Cox Arboretum Gardening

Looking for a unique and rewarding gardening experience? Join the team of knowledgeable staff and passionate volunteers at Cox Arboretum MetroPark. You will have the chance to maintain and cultivate a variety of specialty gardens, including those at the Barbara Cox Center for Sustainable Horticulture. With a focus on native plants, you will learn effective horticulture techniques that benefit the environment and the community. Don't miss this opportunity to develop your skills and contribute to a sustainable future!

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 assigned Horticulture Technician, support and assist with the following:

• Landscape bed maintenance including pruning trees and shrubs, mechanical weed removal, edging, and mulching.
• A variety of seasonal gardening tasks as assigned.
• Provide excellent customer service by assisting park visitors with questions and wayfinding.

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. 
• This opportunity is available for OSUE Master Gardener service hours.

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 last minute or are running late, please contact Todd Strong at (513) 658-0279.
• 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 15lbs 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. ​

Look for Additional Details about this opportunity at the bottom of this listing! See Gardening Volunteer Position Description for more detailed information.