriage Hill Riding Center staff to practice the skills needed to become a qualified Barn Aide volunteer.  

You'll work alongside qualified volunteers and staff at scheduled shadow experience shifts to practice these tasks until you are able to check off and begin completing these tasks more independently as a qualified barn aide volunteer.

Plus, once you qualify as a Barn Aide volunteer by completing your check off, you become eligible to participate in additional training to support a variety of equestrian programming opportunities at the Carriage Hill Riding Center.

Impact

Volunteers complete essential operational tasks and hands-on daily care alongside qualified volunteers and staff during these scheduled shadow experiences to ensure the good health and well-being of our horses allowing the Riding Center facility to function on a daily basis.

Tasks Clean stalls and paddocks Clean and refill water buckets Feed hay and/or grain Turn horses in and out Assist staff with general cleaning Groom horses Eligibility

This opportunity is open to the following volunteers: Long-Term and Youth volunteers, ages 14 and up, who have completed the required prerequisite training and are able to make an ongoing commitment to service at the Carriage Hill Riding Center.  Short term volunteers willing to commit 8 shifts or more may be considered.

 Learn more about becoming a MetroParks volunteer and our volunteer service types here. 

GET STARTED: Not currently in Barn Aide training, but would like to get started? Follow this link to begin virtual training today.

Additional Notes Commitment: This opportunity requires an ongoing commitment to service of at least 8 volunteer shifts per year.Parking & Meeting instructions: Meet near the office inside the first barn or find a staff member.
Cancelation: If you need to cancel a shift last-minute or are running late, please call the Riding Center office cell phone number at #937-689-6939.
Environment & Physical Demands:
Volunteers should prepare to work in outdoor weather conditions, year-round. In this work environment, volunteers will be exposed to cat and horse dander, dust, and other environmental allergens. Dress:  Please dress for the weather and working in a barn environment. Wear sturdy closed-toe shoes or work boots and clothes with long pants you do not mind getting dirty. No Steel Toe boots.Volunteers should wear their volunteer name badge and volunteer apparel if available. Note: Name badges are mailed out every 2 weeks for newly onboarded volunteers. If you have not received yours within this timeline, contact volunteer.services@metroparks.org. Volunteer apparel is distributed through our VIP program beginning at 25 hours. Look for additional details about this opportunity at the bottom of this listing! See the Animal Care Volunteer Position Description for more detailed information.  

Help us share our conservation message with the next generation while providing routine animal care for our most important ambassadors! Five Rivers MetroParks Wildlife Ambassadors assist our education team in sharing our conservation message with community members of all ages at a variety of programs, events, and outreach opportunities year-round. Wildlife Ambassador Animal Care Volunteers provide daily care for these important animal ambassadors year-round at the Twin Valley Welcome Center so that they can continue sharing our message. 

Impact

Volunteers like YOU provide hands-on daily care including monitoring, feeding, and cleaning to promote the health and well-being of our Wildlife Ambassadors so that they can share our conservation mission and the importance of healthy habitat for animals like them and people like us to a variety of audiences throughout our community.

Tasks

Cleaning & sanitizing - Provide regular cleaning for all Wildlife Animal Ambassador areas. Feeding - Feed the Wildlife Animal Ambassadors as directed by the specific wildlife ambassador’s schedule. Monitoring - Volunteers need to be detailed and observant during each shift taking notes on each wildlife animal ambassador as follows: Note the date of the action (cleaning, feeding, weighing, vet, any other info). Note what food was offered for consumption and what was eaten. Note any other procedure regarding the care of an animal (i.e. warm baths, medications, vitamins). Note any abnormalities noticed in animals (eating habits, physical conditions, etc.). Note defecations and shedding when observed.Sunday shifts alternate food prep and animal weights. Additional tasks as needed: Keeping bird feeders clean and full for the Window on Wildlife display.Supporting annual deep cleaning efforts for Wildlife Animal Ambassador care areas. Alert staff lead when issues arise right away,

Eligibility: This is an opportunity for individual Long-Term volunteers who are 18 and older and is also open to family-friendly volunteers with adult volunteers (18 and up) with children ages 9 and up who would like to volunteer regularly together. Learn more about our types of service here. 

Additional Notes

Commitment: Due to the training time invested in this opportunity, we are asking volunteers to commit to signing up for two Wildlife Ambassador Animal Care volunteer shifts per month.  This will allow volunteers to become familiar with the animals and stay updated on our processes. Volunteers who complete the Wildlife Ambassador Animal Care training can continue on to train for Wildlife Ambassador program and outreach opportunities! Environment & Physical Demands: This program takes place indoors and outdoors. Volunteers can expect bending, kneeling, reaching, and lifting objects 10 lbs. or more. Feeding is preferred for morning hours but once trained and checked off with the wildlife ambassadors, you have some flexibility.  If the time selected is not the time you will be doing animal care, please let the staff lead know in advance. Parking & Meeting Instructions: Please park in the lot and remember to check in to your volunteer shift before you get to the welcome center.  Click here for a map of Germantown MetroPark.   Dress: Volunteers should dress for the weather and wear their MetroParks name badge and apparel.

Look for additional details about this opportunity at the bottom of this listing! See the Animal Care Volunteer Position Description for more information.  

Get Started! Visit the Wildlife Ambassador Training Page in our Training Library to see what training is required to become part of the Wildlife Ambassador Volunteers.

Share your love and enthusiasm for the Arboretum with park patrons! Help enhance the visitor experience by greeting, welcoming, and interacting with a variety of diverse audiences and recommending all the best things to see and do while visiting the park.

Impact

Visitor Center Ambassadors share their enthusiasm for Five Rivers MetroParks with diverse audiences at the Visitor Centers at Carriage Hill and Cox Arboretum MetroParks. Ambassadors are often the first friendly faces a visitor sees welcoming them to the park and can be counted on to share helpful information and answer a variety of questions.

TasksProvide excellent customer service by welcoming and directing visitors throughout the park and visitor center.Answer questions about MetroParks. Distribute brochures or other literature appropriate to the conversation.Provide guest assistance while Visitor Services staff is on break. (You will not be asked to answer phones.)Eligibility This opportunity is open to the following volunteers: Long-Term, Short-Term, and Youth ages 16 and up. Learn more about our types of service here. Additional Notes Parking & Meeting Instructions: Parking can be found in the visitor parking lots in front of the visitor center located at 6733 N. Springboro Pike. Cancelation:  If you need to cancel a shift last minute or are running late, please call Visitor Services Manager Jonathan Gray at 937-499-4270 or 937-275-7275 Environment & Physical Demands: ​​This opportunity involves sitting at the volunteer desk for periods for periods of time. Volunteers may want to stand for periods to speak with guests or show them to specific areas or give directions. Volunteers may choose to station themselves outside the visitor center for some or all of their shifts. Dress: Please wear your volunteer name badge and, if you have one, your green or blue volunteer shirt. The temperature in the atrium stays cool or warm in alignment with the weather, so please dress accordingly. If choosing to station outside of the visitor center, a volunteer safety vest must be worn.  Look for additional details about this opportunity at the bottom of this listing! See the Ambassador Volunteer Position for more information on Ambassador volunteer opportunities with us.

Do you love spending your weekend in the vibrant, bubbling atmosphere of 2nd Street Market, where you always end up running into a familiar face? Volunteers will be stationed near the entrance and will enhance the visitor experience by greeting and welcoming visitors. Volunteers will also conduct sales of MetroParks merchandise, process EBT sales, provide wayfinding assistance, and promote the MetroParks by passing out literature.

Impact

Volunteers enhance the visitor experience and help curate the Market’s unique, vibrant culture for our customers who then support our vendors in providing sustainable local food to the community.

Tasks Welcome customers as they arrive and thank them as they leave Assist with wayfinding and answer basic questions about the parks Distribute brochures or other literature appropriate to the conversation Conduct credit card sales of MetroParks merchandise Process SNAP/EBT sales through a token exchange program.Process Market merchandise sales, on occasion, through a Point of Sale program.Assist with facilitating the Senior Nutrition Program.Eligibility

This opportunity is open to the following volunteers: Long-Term and Short-Term.  Learn more about our types of service here.

