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, b
uild new skills, and experience different parts of the parks! Consider these opportunities:
