This 33-acre natural area contains a rare groundwater-fed wetland known as a fen. Fens contain thick deposits of peat and support many rare and usual plants. Restoring the fen has included planting over 100 types of native wetland plants. Come volunteer alongside staff and volunteers as you help with this important conservation project!
Impact
Protecting open space and natural areas is a priority for Five Rivers MetroParks, which protects nearly 16,000 acres of land — 90 percent of it in its natural state. Conservation volunteers are a part of our regional conservation story by assisting in implementing a variety of natural area management plans.
Tasks
Under the supervision of the assigned staff, volunteers will support and assist with the following:
- Our prairies need a bit of love to keep them prairies! This is an opportunity to explore the prairie plant biodiversity and assist our crew with cutting down any woody species that are trying to take over. We will have staff on hand to treat these stumps with herbicide to prevent them from growing back. If we finish with the prairie areas and have enough time, we may get a chance to do some work in the open fen, too!
Eligibility
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This opportunity is open to the following volunteers: Long-Term, Short-Term, Adults. Learn more about our types of service here.
Additional Notes
- Parking & Meeting Instructions: Click here for a map of the Woodman Fen Conservation Area. Volunteers will meet the staff leads at the Main Entrance of the Woodman Fen, located at 2409 Newcastle Drive, Dayton OH 45420. Look for the 'Volunteer Event' signage.
- Cancelation If you need to cancel a shift last minute or are running late, please call staff lead Nicole Freshour at 567-249-7428.
- Environment & Physical Demands: This project takes place outdoors - Please be aware of outdoor exposure risks (i.e. sun, poison ivy, ticks, stinging/biting insects, thorns, etc.). Volunteers should be aware of seasonal allergies (i.e., grass, pollen, bees, etc.), and can expect to participate in routine bending, squatting, twisting, pushing, pulling, dragging, reaching, walking over uneven terrain, using hand saws or loppers to cut various size woody trees/shrubs to ground level, walking through waist- to head-height prairie plants and grasses, and exposure to full sun (shady areas nearby).
- Dress: Volunteers should dress for the weather, wear long pants and comfortable, puncture-resistant, closed-toe shoes/boots are highly recommended. Long-sleeve shirts and a hat are also suggested. Bringing a pair of muck boots or taller waterproof boots in case we have time to do work in the open fen area would also be a good idea. We will not be working in areas with standing water but may walk through them to get to the secondary site if time allows. Work gloves will be provided for those that don't bring their own. Bring a filled water bottle, sunscreen, and bug spray.
- Note: No restrooms or water sources on site (closest locations with restrooms are nearby gas stations). A communal water source will be provided by staff to refill personal water bottles.
Look for Additional Details about this opportunity at the bottom of this listing! See the Conservation Volunteer Position Description for more detailed information.