Additional Notes Parking & Meeting Instructions: Volunteers may park in the visitor parking lots surrounding the Market. Cancelation:  If you need to cancel a shift last minute or are running late, please call the 2nd Street Market manager, Lynda Suda, at 937-228-2088Environment & Physical Demands: Light physical duties include standing, sitting, and possibly light lifting to refill marketing materialDress: Please wear your volunteer name badge and, if you have one, your green or blue volunteer T-shirt. Reusable volunteer vests will be provided for volunteers onsite. The spot by the door may be cool in the winter and warm in the summer. Please dress accordingly. Other New Volunteers will be given an on-site orientation and shadow staff at the beginning of their first shift. This orientation will include training on Market merchandise sales as well as SNAP/EBT sales. Volunteers may have downtime, so feel free to bring a book, knitting, crossword, sudoku, etc. Look for additional details about this opportunity at the bottom of this listing! See the Ambassador Volunteer Position Description for more detailed information.

The Daniel Arnold Historic Farm offers a captivating glimpse into the past, attracting visitors every year. This unique destination provides more than just an overview of history; it presents an engaging and immersive journey back to the 19th century, where visitors can uncover the rich stories of the Arnold family and the vibrant life of farming during that era.
One of the main attractions for visitors is the craft shops, and the blacksmith shop served as an essential hub for crafting and repairing the tools that kept the farm running smoothly. The pride in craftsmanship comes to life as volunteers demonstrate techniques and assist with projects on the current farm.

Impact

Historic Blacksmith volunteers provide interpretation and demonstrations for the Blacksmith shop on the Daniel A Arnold Historic Farm.  They represent what living in the 1880s might have been like, and help visitors make a stronger connection to the history of Carriage Hill and experience life on an 1880s working farm. 

Tasks Greet and welcome visitors and school groups. Interpret and provide historic information specific to the Blacksmith Shop on the Daniel A Arnold Historic Farm. Demonstrate simple techniques and make a simple project. Work with staff lead, historic interpreters, and program assistants to provide an engaging event for the public participants. Help train new volunteers as needed. Eligibility 

 This opportunity is open to individual, long-term volunteers, ages 18 and up, who have qualified as Historic Interpreters and a Historic Blacksmith.  

GET STARTED: This opportunity requires Volunteer Onboarding (Profile, Volunteer Handbook Signature, and for those 18 and up an eligible background check), plus Historic Interpreter training. Simply click the blue RESPOND button to begin completing the required qualifications, or click here to learn more about becoming a volunteer. Historic Interpreter Qualification: Visit the Historic Interpreter page in our Training Library to see what training is required to become part of the Historic Interpreter volunteers. Historic Blacksmith Qualification: Visit the Historic Blacksmith page in our Training Library to see what training is required to complete the training as a Historic Blacksmith volunteer.  Additional Notes Parking & Meeting Instructions: Click here for a map of Carriage Hill MetroPark.  Volunteers are scheduled to arrive 30 minutes before the beginning of the opportunity. Staff leads will orient volunteers to the day's activities, including planned demonstrations and a historical clothing check.  Volunteers will have time for a review of what can be demonstrated and other important information.Cancellation:  If you need to cancel a shift at the last minute or are running late, please contact your Staff Lead at the provided number.Environment & Physical Demands: This program takes place outdoors. Volunteers may participate in some bending, kneeling, reaching, and lifting objects to 10 lbs or more.  To start the forge, volunteers will be in an environment with coal, smoke, and fire.  Dress: Volunteers should dress for the weather. Period apparel is required.  If not yet fitted, the staff lead or volunteer coordinator will contact you to schedule a fitting. 

Learn more about Skilled Trades opportunities with us on the Volunteer Position page! Have questions or need help getting started? Contact Volunteer Services at volunteer.services@metroparks.org or #937-275-7275 or join us at a Volunteer Open House.

Want to Branch Out? Exploring multiple opportunities is a great way to stay involved, build new skills, and experience different parts of the parks! Consider this/these opportunities:

Carriage Hill Farm Chores

Historic Woodworker

Through oral history, letters, diaries, government records, and other primary and secondary sources, a picture of a lifestyle emerges that Carriage Hill interpreters can bring to life for the public. Volunteers represent what living in the 1880s might have been like, and help visitors make a stronger connection to the history of Carriage Hill and the experience of life on an 1880s working farm. This opportunity will allow people to enjoy an experience at the historic farm, see demonstrations of simple everyday farm tasks, and get a personal introduction to life on the farm. The individuals who volunteer their time and talents help put excitement and perspective into the activities at the Carriage Hill Historic Farm. 

Impact

The interpretative purpose of the farm is to use the Arnold Family, who once lived at Carriage Hill Farm, as a guide to how a real conservative farm family is in real-time at a real place. Volunteers represent what living in the 1880s might have been like, and help visitors make a stronger connection to the history of Carriage Hill and experience life on an 1880s working farm.  

Tasks

Under the supervision of the historic farm staff, volunteers assist and support with the following:

Greet and welcome visitors to the historic farm. Share information about the farm including the purpose of the buildings, daily farm tasks, special activities that may be offered, the animals on the farm, unique aspects of clothing worn, and how these things relate to modern life.  Be an ambassador for Carriage Hill and share points of interest in the park and upcoming events with visitors.  Assist staff with daily farm tasks in and around the historic homestead to help recreate life on the farm for visitors.  Daily farm tasks may include sweeping the house, doing laundry, and dishes, starting the stove for hot water or making biscuits and cookies, harvesting from the heirloom garden as produce ripens, and general historic chores and craftEach weekend’s focus will be on various demonstrations and volunteer skill-building. Week 1: Saturday morning - hot water bath canning; Afternoon - period knitting and crocheting; Sunday - quilt piecing by hand and hand crank sewing machineWeek 2: Saturday - Cookery - preparing period lunch in the morning and tea and a sweet treat in the afternoon; Sunday - quilt piecing by hand and hand crank sewing machineWeek 3: Saturday morning - Storytime at the farm with activity; Afternoon - kids games  (checkers, Jacob’s ladder, string games, old maid card game, shut the box); Sunday - quilt piecing by hand and hand crank sewing machineWeek 4:  Saturday - spinning, weaving, sewing, knitting, or crocheting; Sunday - quilt piecing by hand and crank sewing machine Week 5: Saturday morning - cookery; Afternoon spinning, weaving, sewing, knitting,  or crocheting; Sunday - quilt piecing by hand or hand crank sewing machine Engage visitors in the activities on the farm when and where possible and safe to do so. Assist staff lead during the program to create a better learning environment for this interactive program.  Review additional materials, prepare for tour groups and visitors Link for Tour Information Guide for Men's Clothing Guide for Women's Clothing Natural Dyes of the 19th Century History of the Sewing Machine Eligibility

This opportunity is open to individual, long-term, short-term volunteers, ages 16 and up who have qualified as Historic Interpreters.  

GET STARTED: This opportunity requires Volunteer Onboarding (Profile, Volunteer Handbook Signature, and for those 18 and up, an eligible background check), plus Historic Interpreter training. Simply click the blue RESPOND button to begin completing the required qualifications, or click here to learn more about becoming a volunteer. Historic Interpreter Qualification: Visit the Historic Interpreter page in our Training Library to see what training is required to become part of the Historic Interpreter volunteers.   Additional Notes Parking & Meeting Instructions: Volunteers will meet at the Historic Farm. Click here for a map of Carriage Hill MetroPark.  Volunteers arrive 15 minutes before the beginning of the program. Staff leads will orient volunteers to the day's agenda, review specific stations, and provide any additional information needed.Cancellation:  If you need to cancel a shift at the last minute or are running late, please contact your Staff Lead at the provided number.Environment & Physical Demands: This program takes place indoors and outdoors. Volunteers may participate in some bending, kneeling, reaching, and lifting objects to 10 lbs or more. Dress: Period apparel is required. Volunteers who need to be fitted must contact the staff lead to set an appointment before the opportunity.

Learn more about Programming opportunities with us on the Volunteer Position page! Have questions or need help getting started? Contact Volunteer Services at volunteer.services@metroparks.org or #937-275-7275 or join us at a Volunteer Open House.

Want to Branch Out? Exploring multiple opportunities is a great way to stay involved, build new skills, and experience different parts of the parks! Consider this/these opportunities:

Carriage Hill Farm Chores

Program Support

The Daniel Arnold Historic Farm offers a fascinating look into the past, attracting visitors each year. It provides more than just a historical overview; it offers an immersive interpretive experience. Guided by the story of the Arnold family, visitors can discover what life was truly like for a farming family in the 19th century.

