Opportunities From: Get Connected

Come join us at Small Farm & Food Fest, a free, annual event for all-ages, that promotes healthy eating and sustainable living. With dozens of fun, hands-on activities, demonstrations, speakers, and a pop up farmer's market, there's something for everyone on the farm! Event Ambassador volunteers help set the tone of this event by greeting visitors and providing information about the day's festivities. 

Impact

Special Event volunteers serve a critical role in ensuring that each special event or large-scale program runs smoothly from setup to teardown. Event Ambassador volunteers help participants feel welcome, engaged and knowledgeable about the event.

Tasks

Eligibility

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

Additional Notes

Learn more about Special Event 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: 

Historic Interpreter

Possum Creek Gardening 

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. Don't worry if you don't have any previous experience – we welcome all volunteers to learn by doing and ask questions. Together, we'll make the Possum Creek Demonstration Garden a beautiful and inspiring place for programming, school tours, and park patrons of all ages!

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. 

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

This opportunity is open to teens and adults (ages 14 and older), Long-Term, and Short-Term volunteers.

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.  

Come join us at Small Farm & Food Fest, a free, annual event for all-ages, that promotes healthy eating and sustainable living! With dozens of fun, hands-on activities, demonstrations, speakers, and a pop up farmer's market, there's something for everyone on the farm! Exhibitor Support volunteers welcome exhibitors and help them get prepared for the event. 

Special Event volunteers serve a critical role in ensuring that each special event or large-scale program runs smoothly from setup to teardown. Exhibitor Support Volunteers help create a welcoming environment for exhibitors and lend a helping hand with their set up tasks.

Eligibility

This opportunity is open to individual, public, long-term, or short term volunteers, ages 16 and up. Simply click the blue RESPOND button to sign up or click here to learn more about becoming a volunteer.

Additional Notes

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 

Come join us at Small Farm & Food Fest, a free, annual event for all-ages, that promotes healthy eating and sustainable living! With dozens of fun, hands-on activities, demonstrations, speakers, and a pop up farmer's market, there's something for everyone on the farm! Event Staff Support volunteers help staff ensure that the event is running smoothly by providing assistance to staff and fellow volunteers.

Impact

Special Event volunteers serve a critical role in ensuring that each special event or large-scale program runs smoothly from setup to teardown. Your efforts to respond to active needs during the event increase enjoyment for fellow volunteers, staff and participants alike!

Tasks

Eligibility

This opportunity is open to individual, public, long-term, or short term volunteers, ages 16 and up. Simply click the blue RESPOND button to sign up or click here to learn more about becoming a volunteer.

Additional Notes

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 

Second Harvest Food Bank is having a distribution for Champaign County at the Champaign County Community Building. We will have pallets of food ready to distribute, we could use your help serving our neighbors in Champaign County!

Position Overview

Child Engagement/Care Volunteers provide safe, engaging, and supportive care for children during Families Flourish events and programming. By creating fun and structured activities for children, volunteers help allow parents and caregivers to more fully participate in workshops, conversations, relationship-building, and time with staff and other families.

These volunteers play an important role in helping create an environment where both children and adults feel supported, connected, and included.

Title

Child Engagement/Care Volunteer

Key Responsibilities

Initial Impact

Child Engagement/Care Volunteers help create space for parents and caregivers to fully participate in Families Flourish programming without constant interruption or stress related to childcare needs.

When parents are able to focus, connect, and engage more deeply with staff and other families, stronger relationships and community connections can form. Children also benefit from positive social interaction, engaging activities, and supportive adult attention during events.

Volunteers contribute to creating a more welcoming and accessible environment for the entire family.

Sustained Outcomes

Over time, reliable childcare and child engagement support can strengthen parent participation, relationship-building, and overall program connection within Families Flourish.

Children benefit from positive group experiences, safe adult interactions, and opportunities for play and creativity. Parents benefit from being able to build community, focus on educational programming, and develop stronger support networks with other participating families.

These efforts help reinforce the idea that Families Flourish supports the wellbeing of the entire family — not just individual participants.

Training

Volunteers receive:

Previous childcare experience is helpful but not always required.

Support

Child Engagement/Care Volunteers are supported by Families Flourish staff through:

Volunteers are not expected to manage major behavioral or crisis situations independently.

Commitment

This role is ideal for volunteers who enjoy working with children and helping families feel supported during community events.

Screening and Safety Requirements

Because this role involves direct interaction with children, all volunteers are required to complete:

Families Flourish is committed to maintaining a safe, respectful, and supportive environment for all participating children and families.

Skills and Qualifications

We are seeking volunteers who are:

Creativity, playfulness, and kindness are highly valued in this role.

Benefits

Volunteers have the opportunity to:

Join our programming team for a series of canning classes designed to teach participants how to preserve fruits and vegetables affordably and efficiently. The timeless technique of hot water bath canning was used in the 19th century for preserving jams, jellies, syrups, and pickled items. Each week, we will utilize both period recipes and their modern equivalents, offering a variety of recipes. Our program support volunteers are there to support both staff and participants, ensuring everyone learns the essential skills needed to safely create beautifully sealed jars of goodness to take home. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to connect with others, learn a valuable skill, and enjoy delicious homemade preserves!

Program Support Volunteers are welcome and can participate in various entry-level opportunities to support our programs—typically, no expert knowledge is required. However, volunteers who support the cookery programs should have some culinary experience.

Impact

Volunteers enable us to accomplish so much more by lending a hand in simple activities, allowing demonstrators to take a break, or talking with the visitors about the activities while allowing the tasks to be completed.

Tasks

This opportunity is open to individual, long-term, and short-term volunteers, ages 18 and up.  

 Additional Notes

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

Carriage Hill Farm Chores

Program Support

Come with us to the 14th Annual Pizza Palooza.  Try a slice of your favorite pizza or pick something new.  $8.00 admission.

Come join us at Small Farm & Food Fest, a free, annual event for all-ages, that promotes healthy eating and sustainable living! With dozens of fun, hands-on activities, demonstrations, speakers, and a pop up farmer's market, there's something for everyone on the farm! Be a part of our event setup team and help build the Small Farm and Food Fest event area for residents to enjoy the event! 

Impact

Special Event volunteers are critical in ensuring that each special event or large-scale program runs smoothly from set-up to tear-down. Your efforts to make sure the event infrastructure is set up securely, starts this fun event off on the right foot!

Tasks

Eligibility

This opportunity is open to individual, public, youth, long-term, or short term volunteers, ages 14 and up. Simply click the blue RESPOND button to sign up or click here to learn more about becoming a volunteer.

Additional Notes

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:

Service Saturdays

Come join us at Small Farm & Food Fest, a free, annual event for all-ages, that promotes healthy eating and sustainable living! With dozens of fun, hands-on activities, demonstrations, speakers, and a pop up farmer's market, there's something for everyone on the farm! Help us wrap up the day's fun by taking down this event and restoring the park to it's usual look.

Impact

Special Event volunteers are critical in ensuring that each special event or large-scale program runs smoothly from set-up to tear-down. Your efforts to help staff dismantle and put away the event structures and equipment keep the work load lighter for everyone!

Tasks

Eligibility

This opportunity is open to individual, public, youth, long-term, or short term volunteers, ages 14 and up. Simply click the blue RESPOND button to sign up or click here to learn more about becoming a volunteer.

Additional Notes

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:  

Mud Day 2026

Beer and Wine Sales 

Help us keep this event from being "stuck in the mud"! Assist staff with keeping this year's Mud Day activities running smoothly! Provide support throughout the duration of the event to ensure participants get the most out of this family friendly activity.

Impact

Special Event volunteers serve a critical role in ensuring that events and large-scale programs run smoothly. Your efforts to respond to active needs during the event increase enjoyment for fellow volunteers, staff and participants alike!

Tasks 

Eligibility

This opportunity is open to individual, public, long-term, or short term volunteers, ages 16. Simply click the blue RESPOND button to sign up or click here to learn more about becoming a volunteer.

