Help create a fun, welcoming, and safe paddling experience at the Wagner Subaru Outdoor Experience as a Safety Boater Volunteer! As a Safety Boater supporting the Try Paddlesports area, you'll be on the water helping monitor participants, responding to potential safety concerns, and providing a reassuring presence so everyone can focus on learning and having fun. Working alongside Taiters Kayak, and supported and supervised by Five Rivers MetroParks staff, volunteers help create memorable outdoor experiences while promoting safe paddling practices. Volunteers help participants feel informed, prepared, confident, and safe while enjoying time on the water. Your paddling experience can make a meaningful difference for first-time paddlers, families, and seasonal boaters who are eager to build their skills and confidence. Prior paddling experience and completion of Five Rivers MetroParks Safety Boater Training is required.
Impact
Safety Boaters volunteers are critical in ensuring we can provide high-quality, engaging and safe programming like these to the public. They help build access, comfort, convenience, and safety into our programs for participants. They enable more individualized support for first-time participants and help create excitement and energy at outdoor recreation events.
Tasks
- Safely paddle throughout the Try Paddlesports paddling area.
- Provide paddling tips to participants.
- Alert staff to any issues, concerns, or hazards.
- Help set up and tear down as needed.
- Volunteers should take a few minutes towards the end of their shift to train their volunteer replacement. Pass along all the tips and tricks you learned during your shift to the next shift volunteers.
- If there is not a replacement, please make contact with a MetroParks staff member or Volunteer Services.
- You are the face of MetroParks at this event...smile, be enthusiastic, and enjoy the event!
Eligibility
This opportunity is open to individual, long-term volunteers, ages 18 and up, who have qualified as Safety Boater.
- GET STARTED: This opportunity requires Volunteer Onboarding (Profile, Volunteer Handbook Signature, and for those 18 and up, an eligible background check), plus Safety Boater training and Check Off. Simply click the blue RESPOND button to begin completing the required qualifications or click here to learn more about becoming a volunteer.
Additional Note
- Parking and Meeting Instructions: Parking is available for volunteers off Springfield Street. Volunteers should check in at Volunteer Central in the Bluegrass Shelter located directly across the footbridge by the lagoon. Please arrive 15 minutes early to park, check in, and get to your volunteer location.
- Cancellation: If you need to cancel a shift last minute or are running late, please contact the staff lead.
- Environment and Physical Demands: This program 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 will participate in bending, kneeling, reaching, and lifting objects of 15 lbs. or more. This opportunity requires volunteers to be near the water and be observant of their surroundings. Volunteers should bring their favorite reusable water bottle, sunscreen, and bug spray.
- Dress: Volunteers should dress for the weather and wear comfortable shoes. Reusable volunteer vests and event nametags will be provided for you onsite at volunteer check-in.
- Special Note: While there will be alcoholic drinks available at this event, volunteers should abstain until after they have completed their volunteer service. Also, even though this is a dog-friendly event, volunteers are asked to enjoy the event with their furry friends after they have completed volunteering.
- IMPORTANT: Please review this Concussion Awareness Handout from the CDC before your volunteer shift. If you suspect that any participant might be showing signs or symptoms of a concussion, alert Five Rivers MetroParks staff right away.
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:
Additional Opportunities at the Wagner Subaru Outdoor Experience