In the woodshop at the historic farm, volunteers explain the tools and methods used, while also supporting farm projects by creating wooden items. Through this hands-on interpretation, visitors gain an appreciation for the craftsmanship and pride that woodworkers in the 1880s felt when making useful products.

Impact

Volunteers represent what living in the 1880s might have been like, and help visitors make a stronger connection to the history of Carriage Hill and experience life on an 1880s working farm. 

Tasks Greet and welcome participants. Interpret and provide historical information specific to the Wood Shop on the Daniel A Arnold Historic Farm. Demonstrate simple techniques of tool use. Work with staff lead, historic interpreters, and program assistants to provide an engaging event for the public participants.Help train new volunteers as needed. Eligibility

This opportunity is open to individual, long-term volunteers, ages 18 and up, who have qualified as Historic Interpreters and a Historic Woodworker.  

GET STARTED: This opportunity requires Volunteer Onboarding (Profile, Volunteer Handbook Signature, and for those 18 and up an eligible background check), plus Historic Interpreter training. Simply click the blue RESPOND button to begin completing the required qualifications, or click here to learn more about becoming a volunteer. Historic Interpreter Qualification: Visit the Historic Interpreter page in our Training Library to see what training is required to become part of the Historic Interpreter volunteers. Historic Blacksmith Qualification: Visit the Historic Woodworker page in our Training Library to see what training is required to complete the training as a Historic Blacksmith volunteer.  Additional Notes Parking & Meeting Instructions: Click here for a map of Carriage Hill MetroPark.  Volunteers are scheduled to arrive 30 minutes before the beginning of the opportunity. Staff leads will orient volunteers to the day's activities, including planned demonstrations and a historical clothing check.  Volunteers will have time for a review of what can be demonstrated and other important information.Cancellation:  If you need to cancel a shift at the last minute or are running late, please contact your Staff Lead at the provided number.Environment & Physical Demands: This program takes place outdoors. Volunteers may participate in some bending, kneeling, reaching, and lifting objects to 10 lbs or more.  Volunteers need to be aware of safety concerns for themselves and visitors within the woodshop with a fireplace and sharp tools.  Dress: Volunteers should dress for the weather. Period apparel is required.  If not yet fitted, the staff lead or volunteer coordinator will contact you to schedule a fitting. 

Learn more about Skilled Trades opportunities with us on the Volunteer Position page! Have questions or need help getting started? Contact Volunteer Services at volunteer.services@metroparks.org or #937-275-7275 or join us at a Volunteer Open House.

Want to Branch Out? Exploring multiple opportunities is a great way to stay involved, build new skills, and experience different parts of the parks! Consider this/these opportunities:

Carriage Hill Farm Chores

Historic Woodworker

​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

Equestrian Arena Assistant volunteers assist staff in conducting lessons and camps, including Summer Camps, at the Carriage Hill Riding Center. These volunteers are the eyes, ears, hands and heart that ensure each participant has a fun, safe, and engaging experience. These volunteers train and qualify as Barn Aides before training to qualify as an Equestrian Arena Assistant. 

Impact

Arena Assistant Volunteers ensure a fun, safe experience riding lesson experience providing a connection to nature through high-quality equine programming. 

Tasks

Retrieve horses from stalls or paddocks and lead to cross ties. Assist with grooming and tacking Help with checking tack, getting riders mounted, and adjusting stirrups Assist with aiding and maintaining safe spacing between the horses during the lesson Keep an eye on safety issues throughout the lesson.

Eligibility

This opportunity is open to individual Long-Term, Short-Term and Youth volunteers ages 14 and up who have qualified as Equestrian Arena Assistants.

GET STARTED: This opportunity requires Volunteer Onboarding (Profile, Volunteer Handbook Signature, and for those 14 and up an eligible background check), plus Barn Aide and Equestrian Arena Assistant Volunteer training. Simply click the blue RESPOND completing the required qualifications or click here to learn more about becoming a volunteer.

Additional Notes

Parking & Meeting Instructions: Meet the staff near the barn office. Cancelation: If you need to cancel a shift last-minute or are running late, please call the Riding Center office cell phone number at #937-689-6939.Environment & Physical Demands: Volunteers should expect to work in outside weather conditions, year-round in a typical ban environment with exposure to cat and horse dander, dust, hay, and other environmental allergens.If you would like to request a service accommodation in order to volunteer at this opportunity, please contact Volunteer Services at least 1 week before the scheduled opportunity.Dress: Please wear your volunteer name badge and volunteer apparel if you have it to make you easy to identify as a volunteer.

See the Programming Volunteer Position Description for more detailed information. Have questions or need help getting started? Contact Volunteer Services at volunteer.services@metroparks.org or #937-275-7275 or join us at a Volunteer Open House.

Are you looking for a volunteer opportunity to give back to Five Rivers MetroParks through Gardening? Would you like to be a part of building a space that connects families and youth to the enjoyment and benefits of what a garden has to offer? Join the knowledgeable education team in Skeeters' Garden, assisting with weekly garden tasks that create a space where visitors and families can discover, experience, and love our world through gardening.   You do not need to be an expert for this opportunity, but gardening and plant knowledge are always a plus.

Impact

Horticulture at Five Rivers MetroParks creates, maintains, and preserves green space and habitats for pollinators and native plants, as well as educates visitors on sustainable gardening practices and local food production.  Volunteers help the staff create educational spaces for families to learn and grow strong plants at home.  Thanks to volunteer support, these spaces are making it easy for families to see an example of what can be done at home.

Tasks

Under the supervision of the Staff Lead, volunteers will assist with the following: 

Gathering supplies needed for a general garden clean-up.  Volunteers will assist with simple tasks, working with the staff lead, to weed unwanted plants, plant additional plants, groom plants for best display, and harvest any ready items.Welcome and greet visitors, and provide wayfinding if needed.Engaging visitors in moments of discovery in the garden.Share gardening best practices and how-tos with visitors to Skeeter's garden.Getting materials to the compost area.Preparing materials for upcoming programs in the garden.

Eligibility

This opportunity is open to individual Short-term and Long-Term volunteers, ages 18 and up. 

GET STARTED: This opportunity requires Volunteer Onboarding (Profile, Volunteer Handbook Signature, and, for those 18 and up, an eligible background check).  Simply click the blue RESPOND button to begin completing the required qualifications, or click here to learn more about becoming a volunteer.This opportunity is available for OSUE Master Gardener service hours.

Additional Notes

Parking & Meeting Instructions: Click here for a map of Wegerzyn Gardens MetroPark.  Volunteers should arrive early to allow for parking, check-in, and meeting with the staff lead. Staff leads will orient volunteers to the day's agenda and other important information.Cancellation:  If you need to cancel a shift at the last minute or are running late, please contact your Staff Lead at the provided number.Environment & Physical Demands: This program takes place outdoors. Volunteers may participate in some bending, kneeling, reaching, and lifting objects to 10 lbs or more. Volunteers may be standing or walking for the majority of their shift.  Please be aware of outdoor exposure risks (i.e., sun, poison ivy, insects, etc.), and seasonal allergies (i.e., grass, pollen, bees, etc.) Dress: Volunteers should dress for the weather and wear their MetroParks name badge and apparel.  

Learn more about Programming opportunities with us on the Volunteer Position page! Have questions or need help getting started? Contact Volunteer Services at volunteer.services@metroparks.org or #937-275-7275 or join us at a Volunteer Open House.

Want to Branch Out? Exploring multiple opportunities is a great way to stay involved, build new skills, and experience different parts of the parks! Consider this/these opportunities:

Program Support

Do you have some sewing, knitting, crocheting, weaving, or other textile skills you are willing to share? Join us at MetroParks as we breathe new life into fiber arts and textile skills! We're seeking enthusiastic volunteers to help us create, maintain, and repair essential items at our historic farm and other MetroParks facilities. This is your chance to put your expertise to good use while making a positive impact in the community. If you have experience in any textile craft, we invite you to share your skills with us. Don’t worry if you're still learning—there will be plenty of opportunities to grow your abilities alongside fellow enthusiasts during our workdays.

Each week will bring new and exciting projects as we build a vibrant community of textile volunteers. We’ll conduct a skills assessment at the start of each project to tailor opportunities to everyone’s strengths and interests. Together, we can preserve and celebrate these invaluable arts! Join us in making a difference, and let’s create something beautiful together!

Impact

Volunteers will support efforts on the historic farm by making the textile materials needed for the interpretive team of staff and volunteers to accurately represent what living on an 1880s farm might have been like.

