Celebrate the bounty of the season while helping others discover the joys of gardening and plants in this opportunity! Program Support Volunteers in the Possum Creek Demonstration Garden will assist program participants in discovering produce, herbs, or flowers that are new to them, finding the ones they would like to harvest, as well as assisting in their harvest. This hands-on garden experience allows people to learn more about the plants being grown, how to harvest correctly, and sometimes how to grow them in their own gardens. You do not need to be an expert to be a program support for this opportunity, but gardening and plant knowledge are always a plus.
Impact
Possum Creek MetroPark is creating programs to engage people in growing their own produce, learning about the plants, and ways to give back to the community. Volunteers help educate participants about habitats for pollinators and their connection to food production, as well as sustainable gardening. Program support 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 in this valuable skill-building program.
Tasks
Under the supervision of the Staff Lead, volunteers will assist with the following:
- Assist staff with room setup of the room and gathering supplies needed for participants
- Welcome and greet participants, and help them get checked in.
- Volunteers will assist with simple tasks, including helping participants harvest vegetables and herbs from the garden.
- Assist the staff lead during the program to create a better learning environment.
- Assist in ensuring each participant's questions are heard and answered to the best of your ability.
- Hand out program materials as needed.
- Assist participants in following the direction and getting more supplies as needed.
- Assist with teardown and putting supplies back in place.
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 Possum Creek MetroPark. Volunteers should arrive early to allow for parking and arriving on time. Volunteers are scheduled a half hour before the program to help with any set up, and a half hour after the program to help with cleanup. Staff leads will meet volunteers in the Demonstration Garden and orient volunteers to the location, tasks, 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.
- Dress: Volunteers should dress for the weather and wear their MetroParks name badge and apparel.
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/these opportunities:
