Opportunities From: Five Rivers MetroParks

Small Farm & Food Fest is a free, all-ages event that promotes healthy eating and sustainable living with dozens of hands-on activities, a pop-up farmers market, demonstrations, speakers, and more. Sustainability volunteers help to educate the public on sustainability practices and assist with proper waste disposal. Come help event participants learn their impact on the future by combining historic composting and modern day recycling methods!

Impact

Special Event volunteers are critical in ensuring events and large-scale programs run smoothly. Sustainability volunteers help educate participants about what a low-waste event program is, how to distinguish between various recycling and compostable items and encourage ongoing sustainable practices

Tasks

Assist guests in the proper event disposal of recyclables, compostables and trashAnswer participant's questions to the best of your ability and direct questions to staff when neededShare MetroParks' mission of working toward a waste-free eventEncourage and inspire visitors to continue sustainable practices at homeAssist with any set up or take down activities associated with relevant shifts

Eligibility

This opportunity is open to individual, public, long-term, and short term, volunteers, ages 18 and up. Simply click the blue RESPOND button to sign up or click here to learn more about becoming a volunteer.

Background Check: We do not require a background check for our public volunteer opportunities; however, persons with a criminal record may be disqualified and prohibited from service. Please review our background check policy here. For those required to complete Court Appointed Community Service, please click here.

Additional Notes

Parking and Meeting Instructions: Volunteers may park in the Visitor Center Parking lot located at 7800 E. Shull Rd. Meet with the staff lead at the Visitors Center.  View the event map here. Please plan to arrive 10 minutes before your shift to allow for parking, checking in, and connecting with the staff lead.Cancellation: If you need to cancel a shift last minute or are running late, please contact the staff lead, Grace Dietsch, (937) 528-7188.Environment & Physical Demands: Physical duties include standing, walking, lifting, bending, and stretching, and carrying items outside. Walking will include traversing paved, unpaved and natural surfaces. This station will be covered by a tent.If you would like to request a service accommodation in order to volunteer at this opportunity, please contact Volunteer Services at least 1 week before the scheduled opportunity.Dress: Please wear your volunteer name badge and volunteer apparel if you have them. Otherwise, wear comfortable attire suitable for the weather. Reusable volunteer vests and event nametags will be provided for you at volunteer check in onsite.

Click here to view a map of Carriage Hill MetroPark

Learn more about Special Events 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:

Heirloom Gardening

Barn Aide 

Looking to spend a Saturday morning doing something hands-on and meaningful? Join the team of knowledgeable staff and passionate volunteers at Cox Arboretum MetroPark. You’ll work alongside MetroParks staff and fellow volunteers on real, seasonal projects that help keep the gardens looking their best. Whether you're a seasoned gardener or just curious to try something new, Service Saturdays are a fun, flexible way to give back, learn as you go, and be part of the work happening at Cox Arboretum.

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  

Volunteer will assist with a variety of seasonal garden maintenance projects, which might include weeding, planting, or mulching, depending on the weather and the conditions.

Eligibility: This opportunity is open to individuals, groups, public, long-term, and short-term volunteers, ages 14 and up.

Background Check: We do not require a background check for our public volunteer opportunities; however, persons with a criminal record may be disqualified and prohibited from service. Please review our background check policy here. For those required to complete Court Appointed Community Service, please click here.

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 at the last minute or are running late, please contact Staff Lead Todd Strong at 937-279-6978. 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 15 lbs 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. ​

Learn more about Gardening 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. 

Are you ready to roll up your sleeves and get your hands dirty? Join us at Possum Creek MetroPark for a fun-filled volunteer opportunity in the Demonstration Garden! The Demonstration Gardens provide produce to those in need throughout Dayton and the Miami Valley. Our education staff needs your help in maintaining the gardens and flower beds at the farm. Together, we'll make the Possum Creek Demonstration Garden a beautiful and inspiring place for programming, school tours, and park patrons of all ages!

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 Staff Lead, volunteers will support and assist with the following:

Garden bed prep, weeding, compost maintenance (turning, sifting, and application), garden path maintenance (cardboard and woodchip application), garden bed construction, transplanting, planting, and more.

Eligibility: This opportunity is open to individuals, groups, public, long-term, and short-term volunteers, ages 14 and up.

Background Check: We do not require a background check for our public volunteer opportunities; however, persons with a criminal record may be disqualified and prohibited from service. Please review our background check policy here. For those required to complete Court Appointed Community Service, please click here.

Additional Notes:

Parking & Meeting Instructions: Arrive 5- 10 minutes before your shift start time for a brief introduction and orientation to the site and the volunteer project. Click here for a map of Possum Creek MetroPark. Volunteers should park in the parking lot near the Farm Shelter. Enter the park at 4790 Frytown Rd., Dayton, OH 45417, and follow the main park drive until it dead-ends into the farm parking lot. Look for the 'Volunteer Event' signage. Cancelation: If you need to cancel a shift at the last minute or are running late, please contact Kaitlyn Lowry, Education Coordinator, at 937-276-7053. 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 10lbs or more in possibly direct sunlight.Dress: Volunteers should dress for the weather, wear long pants and closed-toe shoes, and have their favorite work gloves, water bottles, sunscreen, and bug spray. 

​ Learn more about Garden 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. 

Do you enjoy gardening in a variety of settings? Would you like to discover gardening design ideas and unique plants for the home landscape? Make an impact by helping staff in the Federal, English, Victorian, and Woodland Gardens, among other great horticulture features at Wegerzyn Gardens MetroPark.

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 Staff Lead, support and assist with the following tasks:

general garden maintenance, including weeding, mulching, invasive species removal, or other small projects identified by the Wegerzyn Gardens team.

Eligibility

This opportunity is open to the following volunteers: Public Service, Long-Term, Short-Term, Youth and Families. Learn more about our types of service here. Background Check: We do not require a background check for our public volunteer opportunities; however, persons with a criminal record may be disqualified and prohibited from service. Please review our background check policy here. For those required to complete Court Appointed Community Service, please click here.Family Volunteers: This opportunity is family-friendly. Families with youth volunteers under the age of 14 are welcome to volunteer. The family must include one parent or guardian per 3 children who engage in service and assume supervisory responsibility for the children during volunteer service.

Additional Notes:

Parking & Meeting Instructions: Click here for a map of Wegerzyn Gardens MetroPark. Volunteers should park in the Wegerzyn Gardens parking lot (1301 E. Siebenthaler Ave., Dayton, OH 45414) and meet staff at the front entrance of the building.  Cancelation: If you need to cancel a shift at the last minute or are running late, please contact the staff lead, Payton Johnson, at (513) 292- 8303. Environment & Physical Demands: This project 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 can expect to participate in routinely bending, kneeling, reaching, and lifting objects of 15 lbs 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. ​

​ Learn more about Garden 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.