Tasks 

Under the supervision of the assigned Staff Lead, volunteers will

Projects will be staff-driven needs for historic clothing, items for the historic house, and support of other programming needs, and will start with a simple project to assess the skill level of the interested volunteers.Support and assist staff with cutting out the pattern, simple sewing by hand and machine, and correct care of the finished project.
Knit and/or crochet items needed for winter wear. Items may include scarves, hats, socks, and wristers. Weaving will focus on scarves for use by the historic interpreters, towels for use in the kitchen of the Arnold home, and napkins for special programs.Volunteers will be working in small numbers and rotating the tasks/steps to make the project build proficiency in each of the steps of the project. Those volunteers who have done the modern knitting machine training can make socks, do simple projects, and demonstrate simple kids' bracelets for visitors. Visitors are welcomed into the textile room and may observe as volunteers are mending, making repairs, creating new clothing items, adding new buttons for historic clothing, and practicing their skills at Carriage Hill.Volunteers can support the staff lead with demonstrations while learning about the newer tools. Support new volunteers in gaining skills.  Eligibility

This opportunity is open to individual, long-term, and short term volunteers, ages 16 and up, who have completed the textile qualification. Learn more about our types of service here.

GET STARTED: This opportunity requires Volunteer Onboarding (Profile, Volunteer Handbook Signature, and for those 18 and up, an eligible background check). Simply click the blue RESPOND button to begin completing the required qualifications, or click here to learn more about becoming a volunteer. Additional Notes Parking & Meeting Instructions: Please park and walk to the visitor center. Knock on the entrance door if you are arriving a little late and the staff will greet you! Click here for a map of Carriage Hill MetroPark.  Volunteers should arrive 15 minutes before the beginning of the opportunity. Staff leads will orient volunteers to the day's agenda and other important information.Environment & Physical Demands: This program takes place indoors. Volunteers may participate in some bending, kneeling, reaching, and lifting objects to 10 lbs or more. There will be sharp objects, knitting machines, looms, sewing machines, and other items that require you to be careful and work safely in a small space. Dress: Volunteers do not need to wear period apparel. Volunteers should dress for the weather, and wear their MetroParks name badge and t-shirt.

Learn more about  Skilled Trades  opportunities with us on the Volunteer Position page! Have questions or need help getting started? Contact Volunteer Services at volunteer.services@metroparks.org or #937-275-7275 or join us at a Volunteer Open House.  Visit the Historic Interpreter page in our Training Library to see what training is required to become part of the Historic Interpreter volunteers. 

Learn, grow, and give back to the trails you love with this exciting Service Saturday trail maintenance volunteer opportunity! Led by our knowledgeable staff, these trail maintenance opportunities will focus on revitalizing the trail systems at Cox Arboretum MetroPark. Learn alongside like-minded individuals on the whys and hows 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  

This series of Volunteer Opportunities offers volunteers a chance to participate in a number of trail maintenance activities. This includes but is not limited to: corridor clearing, invasive plant removal, tread maintenance, and drainage clearing.

Eligibility: This opportunity is open to individuals, groups, public, long-term, and short-term volunteers, ages 14 and up.

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 to view a map of Cox Arboretum MetroPark. Volunteers should park in the main parking lot and walk along the left side of the Visitor Center to the Greenhouse/Resource Center area. Follow the 'Volunteer Event' signage. Cancelation: If you need to cancel a shift at the last minute or are running late, please contact Staff Lead Todd Strong at (513) 658-0279. 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 walk/hike up to 1 mile, reach, bend, kneel, drag, and lift up to 25lbs. Work will take place on natural trails, which can be muddy, uneven, and sloped. 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. 

Learn more about Park Maintenance opportunities with us on the Volunteer Position page! Have questions or need help getting started? Contact Volunteer Services at volunteer.services@metroparks.org or #937-275-7275 or join us at a Volunteer Open House. 

Looking to spend a Saturday morning doing something hands-on and meaningful? Join the team of knowledgeable staff and passionate volunteers at Cox Arboretum MetroPark. You’ll work alongside MetroParks staff and fellow volunteers on real, seasonal projects that help keep the gardens looking their best. Whether you're a seasoned gardener or just curious to try something new, Service Saturdays are a fun, flexible way to give back, learn as you go, and be part of the work happening at Cox Arboretum.

Impact

Horticulture at Five Rivers MetroParks creates, maintains, and preserves green space and habitats for pollinators and native plants, as well as educates visitors on sustainable gardening practices and local food production.  Gardening volunteers support the Horticulture and Outdoor Connections staff in a variety of gardening tasks. 

Tasks  

Volunteer will assist with a variety of seasonal garden maintenance projects, which might include weeding, planting, or mulching, depending on the weather and the conditions.

Eligibility: This opportunity is open to individuals, groups, public, long-term, and short-term volunteers, ages 14 and up.

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 Cox Arboretum MetroPark. Volunteers should park at Cox Arboretum, located at 6733 Springboro Pike, Dayton, OH 45449, and meet staff in the plaza, between the Barbara Cox Center for Sustainable Horticulture and the Kettering Learning Lab.  Cancelation: If you need to cancel a shift at the last minute or are running late, please contact Staff Lead Todd Strong at 937-279-6978. Environmental & Physical Demands: This project takes place outdoors. Please be aware of outdoor exposure risks (i.e., sun, poison ivy, ticks, etc.). Volunteers should be aware of seasonal allergies (i.e., grass, pollen, bees, etc.), and can expect to participate in bending, kneeling, reaching, walking, and lifting objects of 15 lbs or more, etc. 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. ​

Learn more about Gardening opportunities with us on the Volunteer Position page! Have questions or need help getting started? Contact Volunteer Services at volunteer.services@metroparks.org or #937-275-7275 or join us at a Volunteer Open House. 

Are you ready to roll up your sleeves and get your hands dirty? Join us at Possum Creek MetroPark for a fun-filled volunteer opportunity in the Demonstration Garden! The Demonstration Gardens provide produce to those in need throughout Dayton and the Miami Valley. Our education staff needs your help in maintaining the gardens and flower beds at the farm. Together, we'll make the Possum Creek Demonstration Garden a beautiful and inspiring place for programming, school tours, and park patrons of all ages!

Impact

Horticulture at Five Rivers MetroParks creates, maintains, and preserves green space and habitats for pollinators and native plants, as well as educates visitors on sustainable gardening practices and local food production.  Gardening volunteers support the Horticulture and Outdoor Connections staff in a variety of gardening tasks. 

Tasks  

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

Garden bed prep, weeding, compost maintenance (turning, sifting, and application), garden path maintenance (cardboard and woodchip application), garden bed construction, transplanting, planting, and more.

Eligibility: This opportunity is open to individuals, groups, public, long-term, and short-term volunteers, ages 14 and up.

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: Arrive 5- 10 minutes before your shift start time for a brief introduction and orientation to the site and the volunteer project. Click here for a map of Possum Creek MetroPark. Volunteers should park in the parking lot near the Farm Shelter. Enter the park at 4790 Frytown Rd., Dayton, OH 45417, and follow the main park drive until it dead-ends into the farm parking lot. Look for the 'Volunteer Event' signage. Cancelation: If you need to cancel a shift at the last minute or are running late, please contact Kaitlyn Lowry, Education Coordinator, at 937-276-7053. Environmental & Physical Demands: This project takes place outdoors - Please be aware of outdoor exposure risks (i.e., sun, poison ivy, ticks, etc.). Volunteers should be aware of seasonal allergies (i.e., grass, pollen, bees, etc.), and can expect to participate in bending, kneeling, reaching, walking, and lifting objects of 10lbs or more in possibly direct sunlight.Dress: Volunteers should dress for the weather, wear long pants and closed-toe shoes, and have their favorite work gloves, water bottles, sunscreen, and bug spray. 

​ Learn more about Garden opportunities with us on the Volunteer Position page! Have questions or need help getting started? Contact Volunteer Services at volunteer.services@metroparks.org or #937-275-7275 or join us at a Volunteer Open House. 

Do you enjoy gardening in a variety of settings? Would you like to discover gardening design ideas and unique plants for the home landscape? Make an impact by helping staff in the Federal, English, Victorian, and Woodland Gardens, among other great horticulture features at Wegerzyn Gardens MetroPark.