Additional Notes

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 this/these opportunities:

 Small Farm and Food Fest

Mud Day aims to give everyone a chance to play in the mud! Tear Down Team Volunteers will help clean up activities after the Mud Day event concludes. Help us reset the garden after this fun, family-friendly event.

Impact

Special Event volunteers serve a critical role in ensuring that each special event or large-scale program runs smoothly from set-up to tear-down. Tear-down volunteers ensure that the park is back in tip-top shape!

Tasks

Eligibility

This opportunity is open to individual, public, long-term, or short term volunteers, ages 14. Simply click the blue RESPOND button to sign up or click here to learn more about becoming a volunteer.

Additional Notes

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 this/these opportunities:

 Small Farm and Food Fest 

Don't miss your chance to place in the Mud! Set Up Team Volunteers arrange and put together the various Mud Day activity stations in the Children's Discovery Garden at Wegerzyn Gardens MetroPark. Stations will be for mud play, games, mud pie making, mud painting, and all things fun with mud!

Special Event volunteers serve a critical role in ensuring that each special event or large-scale program runs smoothly from set-up to tear-down.  

Eligibility

This opportunity is open to individual, family, public, long-term, and short term volunteers, ages 14 and up. Simply click the blue RESPOND button to sign up or click here to learn more about becoming a volunteer.

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 this/these opportunities: 

Small Farm and Food Fest

Special Events Opportunities

Mud Day aims to give everyone a chance to play in the mud! Event Ambassador volunteers help welcome guests to the event and assist with checking in, wayfinding, and answering questions. Help participants get the most out of this fun family event!

Impact

Ambassador volunteers share their enthusiasm for Five Rivers MetroParks with a diverse audience of event participants. Ambassadors are often the first friendly faces a visitor sees, welcoming them to the park, and can be counted on to share helpful information and answer a variety of questions. 

Tasks

Eligibility

This opportunity is open to individual, long-term, or short term volunteers, ages 14 and up. Simply click the blue RESPOND button to sign up or click here to learn more about becoming a volunteer. 

Additional Notes

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:

Small Farm and Food Fest 

Ambassador Opportunities

If you were sad you missed Mud Day on June 27, GOOD NEWS, it is rescheduled!  This Mud Day event aims to allow everyone to play in the mud!  Volunteers will set up and support a variety of mud-themed activity stations in the Children's Discovery Garden.  During this program, volunteers should plan to get dirty while engaging visitors in the activities supporting these fun mud-themed activities.  Program support volunteers do not need to be experts in the activity, but it is important that they enjoy working with kids and their families. This opportunity will need the child in each volunteer to come out to play!

Impact

Volunteers help build access, comfort, convenience, safety, and FUN into our programs for all interested in learning!  They enable more individualized support for first-time learners and create a better skill-building environment. Volunteers help people make a stronger connection to nature by making it easy to experience the outdoors in fun activities.

Tasks

Eligibility

This opportunity is open to individual Short-term, Long-Term, and youth volunteers, ages 14 and up. 

Additional Notes:

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 opportunity:

Program Support at Wegerzyn Gardens

If you were sad you missed Mud Day on June 27, GOOD NEWS, it is rescheduled!  This Mud Day event aims to allow everyone to play in the mud!  Volunteers will be using their creative and artistic side to paint one of 3 simple designs on interested participants to mark the day!  Program Support Volunteers should plan to get dirty, have fun, and encourage guests to enjoy a day celebrating MUD!

Face Painting— Volunteers will paint the faces of kids and adults using one of three SIMPLE designs. Face paint brushes, paint, and mud will be used to create the designs.   

Impact

Volunteers help build access, comfort, convenience, safety, and FUN into our programs for all interested in learning!  They enable more individualized support for first-time learners and create a better skill-building environment. Volunteers help people make a stronger connection to nature by making it easy to experience the outdoors in fun activities.

Tasks

Eligibility

This opportunity is open to individual Short-term, Long-Term, and youth volunteers, ages 14 and up. 

Additional Notes:

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 opportunity:

Program Support at Wegerzyn Gardens

As a Big you can give a Little the invaluable gift of your time. By simply changing their perspective of what the world can offer, you can literally start changing their life. Play a board game. Make a craft. Hit the playground together. Just as your options are unlimited, so is your Little’s potential. 

Bigs meet with their Littles a minimum of 2 times a month.  We ask for an 18 month minimum commitment.

Teachers' Time Out is a series designed for teachers to engage with nature in a relaxed atmosphere. Teachers are encouraged to bring a special guest or two with them to enjoy the experience.  This session will be at the Patterson Shelter at Hills & Dales MetroPark, and participants will learn about the bats of Ohio. Volunteers who have assisted with MetroParks bat blitzes,  and box monitoring will get a chance to talk about their experience. Volunteers should have experience assisting with bat counts and surveys and be familiar with MetroParks bat conservation work. They should also be familiar with echometer technology. Experience working with teachers and school children is helpful. Volunteers will support this hands-on professional development workshop specifically designed for educators. Volunteers will assist with the setup and teardown of the venue, assist our staff with the refreshment setup, and participate in the discussions.  

Impact

Volunteers help us achieve much more by assisting with simple activities, enabling demonstrators to take breaks, engaging with participants about the activities, and ensuring tasks are completed.

 Tasks

Eligibility: This opportunity is open to individual, long-term volunteers, ages 18 and up.

 Additional Notes

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, build new skills, and experience different parts of the parks! Consider this/these opportunities:

Program Support

This volunteer opportunity is to help first-year students as they move into the residence halls. If you are looking to volunteer with a specific organization, make sure you put that in the notes section when you register. 

This volunteer opportunity is to help first-year students as they move into the residence halls. If you are looking to volunteer with a specific organization, make sure you put that in the notes section when you register. 

Join Second Harvest Food Bank of North Central Ohio as a Healthy Harvest Corps AmeriCorps Member and help expand Food Is Medicine initiatives that improve health and food access across North Central Ohio. We're recruiting two members to support innovative programs that connect neighbors with nutritious food and essential community resources.

As a member, you might:

By joining, you'll gain hands-on experience in public health, nutrition, community outreach, partnership development, and nonprofit operations while helping improve health outcomes through increased access to healthy food

Join the SE Ohio Foodbank as a Healthy Harvest Corps AmeriCorps Member and help improve health and food access across Southeast Ohio. You'll be part of an innovative "Food as Medicine" initiative that connects neighbors with nutritious food, healthcare, and community resources while making a lasting impact.

We're recruiting two AmeriCorps Members to serve in Logan, Ohio. As a member, you might:

By joining, you'll gain valuable experience in public health, nutrition, community engagement, and nonprofit operations while helping create healthier communities across Southeast Ohio.

Join West Ohio Food Bank as a Healthy Harvest Corps AmeriCorps Member and help improve health and food access across Western Ohio. You'll support an innovative "Food as Medicine" initiative that connects neighbors with nutritious food and wellness resources while making a meaningful impact in the community.

As a member, you might:

By joining, you'll gain valuable experience in public health, nutrition, community outreach, and nonprofit operations while helping improve health outcomes through increased access to healthy food.

Join Shared Harvest Foodbank as a Healthy Harvest Corps AmeriCorps Member and help advance innovative Food Is Medicine initiatives that improve access to healthy food across Southwest Ohio. You'll support efforts to expand nutrition-focused food programs while helping shape resources used throughout Ohio's hunger relief network.

As a member, you might:

By joining, you'll gain hands-on experience in nutrition education, program evaluation, data analysis, communications, and community engagement while helping create healthier communities through innovative hunger relief efforts. This is a part-time position with a flexible schedule.

Join Healthy Harvest Corps as an AmeriCorps Member and help expand access to healthy food through innovative Food Is Medicine initiatives. You'll support programs that connect community members with nutritious food while gaining hands-on experience in public health, nutrition, and community engagement.

As a member, you might:

By joining, you'll gain valuable experience in nutrition education, public health, communications, program development, and nonprofit operations while making a meaningful impact in your community. Plus, you'll enjoy a flexible schedule with Fridays off!