Impact

Horticulture at Five Rivers MetroParks creates, maintains, and preserves green space and habitats for pollinators and native plants, as well as educates visitors on sustainable gardening practices and local food production.  Gardening volunteers support the Horticulture and Outdoor Connections staff in a variety of gardening tasks. 

Tasks

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

general garden maintenance, including weeding, mulching, invasive species removal, or other small projects identified by the Wegerzyn Gardens team.

Eligibility

This opportunity is open to the following volunteers: Public Service, Long-Term, Short-Term, Youth and Families. 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.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 Notes:

Parking & Meeting Instructions: Click here for a map of Wegerzyn Gardens MetroPark. Volunteers should park in the Wegerzyn Gardens parking lot (1301 E. Siebenthaler Ave., Dayton, OH 45414) and meet staff at the front entrance of the building.  Cancelation: If you need to cancel a shift at the last minute or are running late, please contact the staff lead, Payton Johnson, at (513) 292- 8303. 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 routinely bending, kneeling, reaching, and lifting objects of 15 lbs or more, etc. 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. ​

​ Learn more about Garden opportunities with us on the Volunteer Position page! Have questions or need help getting started? Contact Volunteer Services at volunteer.services@metroparks.org or #937-275-7275 or join us at a Volunteer Open House. 

This Shadow Experience opportunity is for those volunteers in training to serve as a Historic Interpreter Volunteer. You will be partnered with a qualified and experienced volunteer and/or Staff Lead during this shadow experience to observe, learn, and practice the skills needed to fully qualify as a Historic Interpreter.

Through oral history, letters, diaries, government records, and other primary and secondary sources, a picture of a lifestyle emerges that Carriage Hill interpreters can bring to life for the public. Volunteers represent what living in the 1880s might have been like, and help visitors make a stronger connection to the history of Carriage Hill and the experience of life on an 1880s working farm.  Historic interpreter volunteers allow people to enjoy an experience at the historic farm, see demonstrations of simple everyday farm tasks, and get a personal introduction to life on the farm. 

Impact

The interpretative purpose of the farm is to use the Arnold Family, who once lived at Carriage Hill Farm, as a guide to how a real conservative farm family is in real-time at a real place. Volunteers represent what living in the 1880s might have been like, and help visitors make a stronger connection to the history of Carriage Hill and experience life on an 1880s working farm.  

Tasks

Under the supervision of the historic farm staff, volunteers assist and support with the following:

Greet and welcome visitors to the historic farm. Share information about the farm, including the purpose of the buildings, daily farm tasks, special activities that may be offered, the animals on the farm, unique aspects of clothing worn, and how these things relate to modern life.  Be an ambassador for Carriage Hill and share points of interest in the park and upcoming events with visitors.  Assist staff with daily farm tasks in and around the historic homestead to help recreate life on the farm for visitors.  Daily farm tasks may include sweeping the house, doing laundry, and dishes, starting the stove for hot water or making biscuits and cookies, harvesting from the heirloom garden as produce ripens, and general historic chores and craftEach weekend’s focus will be on various demonstrations and volunteer skill-building. Week 1: Saturday morning - hot water bath canning; Afternoon - period knitting and crocheting; Sunday - quilt piecing by hand and hand crank sewing machineWeek 2: Saturday - Cookery - preparing period lunch in the morning and tea and a sweet treat in the afternoon; Sunday - quilt piecing by hand and hand crank sewing machineWeek 3: Saturday morning - Storytime at the farm with activity; Afternoon - kids games  (checkers, Jacob’s ladder, string games, old maid card game, shut the box); Sunday - quilt piecing by hand and hand crank sewing machineWeek 4:  Saturday - spinning, weaving, sewing, knitting, or crocheting; Sunday - quilt piecing by hand and crank sewing machine Week 5: Saturday morning - cookery; Afternoon spinning, weaving, sewing, knitting,  or crocheting; Sunday - quilt piecing by hand or hand crank sewing machine Engage visitors in the activities on the farm when and where possible and safe to do so. Assist the staff lead during the program to create a better learning environment for this interactive program.  Review additional materials, prepare for tour groups and visitors Link for Tour Information Guide for Men's Clothing Guide for Women's Clothing Natural Dyes of the 19th Century History of the Sewing Machine During the shadow experience, the staff lead will work with the volunteer to review and practice the various items on the annual historic interpreter check-off.  Review the Check Off form here, and discuss the items with the staff lead. Eligibility

This opportunity is open to individual, long-term, short-term volunteers, ages 16 and up who have completed the Historic Interpreter virtual training.  

GET STARTED: This opportunity requires Volunteer Onboarding (Profile, Volunteer Handbook Signature, and for those 18 and up an eligible background check), plus Historic Interpreter training. Simply click the blue RESPOND button to begin completing the required qualifications, or click here to learn more about becoming a volunteer. Historic Interpreter Qualification: Visit the Historic Interpreter page in our Training Library to see what training is required to become part of the Historic Interpreter volunteers.   Additional Notes Parking & Meeting Instructions: Volunteers will meet at the Historic Farm. Click here for a map of Carriage Hill MetroPark.  Volunteers arrive 15 minutes before the beginning of the program. Staff leads will orient volunteers to the day's agenda, review specific stations, and provide any additional information needed.Cancellation:  If you need to cancel a shift at the last minute or are running late, please contact your Staff Lead at the provided number.Environment & Physical Demands: This program takes place indoors and outdoors. Volunteers may participate in some bending, kneeling, reaching, and lifting objects to 10 lbs or more. Dress: Period apparel is required. Volunteers who need to be fitted must contact the staff lead to set an appointment before the opportunity.

Learn more about Programming opportunities with us on the Volunteer Position page! Have questions or need help getting started? Contact Volunteer Services at volunteer.services@metroparks.org or #937-275-7275 or join us at a Volunteer Open House.

Want to Branch Out? Exploring multiple opportunities is a great way to stay involved, build new skills, and experience different parts of the parks! Consider this/these opportunities:

Carriage Hill Farm Chores

Program Support

Share your love and enthusiasm for Carriage Hill with park patrons! Help enhance the visitor experience by greeting, welcoming, and interacting with a variety of diverse audiences and recommending all the best things to see and do while visiting the farm.

Impact

Visitor Center Ambassadors share their enthusiasm for Five Rivers MetroParks with diverse audiences at the Visitor Centers at Carriage Hill and Cox Arboretum MetroParks. Ambassadors are often the first friendly faces a visitor sees welcoming them to the park and can be counted on to share helpful information and answer a variety of questions.

Tasks Provide excellent customer service by welcoming and directing visitors throughout the park and visitor center. Answer questions about MetroParks. Distribute brochures or other literature appropriate to the conversation.Provide guest assistance while Visitor Services staff is on break. (You will not be asked to answer phones.) Eligibility This opportunity is open to the following volunteers: Long-Term, Short-Term, and Youth ages 16 and up. Learn more about our types of service here. Additional Notes Parking & Meeting Instructions: Parking can be found in the visitor parking lots in front of the visitor center located at 7800 E. Shull Rd.  Cancelation:  If you need to cancel a shift last minute or are running late, please call Visitor Services Manager Jonathan Gray at 937-499-4270 or 937-275-7275 Environment & Physical Demands: ​​This opportunity involves sitting at the volunteer desk for periods of time. Volunteers may want to stand for periods to speak with guests or show them to specific areas or give directions. Volunteers may choose to station themselves outside the visitor center for some or all of their shift. Dress: Please wear your volunteer name badge and, if you have one, your green or blue volunteer shirt. The temperature in the visitor center can vary in alignment with the weather, so please dress accordingly. If choosing to station outside of the visitor center, a volunteer safety vest must be worn.  Look for additional details about this opportunity at the bottom of this listing! See the Ambassador Volunteer Position for more information on Ambassador volunteer opportunities with us.

Be a part of the magic! Volunteering as a Pony Ride Assistant is a fun way to support the Carriage Hill Riding Center on the weekends. For many of our riders, a Pony Ride is their first experience with a horse or pony, and that experience creates a lasting memory.

Pony Ride Assistants support the pony ride programming at the Carriage Hill Riding Center leading ponies by hand while the children ride, serving as a spotter, or walking alongside the pony during the ride.

Impact

Volunteers help ensure a safe experience and provide personal attention to each rider and their family. This support allows us to offer a direct connection to large animals and nature through programming.