Join Healthy Harvest Corps and support healthy food access and nutrition education through hands-on, community-based service. This role blends culinary education, urban agriculture, and meal program support to help ensure youth and families have consistent access to nutritious food.

As a volunteer, you might:

Through this role, you'll gain hands-on experience in nutrition education, urban farming, food service operations, and community engagement while helping build healthier food systems for youth and families.

Join Greater Cleveland Food Bank as a Healthy Harvest Corps AmeriCorps Member and help advance innovative Food Is Medicine initiatives that improve health and food access across Greater Cleveland. We're recruiting three members to support nutrition-focused programs that connect neighbors with healthy food and community resources.

As a member, you might:

By joining, you'll gain hands-on experience in public health, nutrition, healthcare partnerships, community outreach, and nonprofit operations while helping create healthier communities throughout Greater Cleveland.

Can't decide which you love more -- enjoying the Summer Music Series at RiverScape or supporting the Five Rivers MetroParks?!  Good news, you don't have to choose!  Beer and Wine Sales volunteers, age 21 and over, can do both when they assist staff by pouring and serving beer and wine for event participants. Staff members take the guess work out of the equation and will be on site to check identification to approve or deny service. Volunteers may be stationed inside the RiverScape Cafe, the Rentals Office or outside under a 10' x 10' tent. 

Proceeds from alcohol sales will further our mission of protecting the region's natural heritage and providing outdoor experiences that inspire a personal connection with nature.

Eligibility

This opportunity is open to individual, long-term, or short term volunteers, ages 21 and up who have qualified in Beer and Wine Sales Training.  Simply click the blue RESPOND button to sign up.

 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. 

Do you like getting your hands dirty, learning new skills, and supporting a variety of parks and conservation efforts? Get ready to join in the fun at the Hills & Dales Volunteer Workdays! You'll have the chance to get involved in a range of exciting park and conservation projects, such as gardening, tree plantings, invasive species removal, and mulching. It's a great opportunity to make a positive impact and enjoy the outdoors with a fantastic group of volunteers!

Urban woodlands like those at Hills & Dales are critical to the health and quality of life within our cities. They are dynamic ecosystems that provide clean air and water. This historical urban forest has been a natural refuge for Daytonians since 1907. Our Park Maintenance volunteers help to manage and sustain Hills & Dales MetroPark for park visitors to safely enjoy.

This opportunity is open to individuals, long-term and short-term volunteers, ages 18 and up.

Learn more about Park Maintenance 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 are a great way to stay involved, build new skills, and experience different parts of the parks! Consider these opportunities:

Join Five Rivers MetroParks horticulture education team and support family programming throughout the year that connects visitors of all ages to the natural world through gardening and meaningful exploration of the outdoors! This program invites kids ages 2-6 to join us for wonder and fun as we explore different areas of the Children's Discovery Garden and how it helps us learn about the world around us. Each month, we focus on a different topic themed around the variety of habitats you can find in the Children's Garden.  Volunteers will help with activities such as exploring different habitats, searching for bugs, taking brief hikes, creating art using natural materials, and encouraging sensory exploration of different garden spaces. Program Support volunteers do not need to be experts in the activities, but for this opportunity, should have some gardening knowledge, be enthusiastic about finding discoveries in the garden, and enjoy working with children and families. 

Impact

Program support volunteers help build access, comfort, convenience, and safety into our programs. Volunteers enable more individualized support for first-time learners and create an inclusive skill-building environment. Volunteers help people create a stronger connection to nature by making it easy to experience the outdoors in fun activities.

Tasks 

Eligibility

This opportunity is open to individual Short-term and Long-Term volunteers, ages 18 and up. 

 Additional Notes

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 opportunity:

Adventure Central Program Assistant 2026

is seeking a passionate and talentedpecialist Woodhill Station West

Glenville High School

Zelma Watson George Recreation Center

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Attend community events and meetings.

Manage and engage tables for outreach events.

IMPACT AND COUTCOMES:This role helps increase awareness of programs and resources available to studnets while building strong relationships between schools, families and community organizations.TRAINING & SUPPORT:

Ongoing professional development.

Hands-on experience in community outreach and event planning.

COMMITMENT:

Experience working with youth, families, or community organizations is preferred.

Volunteer Certificate after 1 session.

Resume and reference building.

Hands-on experience in nonprofit and youth development work.

Visit us at: 

 Founded in 1992, After-School All Stars (ASAS)th. Our vision is for our All-Stars to be safe and healthy, to graduate from high school and go on to college, to find a career they love, and to give back to their communities.

: RESPONSIBILITIES:

Implement in-person programming Monday – Thursday between the hours of 3pm and 6 pm during the school year and Monday – Thursday 12pm – 4pm during the summer months. Facilitate small group (10:1) and individual (1:1) mentoring for student participants in grades 1 8. Note: student ages will vary by site.

Social and Emotional Learning

Career exploration and Entrepreneurship

Community Engagement and Service Learning

Professional Development

Periodic team meetings.

Support from Mentor Coordinator.

Collaborate with Mentor Coordinator and local chapter program staff to report program metrics.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Ability to read, write and use basic computer skills.

Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work collaboratively on a team.

COMMITMENT:

BENEFITS TO THE VOLUNTEER: 

Gain and Maintain Mentoring and Coaching Skills

Position:  Program Leader Volunteer 

Organization: After School All-Stars Cleveland 

Work Hours: Typical School Year hours are 4/hours a day Monday-Friday anytime between 1:30pm – 6:30pm (work hours may vary) Summers Program hours vary based on program site.

A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY:

Are you a retired teacher, Paraprofessional, college student, retiree, or passionate about giving youth opportunities to learn and grow in a safe and nurturing environment?  ASAS is currently seeking passionate and talented Program Leaders. Program Leaders are responsible for managing on-site classrooms and the contracted instructors for those classes, ensuring the safety of students, and facilitating daily implementation of each program. Programs may include, but are not limited to: Sports, STEM, Coding, Cooking & Nutrition, Outdoor Education, DJ/Music Production, Dance, Photography, and Creative Arts. Program leaders will report to Site Coordinators. 

IMPACT AND OUTCOME:

Being a program leader with After-School All-Stars benefits the community because it creates an opportunity to make a positive impact on youth, along with their parents and families. Increasing the Adult to student ratio for our daily programs increases safety and trust.

Advance training and mentorship skills.

Ongoing professionaCOMMITMENT:

  Ability to work cooperatively and collaboratively with school district staff, program staff, parents and community leaders. At least 2 years of youth development experience is preferred.Must have reliable transportation.

Join the Five Rivers MetroParks education team and support family programming throughout the year that connects visitors of all ages to the natural world through storytime,  history, and farm activities, and meaningful exploration of the connections between the two time periods! This opportunity will focus on a storytime followed by a related activity that follows the theme of the story.  Please help us share amazing stories with children, exciting them about discoveries they can find in nature, and encouraging them to get outside and explore.  Volunteers will support the unique games available for youth and families to try, and enjoy the simpler activities from the 1880s.
Impact
Program support volunteers help build access, comfort, convenience, and safety into our programs. Volunteers enable more individualized support for first-time learners and create an inclusive skill-building environment. Volunteers help people create a stronger connection to nature and history by making it easy to experience these things in fun activities.
Tasks 

Eligibility

This opportunity is open to individual, long-term, and short-term volunteers, ages 16 and up.  

 Additional Notes

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

Carriage Hill Farm Chores

Program Support

Gardens can be vibrant, hands-on spaces where children can explore, learn, and grow! They provide an exciting opportunity for kids to build essential skills, boost their confidence, and make meaningful connections. At Skeeter's garden, volunteers are the heart of our community, playing a vital role in engaging in gardening activities that transform our garden into a lively classroom.

If you love working with children and want to inspire the next generation, we invite you to join us! As a volunteer, you'll have the chance to guide kids in hands-on activities that teach them how to grow their own food, spark their curiosity about the fascinating creatures in the garden, and connect gardening tasks with fun physical activities.  Program Support volunteers do not need to be experts in the activities, but for this opportunity, should have some gardening knowledge, be enthusiastic about finding discoveries in the garden, and enjoy working with children and families.  

Participating in our gardening programs helps youth make significant strides in their academic, physical, social-emotional, and environmental development. These benefits are especially impactful for children facing barriers related to food security, health, and access to engaging learning experiences. Together, we can cultivate not just plants, but also a brighter future for our young learners! Join us in making a lasting difference.

This opportunity is open to individual Short-term and Long-Term volunteers, ages 18 and up. 

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 opportunity:

Adventure Central Program Assistant 2026

Join the horticulture education team at Five Rivers MetroParks and become a part of our exciting family programming that brings visitors of all ages closer to the wonders of nature! Throughout the year, we offer fantastic opportunities for connection through gardening and exploration of the great outdoors.
Volunteers assist in creating an enchanting storytime experience, where you'll dive into captivating tales followed by hands-on activities in the beautiful garden. Join us as we inspire children with amazing stories while soaking in the delightful sights and sounds of the Children's Garden. Let’s make lasting memories together in nature!  Program Support volunteers do not need to be experts in the activities, but for this opportunity, should have good reading skills, be enthusiastic about finding discoveries in the garden, and enjoy working with children and families.

Impact

Program support volunteers help build access, comfort, convenience, and safety into our programs. Volunteers help people create a stronger connection to nature by making it easy to experience the outdoors in fun activities.

Tasks 

Eligibility

This opportunity is open to individual Short-term and Long-Term volunteers, ages 18 and up. 

 Additional Notes

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 opportunity:

Adventure Central Program Assistant 2026

Our historic farm field trips introduce children and their teachers to Carriage Hill MetroPark and the unique experiences offered at the historic farm. These field trips allow youth to enjoy hands-on experiences at the farm, witness demonstrations of everyday farming tasks, and receive a personal introduction to farm life. Volunteers begin the visit at the visitor center, where they welcome the group and lead them to the historic farm. During the walk, volunteers share interesting tidbits about the notable features of MetroParks.

Impact
The interpretative purpose of the farm is to use the Arnold Family, who once lived at Carriage Hill Farm, as a guide to how a real conservative farm family is in real-time at a real place. Volunteers engage visitors with their enthusiasm for history and what they will experience at the historic farm. By providing a personalized welcome and support for the students and their teachers during their visit, volunteers help create a more memorable field trip experience.  

Tasks

Eligibility

This opportunity is open to individual Long-Term volunteers, ages 18 and up. 

Additional Notes

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 opportunity:

Shadow Experience: Historic Interpreter

Program Support

Do you enjoy being around kids?  Know your way around a kitchen? Support our summer camp by working with our JET Nutrition Teens and staff in preparing, serving, and cleaning up simple meals for the kids at Adventure Central.  This opportunity is perfect for those wanting to mentor our teens, engage the kids at camp, and have culinary skills to share!

Impact

Volunteers will provide nourishing meals and build positive relationships that strengthen values, build lasting life skills, and encourage an eagerness to explore life’s possibilities.

Tasks

Eligibility

This opportunity is open to individual long-term volunteers, ages 18 and up who have qualified as an Adventure Central Volunteer.

Additional Notes

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

Program Support

Catching a fish can be exciting and rewarding, a family activity many can enjoy. A fun skill-builder program in our fishing lineup uses program support volunteers to give more individualized attention to new learners!  "Practice makes perfect" is the saying, and learning to cast well increases your chances of catching the fish.  Our Outdoor Recreation team creates the learning environment to help individuals build skills to be successful in these activities.   You do not need to be an expert to be a program support for this opportunity, but it is always a plus. 

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. Volunteers help people make a stronger connection to nature by making it easy to experience the outdoors in fun activities.

Tasks

Eligibility

This opportunity is open to individual,  long-term, and short-term volunteers, ages 18 and up.   

Additional Notes

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

Program Support

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

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.

Additional Notes

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

Program Support

School field trips, family fishing and community group fishing days are in our lineup to get these kids and families excited about getting out and trying a fun activity!  Program support volunteers assist in teaching valuable fishing skills to families like fish handling, knot tying and rigging, and casting. Volunteers show kids and parents what kind of fishing opportunities exist in their MetroParks and the importance of being a steward to our public lands and waters. Supporting these beginning fishing programs allows for individualized attention and encouragement. Not everyone needs to be an expert to be a program support for this opportunity.  There are multiple tasks, and many hands make for a more successful experience or larger groups.

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 basic fishing skills. Volunteer support in introductory fishing programs gives families a chance to discover a fun pastime activity, allowing them to feel more confident to get out and enjoy fishing throughout the season.

Eligibility

This opportunity is open to individual,  long-term, and short-term volunteers, ages 18 and up.   

Tasks

Eligibility

This opportunity is open to individual,  long-term, and short-term volunteers, ages 18 and up.   

Additional Notes

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

Program Support

School field trips, family fishing and community group fishing days are in our lineup to get these kids and families excited about getting out and trying a fun activity!  Program support volunteers assist in teaching valuable fishing skills to families like fish handling, knot tying and rigging, and casting. Volunteers show kids and parents what kind of fishing opportunities exist in their MetroParks and the importance of being a steward to our public lands and waters. Supporting these beginning fishing programs allows for individualized attention and encouragement. Not everyone needs to be an expert to be a program support for this opportunity.  There are multiple tasks, and many hands make for a more successful experience or larger groups.

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 basic fishing skills. Volunteer support in introductory fishing programs gives families a chance to discover a fun pastime activity, allowing them to feel more confident to get out and enjoy fishing throughout the season.

Eligibility

This opportunity is open to individual,  long-term, and short-term volunteers, ages 18 and up.   

Tasks

Eligibility

This opportunity is open to individual,  long-term, and short-term volunteers, ages 18 and up.   

Additional Notes

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

Program Support

Job Description

Noah Career Coaching is seeking two dedicated Volunteer Social Media Coordinators to join our growing team. This is an excellent opportunity for students, recent graduates, aspiring marketing professionals, or anyone looking to gain hands-on experience in social media management while supporting a mission-driven organization.

Our organization helps job seekers achieve their career goals through career coaching, resume assistance, interview preparation, and job search support.

Responsibilities

Qualifications

Benefits

Work Location: Remote

Do you love history and have skills in farming, historic restoration, and farm animal care you want to share? Would you like to discover what life would have been like living on a farm in the 1880s? Make an impact by helping staff in the fields, in the barns, and around the farm at the Daniel Arnold Historic Farm at Carriage Hill MetroPark. 

The Historical Farm at Carriage Hill MetroPark tells important stories that celebrate our agricultural heritage in the Miami Valley. This heritage includes a significant portion of our local landscape shaped by generations of farmers who groomed and cared for the land. Visitors to Carriage Hill Historical Farm will be immersed in 19th-century farm life, a time when the sustainable farm, home and craft practices we see today were simply practical. Within the preserved house and farm buildings there are demonstrations of heritage skills and crafts by living-history interpreters, both staff and volunteers. Caring for the animals and maintaining historical integrity is imperative to connecting visitors with its history.

Under the supervision of the assigned staff, volunteers will support and assist with the following:

A variety of farm chores including Barn and Animal Care including feeding, watering, stall cleaning. Animals include drafts horses, hogs, sheep, chickens, cows, and donkeys. 

The interpretative purpose of the farm is to use the Arnold Family, who once lived at Carriage Hill Farm, as a guide to how a real conservative farm family is in real-time at a real place. Historic Blacksmith volunteers bring the history of the Daniel Arnold Historic Farm to life by interpreting 19th-century farm life, interpreting the Blacksmith shop and it's tool, and demonstrating basic techniques needed for the repairs on the farm.   This Shadow Experience opportunity is for those volunteers in training to serve as Historic Blacksmith for the Daniel Arnold Historic Farm at Carriage Hill MetroPark. You will be partnered with a qualified and experienced Historic Blacksmith volunteer and/or Staff Lead during this shadow experience to observe, learn, and practice the skills of a Historic Blacksmith. Period clothing is not required for this shadow experience; however, if you move forward to fully qualify as a Historic Blacksmith, period clothing will be required.