Tasks

Groom and tack ponies to prepare for the rides Assist riders with helmet Re-check saddle before mounting each rider Assist rider onto pony (may involve lifting) One person leads the pony; second person watches the child to ensure a centered position (this can be a customer) Escort the child to and from the pony Keep ponies watered and un-tacked during downtime

Eligibility

This opportunity is open to individual Long-Term, Short-Term and Youth Volunteers ages 14 and up who have qualified as Barn Aides and have qualified as Pony Ride Assistant Volunteers.

GET STARTED: This opportunity requires Volunteer Onboarding (Profile, Volunteer Handbook Signature), and for those 18 and up an eligible background check), plus Barn Aide and Pony Ride Assistant Volunteer training. Simply click the blue RESPOND completing the required qualifications or click here to learn more about becoming a volunteer.

Additional Notes

Parking & Meeting instructions: Meet near the office inside the first barn or find a staff member.
Cancelation: If you need to cancel a shift last-minute or are running late, please call the Riding Center office cell phone number at #937-689-6939.Dress: Please wear long pants, and sturdy closed toe shoes (no steel toe boots). Please wear your volunteer name badge and volunteer apparel while volunteering. Environment & Physical Demands:
Volunteers should prepare to work in outdoor weather conditions, year-round. In this work environment, volunteers will be exposed to cat and horse dander, dust, and other environmental allergens.Volunteers can expect to assist with lifting children onto the ponies, lifting anywhere from 35-50 pounds. Anticipate long periods of walking, standing and lifting.If you would like to request a service accommodation in order to volunteer at this opportunity, please contact Volunteer Services at least 1 week before the scheduled opportunity.

See the Programming Volunteer Position Description for more detailed information. Have questions or need help getting started? Contact Volunteer Services at volunteer.services@metroparks.org or #937-275-7275 or join us at a Volunteer Open House.

This Shadow Experience opportunity is for those volunteers in training to serve as a Pony Ride Assistant. You will be partnered with a qualified and experienced Staff Lead during this shadow experience to observe, learn, and practice the required skills.

Volunteering as a Pony Ride Assistant is a fun and interactive way to help at the Riding Center if you enjoy being around young children (age 2 - 8) and families. For many of our riders, a Pony Ride is their first interaction with an equine, and their experience with us creates a lasting memory. Volunteers hand-lead ponies while the children ride, or act as a spotter, walking alongside the pony during the ride. 

The Pony Ride Assistant opportunity is only open to those current Carriage Hill Riding Center volunteers who have completed 20 hours of service as a Barn Aide. For more information on how to get started as a Barn Aide, please visit our Carriage Hill Riding Center Volunteer Training page.

Impact

Volunteers help ensure a safe experience and provide personal attention to each rider and their family. This support allows us to offer a direct connection to large animals and nature through programming.

Tasks

Under the supervision of staff, you will learn and practice these tasks and skills:

Groom (ponies)

Tack (ponies) Assist rider with helmet Re-check saddle before mounting rider Assist rider onto pony (may involve lifting) One person leads the pony; second person watches the child to ensure a centered position (this can be a customer) Escort the child to and from the pony Keep ponies watered and un-tacked during downtime

Eligibility

This opportunity is open to individual Long-Term, Short-Term and Youth Volunteers ages 14 and up who have qualified as Barn Aides and have completed the Pony Ride Assistant Volunteer Training.

GET STARTED: This opportunity requires Volunteer Onboarding (Profile, Volunteer Handbook Signature), and for those 18 and up an eligible background check), plus Barn Aide and Pony Ride Assistant Volunteer training. Simply click the blue RESPOND completing the required qualifications or click here to learn more about becoming a volunteer.

Additional Notes

Parking & Meeting instructions: Meet near the office inside the first barn or find a staff member.
Cancelation: If you need to cancel a shift last-minute or are running late, please call the Riding Center office cell phone number at #937-689-6939.Dress: Please wear long pants, and sturdy closed toe shoes (no steel toe boots). Please wear your volunteer name badge and volunteer apparel while volunteering. Environment & Physical Demands:
Volunteers should prepare to work in outdoor weather conditions, year-round. In this work environment, volunteers will be exposed to cat and horse dander, dust, and other environmental allergens.Volunteers can expect to assist with lifting children onto the ponies, lifting anywhere from 35-50 pounds. Anticipate long periods of walking, standing and lifting.If you would like to request a service accommodation in order to volunteer at this opportunity, please contact Volunteer Services at least 1 week before the scheduled opportunity.

See the Programming Volunteer Position Description for more detailed information. Have questions or need help getting started? Contact Volunteer Services at volunteer.services@metroparks.org or #937-275-7275 or join us at a Volunteer Open House.

Help community members enjoy our parks on horseback by supporting our Trail Rides at the Carriage Hill Riding Center as a volunteer Equestrian Trail Guide!

Equestrian Trail Guides assist with grooming and saddling the horses, help customers while they get on and off their horses, and untack and clean up once the trail riders return. In addition to these tasks, Trail Guides will join the trail ride on horseback while giving instructions, keeping a watch on spacing and behavior, and answering questions. Trail rides are often a customers’ first exposure to horses, and their experience with us creates a lasting memory and a deep connection to nature through this experience. 

Impact

Volunteers help ensure a safe experience and provide personal attention to each rider.  This extra support allows us to offer a direct connection to large animals and nature through programming.

Tasks Groom and tack horses used for trails. Horses remain in cross-ties until the trail is ready to go out (Bridles on horses with halters over the bridles.) Re-check tack and tighten girths before mounting riders. Mount riders, fit stirrups to riders, and give basic instruction on control. Join the trail ride on horseback, assisting participants. Make sure customers are taken care of and a staff member is with the group before mounting your own horse. Assist with Barn Aide responsibilities as needed. Eligibility

This opportunity is open to individual Long-Term, Short-Term and Youth Volunteers ages 16 and up who have qualified as Barn Aides and completed the Equestrian Trail Guide Training Series.

GET STARTED: This opportunity requires Volunteer Onboarding (Profile, Volunteer Handbook Signature), and for those 18 and up an eligible background check), plus Barn Aide and Trail Guide Volunteer training. Simply click the blue RESPOND completing the required qualifications or click here to learn more about becoming a volunteer. Additional NotesParking & Meeting instructions: Meet near the office inside the first barn or find a staff member.
Cancelation: If you need to cancel a shift last-minute or are running late, please call the Riding Center office cell phone number at #937-689-6939.Dress: Please wear long pants, and sturdy closed toe shoes (no steel toe boots). Please wear your volunteer name badge and volunteer apparel while volunteering. Environment & Physical Demands:
Volunteers should prepare to work in outdoor weather conditions, year-round. In this work environment, volunteers will be exposed to cat and horse dander, dust, and other environmental allergens.If you would like to request a service accommodation in order to volunteer at this opportunity, please contact Volunteer Services at least 1 week before the scheduled opportunity.

See the Programming Volunteer Position Description for more detailed information. Have questions or need help getting started? Contact Volunteer Services at volunteer.services@metroparks.org or #937-275-7275 or join us at a Volunteer Open House.

**This opportunity is a SHADOW Experience open to volunteers in training to be qualified Equestrian Trail Guides at the Carriage Hill Riding Center. These volunteers have qualified as Barn Aides and completed the Equestrian Trail Guide volunteer training. Now, they will shadow qualified volunteers and Carriage Hill Riding Center staff to practice the skills needed to become a qualified Equestrian Trail Guide volunteer. **

Help community members enjoy our parks on horseback by supporting our Trail Rides at the Carriage Hill Riding Center as a volunteer Equestrian Trail Guide! Equestrian Trail Guides assist with grooming and saddling the horses, help customers while they get on and off their horses, and untack and clean up once the trail riders return.

In addition to these tasks, Trail Guides will learn to ride on horseback while giving instructions, keeping a watch on spacing and behavior, and answering questions. 

Impact

Trail rides are often a customers’ first exposure to horses, and their experience with us creates a lasting memory and a deep connection to nature through this experience. Volunteers help ensure a safe experience and provide personal attention to each rider.  This extra support allows us to offer a direct connection to large animals and nature through programming.

Tasks

Working alongside qualified volunteers and staff, volunteers in training will do and learn the following at this shadow experience:

Groom and tack horses used for trails. Horses remain in cross-ties until the trail is ready to go out (Bridles on horses with halters over the bridles.) Re-check tack and tighten girths before mounting riders. Mount riders, fit stirrups to riders, and give basic instruction on control. Join the trail ride on horseback, assisting participants. Make sure customers are taken care of and a staff member is with the group before mounting your own horse. Assist with Barn Aide responsibilities as needed.