Historic Blacksmith volunteers provide interpretation and demonstrations for the Blacksmith shop on the Daniel A Arnold Historic Farm.  They represent what living in the 1880s might have been like, and help visitors make a stronger connection to the history of Carriage Hill and experience life on an 1880s working farm. 

Under the supervision of the historic farm staff, volunteers assist and support with the following

 This opportunity is open to individual, long-term volunteers, ages 18 and up, who have qualified as Historic Interpreters and completed the virtual training for Historic Blacksmith.  

Learn more about Skilled Trades 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:

Carriage Hill Farm Chores

Historic Woodworker

Gallery 22 - The Arts Castle's downtown Delaware art gallery and shop - is seeking volunteers to help us fulfill our mission of nurturing the creative energies of the residents of Delaware County and beyond by providing accessible, rotating art exhibits as well as offering handmade items and artwork for sale. 

In this volunteer role you will be responsible for processing sales and payments for Gallery 22 shoppers as well as educating visitors about the current art on display. You will also help promote the mission of Gallery 22 and The Arts Castle by informing guests of our offerings. You will also assist in tidying up and cleaning the gallery when needed.

Shifts are typically 2-2.5 hours, although how many hours you would like to contribute per day/week is up to you. You may be occasionally asked to help in distributing marketing flyers for new shows, events, and classes (both at Gallery 22 and The Arts Castle) as well as assisting in the set up/tear down of exhibits. Occasional special events/parties may occur, such as the annual Holiday Art Fair reception (generally in November) requiring more volunteers than normal. 

Retail experience (Square POS) is a plus but not required; training will be held to help you become familiar with the system if selected.

The expectations of the position can be adjusted depending on physical ability and preference. Volunteers are always welcome to pair up and/or bring a buddy for their shifts! 

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!

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. 

Under the supervision of the assigned Horticulture Technician, support and assist with the following:

A special field trip is being planned with Dayton Public Health to encourage fathers and their children to share in the fun and excitement of connecting to nature.  The families will be participating in a two-part offering, with fishing sharing time with our Conservation Kids programming.  The fishing portion will end their field trip, and volunteers are an essential part of making these experiences fun and memorable.  Program support volunteers assist in teaching valuable fishing skills to families like fish handling, cutting bait, gear management, knot tying and rigging, and casting. Volunteers show kids and parents what kind of fishing opportunities exist in their MetroParks and the importance of being a steward to our public lands and waters. Supporting these beginning fishing programs allows for individualized attention and encouragement. Not everyone needs to be an expert to be a program support for this opportunity.  There are multiple tasks, and many hands make for a more successful experience or larger groups.

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 basic fishing skills. Volunteer support in introductory fishing programs gives families a chance to discover a fun pastime activity, allowing them to feel more confident to get out and enjoy fishing throughout the season.

Eligibility

This opportunity is open to individual,  long-term, and short-term volunteers, ages 18 and up.   

Tasks

Additional Notes

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

Program Support

Looking for a way to support MetroParks' gardening efforts in our downtown parks? Do you enjoy promoting beautiful green spaces in an urban setting? Learn and apply effective horticulture techniques with plants chosen for their horticultural benefits, while fostering healthy biodiversity for pollinators.

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. 

Under the supervision of the assigned staff, volunteers will support and assist with the following:

Learn, grow, and give back to the trails you love with this exciting Service Saturday trail maintenance volunteer opportunity! Led by our knowledgeable staff, these trail maintenance opportunities will focus on revitalizing the trail systems at Cox Arboretum MetroPark. Learn alongside like-minded individuals on the whys and hows of building and maintaining a sustainable trail system on these hands-on workdays.

Impact

Volunteers who support Trail Maintenance help MetroParks provide safe, consistent, and high-quality trail experiences for visitors with varied interests and levels of abilities in a manner that protects and sustains the natural resources and habitats at each park.

Tasks  

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

Additional Notes

Learn more about Park Maintenance 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 have skills in carpentry, or would like to expand on your carpentry skills? Join our Woodworking at Cox Arboretum volunteer team! Once trained and checked off, volunteers use their skills and expertise to plan, strategize, and craft a variety of woodworking projects! Click here to review the Woodworking at Cox Arboretum MetroPark Volunteer Training.

Impact

Our Skilled Trades volunteers help drive our mission forward by assisting with maintenance projects in fabrication, repair, and interpretation. Through Woodworking, volunteers share their skills and talents to help Five Rivers MetroParks get important build projects accomplished throughout our parks.

Tasks

Under the supervision of the assigned staff, support and assist with the following:

Eligibility

Additional Notes

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

Are you looking for a volunteer opportunity to give back to Five Rivers MetroParks through Gardening? Would you like to be a part of building a space that connects families and youth to the enjoyment and benefits of what a garden has to offer? Join the knowledgeable education team in Skeeters' Garden, assisting with weekly garden tasks that create a space where visitors and families can discover, experience, and love our world through gardening.   You do not need to be an expert for this opportunity, but gardening and plant knowledge are always a plus.

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.  Volunteers help the staff create educational spaces for families to learn and grow strong plants at home.  Thanks to volunteer support, these spaces are making it easy for families to see an example of what can be done at home.

Tasks

Under the supervision of the Staff Lead, volunteers will assist with the following: 

Eligibility

This opportunity is open to individual Short-term and Long-Term volunteers, ages 18 and up. 

Additional Notes

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, build new skills, and experience different parts of the parks! Consider this/these opportunities:

Program Support

Serve with the Appalachian Ohio Restore Corps (AORC) and help support Rural Action, a membership-based non-profit organization promoting social, economic and environmental justice in Appalachian Ohio. AORC mobilizes 70 AmeriCorps members to help educate youth and the public, restore, conserve, and preserve environmental resources, improve food distribution to people in poverty, support reduced waste and recycling initiatives, and promote economic resilience through sustainability projects. Members are placed with Rural Action programs or community non-profits to support specific projects and initiatives related to one or more of the following areas: Conservation & Restoration, Agriculture, Education and Reduced Waste. During a term of service, training opportunities such as First Aid/CPR, Wilderness First Responder, and GIS/GPS are offered which provide certifications to support members' service experiences and prepare them for the next step in their careers.

To view open positions and learn more about specific position duties, please visit us at ruralaction.org/AORC

Host sites include:

Appalachian Accessible Food Network

Arc of Appalachia

Camp Oty’okwa

Crane Hollow/Museum Complex

Dawes Arboretum

Franklinton Farms

Outdoor Recreation Council of Appalachia

Raccoon Creek Partnership

Rising Appalachia

Solid Ground Schools 

United Plant Savers

The Garden for All

and Rural Action Programs:

Sustainable Agriculture

Environmental Education

Upcycle Ohio Thrift and Makerspace

Zero Waste Program

Sustainable Forestry

Watersheds

Benefits:

An annual living allowance of $24,000

An annual living allowance of $25,200 for cohort leaders

An education award of $7,395 for a completed term of service to be used to pay student loans or for future education

Health care coverage for members

Child care (if income eligible)

Mileage, training, and equipment budget totaling $1,400

Assistance finding comfortable and affordable housing in your service community

Professional development and training opportunities including valuable certifications and industry credentials

Joining a family of AmeriCorps Alums in the region committed to lifelong-service and activism

Student loan forbearance and the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program

Networking with local non-profit and government leaders

Connection to post-service careers with Employers of National Service

Wegerzyn Gardens MetroParks actively promotes landscaping with native plants in balance with traditional garden selections to inspire visitors. Come volunteer alongside staff and volunteers as you help with this important conservation project!

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. 

Under the supervision of the assigned staff, volunteers will support and assist with the following:

Want to help? Do you like talking on the phone? We are looking for a Call Volunteer to check in with patients and caregivers on a weekly basis. We will start you in the Dublin office, but can eventually transition this opportunity to be a remote activity. Great for college students or stay at home parents!

A PLACE for YOU is joining us at our Park Open House opportunities and sharing your love of MetroParks!  Program Support volunteers will assist our staff during this new series of programs designed to help visitors of all ages explore and discover our parks and the many fun activities they can enjoy.