Eligibility

This opportunity is open to individual Long-Term, Short-Term and Youth Volunteers ages 16 and up who have qualified as Barn Aides and are in training to serve as Equestrian Trail Guides.

GET STARTED: This opportunity requires Volunteer Onboarding (Profile, Volunteer Handbook Signature), and for those 18 and up an eligible background check), plus Barn Aide and Trail Guide Volunteer training. Simply click the blue RESPOND completing the required qualifications or click here to learn more about becoming a volunteer.

Additional Notes

Parking & Meeting instructions: Meet near the office inside the first barn or find a staff member.
Cancelation: If you need to cancel a shift last-minute or are running late, please call the Riding Center office cell phone number at #937-689-6939.Dress: Please wear long pants, and sturdy closed toe shoes (no steel toe boots). Please wear your volunteer name badge and volunteer apparel while volunteering. Environment & Physical Demands:
Volunteers should prepare to work in outdoor weather conditions, year-round. In this work environment, volunteers will be exposed to cat and horse dander, dust, and other environmental allergens.If you would like to request a service accommodation in order to volunteer at this opportunity, please contact Volunteer Services at least 1 week before the scheduled opportunity.

See the Programming Volunteer Position Description for more detailed information. Have questions or need help getting started? Contact Volunteer Services at volunteer.services@metroparks.org or #937-275-7275 or join us at a Volunteer Open House.

This Mud Day event aims to allow everyone to play in the mud!  Volunteers will set up and support a variety of mud-themed activity stations in the Children's Discovery Garden.  During this program, volunteers should plan to get dirty while engaging visitors in the activities supporting these fun mud-themed activities.  Program support volunteers do not need to be experts in the activity, but it is important that they enjoy working with kids and their families. This opportunity will need the child in each volunteer to come out to play !

Mud Ball Critters — invite people to create their own mud critter masterpieces using mud and natural materials. (1 Volunteer) Mud Kitchen — invite everyone to make mud creations using typical kitchen tools and baking supplies.  Think pies, cupcakes, pizza, donuts, or let them be creative and make a new dish. (2 Volunteer)GetMuddy Mud Pools and clean up station — invite people to hop in! (2 Volunteers) Mud Mural — invite everyone to paint with mud and paint on the papers attached to the side of the shed. (2 Volunteers)Mud Ball Toss— invite children to play a game where they throw balls of mud into different-sized buckets! (1 Volunteer)
Dinosaur Hug — encourage visitors to hug a muddy inflatable dinosaur and explore our dinosaur garden. (1 Volunteer)Monster Stomp — invite people to put on the flippers, and pretend to be the Mud Monster stomping down the muddy tarp and through a small city of buildings. (1 Volunteer)Craft and Memento Station — assist visitors in creating a memento of the day with craft supplies provided. (1 Volunteer)Mud Race Track— invite people have a race through the mud, using toy cars and trucks. (1 Volunteer)Muddy Surprise Creature Station— At 3 set times, volunteers will invite visitors to search for creatures in the container of mud.  There will be a time limit to allow everyone to play. *** During other times, this station will support the busiest station.  (1 Volunteer)Mud Birthday Cake — To celebrate the Children's Garden's 20th anniversary, invite visitors to decorate the cake with mud and natural art materials. (1 Volunteer)

Impact

Volunteers help build access, comfort, convenience, safety, and FUN into our programs for all interested in learning!  They enable more individualized support for first-time learners and create a better skill-building environment. Volunteers help people make a stronger connection to nature by making it easy to experience the outdoors in fun activities.

Tasks

Arrive and check in with your Staff Lead to receive your activity assignment and prepare supplies. This program runs from 10 am-1 pm. Volunteers will assist with setting up and closing the activity stations. Introduce the activity to participants and ensure everyone has an opportunity to participate. Provide a welcoming, safe, positive experience for all participants.Review where stations are located to better assist the public.  Click here to view a map of the stations and activities.

Eligibility

This opportunity is open to individual Short-term, Long-Term, and youth volunteers, ages 14 and up. 

GET STARTED: This opportunity requires Volunteer Onboarding (Profile, Volunteer Handbook Signature, and for those 18 and up, an eligible background check).  Simply click the blue RESPOND button to begin completing the required qualifications, or click here to learn more about becoming a volunteer.

Additional Notes:

Parking & Meeting Instructions: Click here to view the map of Wegerzyn Gardens. Volunteers should park in the main parking lot in front of the Administrative building and meet with the staff lead at Skeeter's Garden. Please plan to arrive 15 minutes before your shift to allow for parking, checking in, and connecting with the staff lead.  Cancellation:  If you need to cancel a shift at the last minute or are running late, please call the staff lead, Betty Hoevel, at 937-276-7052. Environment & Physical Demands: ​​This is an outdoor activity, and you may get dirty.  This opportunity involves working with or near mud. Physical duties include standing, walking, and lifting. Volunteers may want to bring a water bottle, sunblock, and a towel to clean up (if needed). Dress: Please wear closed-toe shoes, your volunteer name badge, and apparel.  Reusable volunteer vests will be provided for volunteers on-site. 

Learn more about the Programming opportunities with us on the Volunteer Position page!   Have questions or need help getting started? Contact Volunteer Services at volunteer.services@metroparks.org or #937-275-7275 or join us at a Volunteer Open House.

Want to Branch Out? Exploring multiple opportunities is a great way to stay involved, build new skills, and experience different parts of the parks! Consider this opportunity:

Program Support at Wegerzyn Gardens

Volunteers can enhance their outdoor cooking skills by learning techniques and recipes from the 19th century while helping visitors experience this unique program. This demonstration program will involve preparing a simple meal cooked over a small fire with 19th-century stoves and modern firebox stoves. Volunteers will support the 2nd Saturday Cookery activites at the Historic Farm. Each month, the demonstrations will feature different items, but all recipes are from a 19th-century resource - Camp Cookery and Marion Harlan's recipes. These skills can be valuable during power outages, camping trips, hiking excursions, and emergencies. The cooking will take place near the summer kitchen on the historic farm grounds.  Volunteers will participate in the upcoming month's meal plan and assist with preparing the current meal.

Program Support Volunteers at the Historic Farm contribute their time and talents, adding an extra layer of engagement to activities and enhancing the visitor experience. Program Support Volunteers are welcome and can participate in various entry-level opportunities to support our programs—typically, no expert knowledge is required. However, volunteers who support the cookery programs should have some culinary experience. This opportunity will focus on a 19th-century interpretive demonstration using recipes from the 1878 cookbook "Camp Cookery."

Impact

Volunteers enable us to accomplish so much more by lending a hand in simple activities, allowing demonstrators to take a break, or talking with the visitors about the activities while allowing the tasks to be completed.

Tasks

Assist the staff lead with setup and teardown of the program or demonstration.Welcome and greet visitors at the activity stationGather and distribute materials as neededAssist with simple, but essential, culinary tasks May assist with documenting the event through photos. Encourage volunteerism, and help direct to the website for information

Eligibilit

This opportunity is open to individual long-Term volunteers, ages 18 and up. 

GET STARTED: This opportunity requires Volunteer Onboarding (Profile, Volunteer Handbook Signature, and, for those 18 and up, an eligible background check).  Simply click the blue RESPOND button to begin completing the required qualifications, or click here to learn more about becoming a volunteer.

 Additional Notes

Parking & Meeting Instructions: Click here for a map of Carriage Hill MetroPark.  Volunteers are scheduled to arrive 30 minutes before the start of the program. Staff leads will orient volunteers to the day's agenda and other important information.Environment & Physical Demands: This program takes place outdoors. Volunteers may participate in some bending, kneeling, reaching, and lifting objects to 10 lbs or more. There will be sharp objects and other items that require you to be careful and work safely in a small space.  Dress: No Period Apparel Required! Volunteers should dress for the weather, wear their MetroParks name badge, and a volunteer vest will be available upon arrival.  Please remember to bring leather gloves.Visit the Historic Interpreter page in our Training Library to see what training is required to become part of the Historic Interpreter volunteers. 

Learn more about the Programming opportunities with us on the Volunteer Position page!   Have questions or need help getting started? Contact Volunteer Services at volunteer.services@metroparks.org or #937-275-7275 or join us at a Volunteer Open House.

Want to Branch Out? Exploring multiple opportunities is a great way to stay involved, build new skills, and experience different parts of the parks! Consider this opportunity:

Shadow Experience: Historic Interpreter

All Program Support

The Dayton Celtic Festival is back this year! Lend your helping hands behind the scenes to support those who work to make it happen! Volunteers are needed to oversee the hospitality room that will supply lunch and dinner to Five Rivers MetroParks staff and volunteers.

Impact

Special Event volunteers serve a critical role in ensuring that each special event or large-scale program runs smoothly from set up to tear down. 

Tasks

In an indoor environment, greet staff and volunteers as they arrive.  Refill snacks and water as needed. Help with waste disposal, including compost and recycling. Provide support for food service providers. Help set up lunch and/or dinner meals.Help keep the area neat and clean.

Eligibility

This opportunity is open to individuals, public, long-term, and short term volunteers, ages 18 and up. Simply click the blue RESPOND button to sign up or click here to learn more about becoming a volunteer.

 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 and Meeting Instructions: Parking is available for volunteers at the Main Office located at 409 E Monument Ave, Dayton, OH 45402. Volunteers must display a valid Volunteer Parking Pass. If you do not have one, please contact volunteer.services@metroparks.org to obtain one. Volunteers should meet staff at the rear entrance of the Main Office (facing nearest the river) on the North side of the building. You will be escorted into the building and to the third-floor hospitality room. Please arrive 10-15 minutes early to park, check in, and get to your volunteer location.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD A VOLUNTEER PARKING PASS

Cancellation: If you need to cancel a shift last minute or are running late, please call the staff lead, April Debrosse, at 937-681-1849. Environment & Physical Demands: Physical duties include standing, walking, in an indoor, climate controlled space. Some light lifting and bending (food trays, small water coolers, and assistance with trash removal) are also required. Dress: Please wear your volunteer name badge and, if you have one, your green or blue volunteer shirt. Other: Please note that the hospitality room is reserved for MetroParks employees and volunteers only. Hospitality for bands, vendors, and other support personnel for Celtic Fest is provided by the United Irish of Dayton.Volunteers must abstain from drinking alcohol until after their volunteer shift is finished and must remove their volunteer nametag and any other volunteer apparel when consuming alcohol.

Learn more about Special Events opportunities with us on the Volunteer Position page! Have questions or need help getting started? Contact Volunteer Services at volunteer.services@metroparks.org or #937-275-7275 or join us at a Volunteer Open House.

Want to Branch Out? Exploring multiple opportunities is a great way to stay involved, build new skills, and experience different parts of the parks! Consider these opportunities:

Service Saturdays

Catching a fish can be exciting and rewarding, a family activity many can enjoy. A fun skill-builder program in our fishing lineup uses program support volunteers to give more individualized attention to new learners!  "Practice makes perfect" is the saying, and learning to cast well increases your chances of catching the fish.  Our Outdoor Recreation team creates the learning environment to help individuals build skills to be successful in these activities.   You do not need to be an expert to be a program support for this opportunity, but it is always a plus. 

Impact

Volunteers help build access, comfort, convenience, and safety into our programs for all interested in learning.  They enable more individualized support for first-time learners and create a better skill-building environment to test/hone casting skills. Volunteers help people make a stronger connection to nature by making it easy to experience the outdoors in fun activities.

Tasks

Assist in setting up the registration area, gear area (equipment and supplies), and casting area. Set up means you'll be lifting totes to 15 lbs. and carrying items over potentially uneven terrain for a short distance. You may also help set up a pop-up tent, depending on the location. Assist in putting together the targets. Place land targets with good spacing in the practice area. Greet and welcome participants. Assist the staff lead during the program to create a better learning environment for this unique fishing skill. Participants simply rotate from one area to the next. The volunteer would help manage time spent at each location to help with the flow of people. Help distribute program materials and supplies as needed. Assist participants in following the instructor's direction by walking around and observing. Assist with participants casting and instructions. Assist with clean-up and equipment tear-down after the program. Tear gear down and store it in the Fishing Trailer after the program.

Eligibility

This opportunity is open to individual,  long-term, and short-term volunteers, ages 18 and up.   

GET STARTED: This opportunity requires Volunteer Onboarding (Profile, Volunteer Handbook Signature, and for those 18 and up, an eligible background check). Simply click the blue RESPOND button to begin completing the required qualifications, or click here to learn more about becoming a volunteer.

Additional Notes

Parking & Meeting Instructions: Click here for a map of Possum Creek MetroPark.  Volunteers arrive an hour before the beginning of the program. Staff leads will orient volunteers to the agenda, tasks, and other important information.Environment & Physical Demands: This program takes place outdoors during the early evening. Volunteers may participate in some bending, kneeling, reaching, and lifting objects to 10 lbs or more.  "Try It" programs have a walk-in welcome registration, and the number of participants won't be known until the start of the program. Dress: Volunteers should dress for the weather, wear closed-toed shoes to hike in, and wear their MetroParks name badge and apparel.   

Learn more about Programming opportunities with us on the Volunteer Position page! Have questions or need help getting started? Contact Volunteer Services at volunteer.services@metroparks.org or #937-275-7275 or join us at a Volunteer Open House. 

Want to Branch Out? Exploring multiple opportunities is a great way to stay involved, build new skills, and experience different parts of the parks! Consider these opportunities:  

Program Support

Fly Fishing 1 introduces participants to the fundamentals of the sport, and your involvement is key to helping them progress confidently on the water. This program focuses on teaching essential techniques for fishing in currents, so previous experience with fly fishing or water safety is an asset. Our Outdoor Recreation team, including our volunteers, is dedicated to creating an encouraging, skill-building atmosphere where participants can thrive. As a program assistant volunteer, you'll work closely with staff during interactive sessions, guiding beginners and promoting a welcoming, safe environment. You don't need to be an expert fly fisher, but hands-on fishing experience is necessary for this rewarding opportunity.

Impact

Volunteers help build access, comfort, convenience, and safety into our programs for all interested in learning.  They enable more individualized support for first-time learners and create a better skill-building environment to test/hone casting skills and safety in moving waters. Volunteers help people make a stronger connection to nature by making it easy to experience the outdoors in fun activities.

Task

Greet and welcome participants Assist in registration check-in. Set up means you'll be lifting totes to 15 lbs. and carrying items over potentially uneven terrain for a short distance. Assist in setting up gear for participants to fish - rods, fly boxes, nets, and vests.  Assist the staff lead during the program to create a better learning environment. Help distribute program materials and supplies as needed.  Assist participants around the river, and in the river, with various activities, as well as, getting instructors' assistance when needed. Assist in helping with instructor-led exercises in safe wading. Assist the staff lead in monitoring safety. Assist with clean-up, tear-down of equipment after the program, and getting neatly stored in the Fishing Trailer.

Eligibility

This opportunity is open to individual,  long-term, and short-term volunteers, ages 18 and up. This program is a 2nd level, and volunteers will need to be experienced with wading in waters and have fishing experience.

GET STARTED: This opportunity requires Volunteer Onboarding (Profile, Volunteer Handbook Signature, and for those 18 and up, an eligible background check). Simply click the blue RESPOND button to begin completing the required qualifications, or click here to learn more about becoming a volunteer.

Additional Notes

Parking & Meeting Instructions: Click here for a map of Eastwood MetroPark.  Volunteers arrive an hour before the beginning of the program. Staff leads will orient volunteers to the agenda, tasks, and other important information.  Environment & Physical Demands: This program occurs outdoors, in and around water. Volunteers may participate in some bending, kneeling, reaching, and lifting objects to 10 lbs or more.  This program is 2nd level and volunteers will need to be experienced wading in waters and have fishing experience. Volunteers may be walking in current, river cobble, climbing up and down river banks, and walking distances to the river. standing for periods during instruction. Dress: Volunteers should dress for the weather, wear closed-toed shoes, bring their waders, and wear their MetroParks name badge and apparel.  You want to wet-wade or wear waders. Please provide your waders if possible, as this will allow more options for the participants coming to the program. IF YOU NEED A PAIR - the staff lead NEEDS TO KNOW EARLY.

Learn more about Programming opportunities with us on the Volunteer Position page! Have questions or need help getting started? Contact Volunteer Services at volunteer.services@metroparks.org or #937-275-7275 or join us at a Volunteer Open House. 

Want to Branch Out? Exploring multiple opportunities is a great way to stay involved, build new skills, and experience different parts of the parks! Consider these opportunities:  

Program Support