Impact

Volunteers just like YOU ensure that our program participants can learn, grow, and connect with nature through a variety of high-quality, nature-based programming offered in our parks. Volunteers help build access, comfort, convenience, and safety into our programs for all interested in learning and exploring.

Tasks

Eligibility

This is an opportunity for individual Long-Term and Short-Term volunteers who are 16 and older.

Additional Notes

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

Program Support

Enjoy the outdoors and help others discover the beauty of nature in our parks at this program support opportunity! Experience in art is not required for this opportunity, but it can make the experience more fun. Click here to learn more about the Paint-A-Park programs including why they were developed and see examples of art created during these programs. 

This program will be delivered at a station during the A Place For You Park Open House at Island MetroPark. A Place for You is a program series designed to help visitors of all ages explore and enjoy our parks together through fun, hands-on activities like this one. 

Impact

Volunteers just like YOU ensure that our program participants are able to learn, grow, and connect with nature through a variety of high quality, nature-based programming offered in our parks.

Tasks

Eligibility

This is an opportunity for Long-Term and Short-Term volunteers who are 16 and older.

Additional Notes

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. 

Enjoy the outdoors and help others discover the beauty of nature in our parks at this program support opportunity! Experience in art is not required for this opportunity, but it can make the experience more fun. Click here to learn more about the Paint-A-Park programs including why they were developed and see examples of art created during these programs. 

This program will be delivered at a station during the A Place For You Park Open House at Eastwood MetroPark. A Place for You is a program series designed to help visitors of all ages explore and enjoy our parks together through fun, hands-on activities like this one. 

Impact

Volunteers just like YOU ensure that our program participants are able to learn, grow, and connect with nature through a variety of high quality, nature-based programming offered in our parks.

Tasks

Eligibility

This is an opportunity for Long-Term and Short-Term volunteers who are 16 and older.

Additional Notes

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. 

Learn how to write grants and how to find grants.  Work with our grant writer to learn the nuances and find points of grant writing.  Take over grant writing responsibility at the end of 2026

School Program volunteers help build access, comfort, convenience, and safety into our school field trips. Those who support the school program field trips allow staff to extend the opportunities for school groups to get outside into a living classroom and connect STEM standards to real situations. Volunteers enable more individualized support for first-time learners and create an inclusive skill-building environment. Volunteers help make it possible for kids and teachers to develop a stronger connection to nature by making it easy to experience the outdoors in fun activities.

Growing Gardeners Field Trip

School group size:  KB Child Development Center

20 K  - 8th-grade children,  3 chaperones

Growing Gardeners is an interactive school field trip throughout the season at Wegerzyn Gardens MetroPark, engaging young learners in a variety of activities and topics such as soil science, plant identification, guided nature hikes, and basic gardening tasks. Volunteers will help with groups of children in sensory exploration in nature and be a part of inspiring future generations of gardeners!

Tasks 

Eligibility: This opportunity is open to individual, long-term volunteers, ages 18 and up who have qualified as School Program Volunteers.  Simply click the blue RESPOND button to sign up or click here to learn more about becoming a volunteer. This opportunity is available for OSUE Master Gardener service hours.

***If you missed the training session but are interested in responding to this opportunity, email volunteer.services@metroparks.org to review the training materials and schedule shadow experiences.

Additional Notes

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, build new skills, and experience different parts of the parks! Consider this/these opportunities:

Program Support

Volunteers are needed to help sort through contaminated recyclables, rescuing valuable materials from the landfill and supporting sustainability across all 18 reservations. Join a passionate team of volunteers and be part of a gritty, hands-on effort to protect our parks and planet. Yes—it’s dirty. Yes—it can be stinky. But your work will make a real, measurable difference!

The Recycling Center is located at the Ohio & Erie Canal Reservation Management Center at 6100 West Canal Road, Valley View, OH 44125. The program takes place on Wednesdays and Fridays from spring through fall.

Register here: https://www.clevelandmetroparks.com/about/volunteer/drop-in-service-days

Join us for a rewarding year of service!  AmeriCorps is a great opportunity for a gap year, recent college graduates, and current college students. Veterans, older adults, and others seeking to make a difference in their community are also encouraged to apply. Positions include gain hands on experience working with students, families, or older adults in Cleveland, Ohio and beyond. 

Youth Focused Programing:  Help build the next generation of leaders by serving K-12 Cleveland Metropolitan School District students during the school day, in afterschool and summer programs. Depending upon your skills and interests, your home base will be with one of NCA’s following host site partner organizations. Each partner offers exciting and unique opportunities:

America SCORES Cleveland, Lake Erie Ink, Open Doors Academy, Promise Academy and NCA’s Partners for Student Success (P4SS)

Older Adults:  Combat social isolation in older adults 55+ by delivering in person and remote programing. Sessions include individualized and/or group digital tech trainings (aimed at helping older adults overcome tech anxieties, build digital skills, and develop confidence), programing focused on health and wellness, art, gardening, book clubs, movies and much more!  Depending on your skills and interests, your home base will be with NCA’s IConnect program. 

Benefits of AmeriCorps Service

Living Allowance: Full-time up to $21,735, 3/4-time receive up to $17,482, half-time receive up to $13,111, and quarter-time receive up to $6,314.

Gain training and professional development skills.

Earn a Segal Education Award equivalent to the maximum amount of the Pell Grant upon the successful completion of service hours: up to $7,395 (full time); $5,176.50 (3/4 time); $3697.50 (half time); $1,923.  The education award may be used towards educational expenses or current/future student loans.

Commitment

Requirements

Sat., Aug. 15, Mingo Park, starts at 4 p.m. 

The inaugural Lincoln Mile run will end at Mingo Park , where the Unity Fest will take place. Come celebrate with the community!

Enjoy vendors, music, food trucks, face painting and more.

Volunteers needed for set-up in the morning, to help with activities for kids, and to clean up during and after the band plays in the evening. 2 hour shifts.  Email amy@unitycommunitycenter.org to volunteer. 

The Dayton Celtic Festival is back this year! Lend your helping hands behind the scenes to support those who work to make it happen! Volunteers are needed to oversee the hospitality room that will supply lunch and dinner to Five Rivers MetroParks staff and volunteers.

Impact

Special Event volunteers serve a critical role in ensuring that each special event or large-scale program runs smoothly from set up to tear down. 

Tasks

Eligibility

This opportunity is open to individuals, 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.

Additional Notes

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD A VOLUNTEER PARKING PASS

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:

Service Saturdays

Share your gardening and park passion and introduce visitors to Cox Arboretum MetroPark!  Garden Guides have an enthusiasm for plants and MetroParks which is infectious and gets visitors excited about all the things they are seeing in the park.  Connecting and educating visitors to a diverse landscape of plants through a tour of our gardens is what a Garden Guide does. You do not need to know the name of every plant, but a "what's in bloom" highlight will be shared at the beginning of each tour.  May through September, Garden Tour Guides support our education team in providing this unique experience to visitors mainly at Cox Arboretum. 

Program Support volunteers help build access, comfort, and safety for all interested in learning about the natural world.  Volunteers provide support for first-time learners and help participants build subject-specific skills.   Volunteers help people make a stronger connection to nature by making it accessible (via the TRAMS) and easy to experience the outdoors in fun activities. Nature is a respite for many, and Garden Tour Guides support our education team in providing this service to park visitors. 

Eligibility

This opportunity is open to individual, long-term volunteers, ages 18 and up who have qualified as Garden Guide Volunteer and and successfully checked off on the TRAMs.  This opportunity is available for OSUE Master Gardener service hours.

Additional Notes

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, build new skills, and experience different parts of the parks! Consider this/these opportunities:

Program Support

Help us have the best summer camps possible by being an extra helping hand for camps! If you have free time in the summer from 8:30 am-3:30 pm, we would love your help as an extra adult this camp season! You do not need to be present the entire shift, even volunteering for a few hours is greatly appreciated. Contact Naturalist Valerie Deehr with your availability. Volunteers must have a completed background check to help with camps.

Volunteers can expect to help out by: being an extra pair of eyes so our camp counselors can take a mid day break, helping with playscape playtime, hiking with the group, helping run activities (if comfortable), and assisting with other tasks as needed.

Help us have the best summer camps possible by being an extra helping hand for camps! If you have free time in the summer from 8:30 am-1:30 pm, we would love your help as an extra adult this camp season! You do not need to be present the entire shift, even volunteering for a few hours is greatly appreciated. Contact Naturalist Valerie Deehr with your availability. Volunteers must have a completed background check to help with camps.

Volunteers can expect to help out by: being an extra pair of eyes so our camp counselors can take a mid day break, helping with playscape playtime, hiking with the group, helping run activities (if comfortable), and assisting with other tasks as needed.

Help us have the best summer camps possible by being an extra helping hand for camps! If you have free time in the summer from 8:30 am-3:30 pm, we would love your help as an extra adult this camp season! You do not need to be present the entire shift, even volunteering for a few hours is greatly appreciated. Contact Naturalist Valerie Deehr with your availability. Volunteers must have a completed background check to help with camps.

Volunteers can expect to help out by: being an extra pair of eyes so our camp counselors can take a mid day break, helping with playscape playtime, hiking with the group, helping run activities (if comfortable), and assisting with other tasks as needed.

Help tend the fire and manage s'more materials at this program! ----- On the fourth Friday of July and August, come anytime between 7 and 9 pm to enjoy a campfire, s’mores, cornhole, and some self-guided bouldering (low-level rock climbing) in the center of the quarry. A great family-friendly way to cap off a week! A naturalist will be available for introductory bouldering training. Climbing shoes are available! Bring your own camp chair.

VOLUNTEER: 1 experienced canoer

Paddle around Ewing Island with a naturalist as you check out ecological features, learn about the history of the island, and search for wildlife like bald eagles, painted turtles, beaver and more as the sun sets and moon rises. A canoeing safety and skills session will prelude the trip. Previous canoeing experience recommended. Canoes are 2-person boats. Paddling trip is roughly 2.5 river miles.

VOLUNTEER: 1 experienced canoer

A canoeing safety and skills session will prelude the trip. Previous canoeing experience recommended. Canoes are 2-person boats. Paddling trip is roughly 2.5 river miles. See online description for complete details.

Must be 11 to paddle in the front seat; 6 to ride in the center; please contact the program leader for center riders or other special accommodations. Only 2-paddler canoes provided; register with a companion or one will be assigned to you at the program. All participants must abide by Essential Eligibility Criteria. Call ahead for special needs and accessibility accommodations.

Serve as a bike sweep or leader for this event!

Join in on this no-drop group road-bike ride and learn about the history of the Slippery Elm Trail. Ride pace average 12-15 mph. Black Swamp Preserve to Rudolph Bike Park and back. 10-mile ride. Helmets are required to be worn by all riders. This ride is appropriate for adults and teenagers.

Assist with arrow making materials, serve as safety spotter.

Make your own wooden arrow, then give it a shot at this beginner-friendly instructional archery program. We’ll learn about quality arrow components and their functions before focusing on the steps of shooting, shooting consistency, and fun! All archery equipment provided, personal gear welcome (inspected at program). Must be 8 or older to attend. Minors must be accompanied by legal guardian. Please register attending archer only.

Help tend the fire and manage s'more materials at this program!

-----

On the fourth Friday of July and August, come anytime between 7 and 9 pm to enjoy a campfire, s’mores, cornhole, and some self-guided bouldering (low-level rock climbing) in the center of the quarry. A great family-friendly way to cap off a week! A naturalist will be available for introductory bouldering training. Climbing shoes are available! Bring your own camp chair.

This Shadow Experience opportunity is for those volunteers in training to serve as a Pony Ride Assistant. You will be partnered with a qualified and experienced Staff Lead during this shadow experience to observe, learn, and practice the required skills.

Volunteering as a Pony Ride Assistant is a fun and interactive way to help at the Riding Center if you enjoy being around young children (age 2 - 8) and families. For many of our riders, a Pony Ride is their first interaction with an equine, and their experience with us creates a lasting memory. Volunteers hand-lead ponies while the children ride, or act as a spotter, walking alongside the pony during the ride. 

The Pony Ride Assistant opportunity is only open to those current Carriage Hill Riding Center volunteers who have completed 20 hours of service as a Barn Aide. For more information on how to get started as a Barn Aide, please visit our Carriage Hill Riding Center Volunteer Training page.

Impact

Volunteers help ensure a safe experience and provide personal attention to each rider and their family. This support allows us to offer a direct connection to large animals and nature through programming.

Tasks

Under the supervision of staff, you will learn and practice these tasks and skills:

Groom (ponies)

Eligibility

This opportunity is open to individual Long-Term, Short-Term and Youth Volunteers ages 14 and up who have qualified as Barn Aides and have completed the Pony Ride Assistant Volunteer Training.

Additional Notes

See the Programming Volunteer Position Description for more detailed information. 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, or are you curious to learn more about native plants and sustainable horticulture? Join the knowledgeable staff and fellow volunteers at Aullwood Garden MetroPark and get hands-on experience caring for one of Dayton’s premier historic garden estates. Help bring Marie Aull’s vision to life by supporting gardening practices rooted in local conservation, all within a peaceful setting along the Stillwater River.

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. 

Under the supervision of the Staff Lead, support and assist with the following tasks:

Equestrian Arena Assistant volunteers assist staff in conducting lessons and camps, including Summer Camps, at the Carriage Hill Riding Center. These volunteers are the eyes, ears, hands and heart that ensure each participant has a fun, safe, and engaging experience. These volunteers train and qualify as Barn Aides before training to qualify as an Equestrian Arena Assistant. 

Impact

Arena Assistant Volunteers ensure a fun, safe experience riding lesson experience providing a connection to nature through high-quality equine programming. 

Tasks

Eligibility

This opportunity is open to individual Long-Term, Short-Term and Youth volunteers ages 14 and up who have qualified as Equestrian Arena Assistants.

Additional Notes

See the Programming Volunteer Position Description for more detailed information. 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.

This Shadow Experience opportunity is for those volunteers in training to serve as an Equestrian Arena Assistant. You will be partnered with a qualified and experienced Staff Lead during this shadow experience to observe, learn, and practice the required skills.

Equestrian Arena Assistant volunteers assist staff in conducting lessons and camps, including Summer Camps at the Carriage Hill Riding Center. These volunteers are the eyes, ears, hands and heart that ensure each participant has a fun, safe, and engaging experience. These volunteers train and qualify as Barn Aides before training to become an Equestrian Arena Assistant. 

Impact

Arena Assistant Volunteers ensure a fun, safe experience riding lesson experience providing a connection to nature through high-quality equine programming. 

Tasks

Eligibility 

This opportunity is open to individual Long-Term, Short-Term and Youth volunteers ages 14 and up who are currently in training to qualify as Equestrian Arena Assistants.

Additional Notes

See the Programming Volunteer Position Description for more detailed information. 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.

Be a part of the Ox Chalks the Walks, the Annual Chalk Art Festival at the Oxford Community Arts Center on August 29, held in front of the building on College Avenue.

New this year, College Avenue will be closed to the public, and all activities will be held in front of the arts center instead of in the gardens.

Event time: 10am to 1pm, weather permitting

Participants will enjoy a Juried Chalk Art Contest with cash prizes, Open Art Areas for all ages, food trucks, craft vendors, and performances in the Pavilion by Flowing Grace School of Dance and Oxford Folk Jazz band.

Volunteers are needed to assist with set up, activities, and tear-down. 
9:30 -2:00 PM - Volunteers assist with set up, contest registration, and kid activities, and tear-down

Dress: This is a family-friendly outdoor event, so please dress appropriately.

Not a current OCAC Volunteer? Apply through the OCAC website today!

Is your business, team, church group, or organization looking for a meaningful way to give back to the community? New Life Mission offers hands-on group volunteer opportunities that make a direct impact on individuals and families across Butler County.

Group volunteers can assist in multiple areas including meal preparation and serving in our commercial kitchen, food pantry support, warehouse and donation operations, organizing supplies, unloading food donations, help desk assistance, community clean-up projects, and seasonal service opportunities. We can help match your team with projects that fit your group’s size, schedule, and abilities.

For over 50 years, New Life Mission has served Butler County, Ohio by providing hot meals, groceries, resources, and support to individuals facing poverty, hardship, homelessness, addiction, and crisis situations. Every volunteer group helps strengthen our ability to serve the community consistently and compassionately.

Whether your team is looking for a one-time service project or an ongoing partnership opportunity, we would love to work with you.

Volunteer application and group inquiries: New Life Mission Volunteer Application

Do you want to make a direct impact on individuals and families facing difficult seasons of life in Butler County? New Life Mission is looking for caring and dependable volunteers to serve in our Food Pantry and Help Desk as we work to Light a Path Out of Poverty in our community.

Volunteers assist guests through the pantry process, help distribute groceries, support intake and help desk operations, organize pantry areas, and help create a welcoming environment where people are treated with dignity and compassion. For many guests, the pantry is more than food assistance — it is often a connection point to encouragement, resources, and support.

Volunteer opportunities are flexible throughout the week. Pantry and Help Desk operations run Monday through Thursday from 10:00 AM–2:00 PM.

For over 50 years, New Life Mission has served Butler County, Ohio and continues to provide groceries, resources, and support to thousands of individuals and families throughout Butler County each year.

Volunteer application: New Life Mission Volunteer Application

Do you want to make a real difference in the lives of people in Butler County? New Life Mission is looking for dependable volunteers to help prepare and serve meals as we work to Light a Path Out of Poverty in our community.

Volunteers assist with food preparation, cooking, meal service, kitchen support, and helping create a welcoming environment for guests. Every meal served is more than food — it is often the first step toward connection, stability, and support for someone going through a difficult season.

Volunteer hours are flexible. Meal preparation begins at 8:00 AM, with lunch service running from 12:00 PM–1:30 PM in our dining hall.

For over 50 years, New Life Mission has served the East Side of Hamilton and currently provides 100–150 hot meals each day to our community.

Volunteer application: New Life Mission Volunteer Application

Do you want to make a hands-on difference in your community? New Life Mission is looking for dependable volunteers to serve in our Warehouse and Donation Operations as we work to Light a Path Out of Poverty for individuals and families across Butler County.

Warehouse volunteers play a critical role in helping New Life Mission operate efficiently each day. Responsibilities include unloading trucks with food donations, sorting and organizing incoming products, stocking shelves, preparing pantry inventory, and helping keep the warehouse clean and functional. This position is active and physical, making it a great fit for individuals or groups who enjoy practical, team-oriented service.

We are also looking for volunteers interested in helping as box truck drivers to assist with food donation pickups and deliveries. Drivers must have a good driving record and be comfortable operating an 18-foot box truck. Some lifting is required.

Every truck unloaded and every shelf stocked helps ensure that meals can be served, groceries can be distributed, and families in crisis can receive support without interruption.

Volunteer opportunities are flexible throughout the week. Moderate lifting may be involved depending on the task and donation load for the day.

For over 50 years, New Life Mission has served the East Side of Hamilton and continues to provide food, resources, and support to thousands of individuals and families throughout Butler County each year.

Volunteer application: New Life Mission Volunteer Application

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  

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

Additional Notes:

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. 

VITAS invites friendly and well-behaved pets to join the Paw PalsSM program, in which animals and their humans learn how to visit patients at the end of their life. A registered VITAS Paw PalsSM visitor can offer comfort, bring back memories, encourage activity and provide unconditional love to VITAS patients. Your visits leave behind memories of you and your pet, and rekindle thoughts of other pets.
Pet visits can sometimes reach a patient when no one else can. Our Paw PalsSM brightens the day for everyone when they visit.
All kinds of pets are invited to join the VITAS Paw Pals Club.
Paw PalsSM must be well-groomed, at least one- year old, and have up-to-date health records.
For more information about VITAS Volunteer Services visit: https://www.vitas.com/volunteer.

VITAS is looking for kind and caring volunteers to help terminally ill patients and their families. When you make friendly visits, run simple errands, provide a listening ear, and offer the gift of friendship at a crucial time, you can make a real difference in another's life. Yours, too!
Take advantage of numerous volunteer opportunities, including:
• Sitting with a patient while the caregiver takes a break
• Making friendly visits to patients and their families at home or in a nursing home
• Driving a patient to appointments
• Accompanying a patient to a church function, wedding, beauty shop, play, or ballgame
• Running errands to the grocery store, drug store, or post office
• Assisting with programs and special events
VITAS provides free training and orientation for volunteers to help learn the skills required to be an outstanding hospice volunteer. Volunteering also strengthens your resume for a post-college career.
For more information about VITAS Volunteer Services, visit: https://www.vitas.com/volunteer

VITAS is looking for caring individuals to share their voice and time as Proactive Caller Volunteers to help terminally ill patients and their families.
If you enjoy talking on the phone and have time to make check-in calls, you may be a perfect ProActive Caller Volunteer.
Our Proactive volunteers make “check-in” phone calls to our hospice patients and their family members.
You can work from your dorm room, apartment, home, or the VITAS office. You’ll call patients at home, asking how they are doing, checking on needed supplies, listening, and identifying any service concerns.
VITAS provides free volunteer orientation to help you learn the skills required to be an outstanding volunteer caller. Volunteering can strengthen your resume for post-college job interviews and careers.
For more information about VITAS Volunteer Services, visit: https://www.vitas.com/volunteer.

VITAS invites friendly and well-behaved pets to join the Paw PalsSM program, in which animals and their humans learn how to visit patients at the end of their life. A registered VITAS Paw PalsSM visitor can offer comfort, bring back memories, encourage activity and provide unconditional love to VITAS patients. Your visits leave behind memories of you and your pet, and rekindle thoughts of other pets.
Pet visits can sometimes reach a patient when no one else can. Our Paw PalsSM brightens the day for everyone when they visit.
All kinds of pets are invited to join the VITAS Paw Pals Club.
Paw PalsSM must be well-groomed, at least one- year old, and have up-to-date health records.
For more information about VITAS Volunteer Services, visit: https://www.vitas.com/volunteer.

VITAS is looking for kind and caring volunteers to help terminally ill patients and their families. When you make friendly visits, run simple errands, provide a listening ear, and offer the gift of friendship at a crucial time, you can make a real difference in another's life. Yours, too!
Take advantage of numerous volunteer opportunities, including:
• Sitting with a patient while the caregiver takes a break
• Making friendly visits to patients and their families at home or in a nursing home
• Driving a patient to appointments
• Accompanying a patient to a church function, wedding, beauty shop, play, or ballgame
• Running errands to the grocery store, drug store, or post office
• Assisting with programs and special events
VITAS provides free training and orientation for volunteers to help learn the skills required to be an outstanding hospice volunteer. Volunteering also strengthens your resume for a post-college career.

VITAS is looking for caring individuals to share their voice and time as Proactive Caller Volunteers to help terminally ill patients and their families.
If you enjoy talking on the phone and have time to make check-in calls, you may be a perfect ProActive Caller Volunteer.
Our Proactive volunteers make “check-in” phone calls to our hospice patients and their family members.
You can work from your dorm room, apartment, home, or the VITAS office. You’ll call patients at home, asking how they are doing, checking on needed supplies, listening, and identifying any service concerns.
VITAS provides free volunteer orientation to help you learn the skills required to be an outstanding volunteer caller. Volunteering can strengthen your resume for post-college job interviews and careers.
For more information about VITAS Volunteer Services, visit: https://www.vitas.com/volunteer.

The Discovery Shop is in need of volunteers to work the front register on select days of the week. The job involves ringing up customers, collecting phone numbers and emails for the Discovery Rewards program, and keeping the area tidy. We are especially in need of volunteers in this role at the following times:

Monday: 10am-12pm

Wednesday: 10am-5pm

Thursday: 10am-12pm

Friday: 10am-5pm

Saturday: 3pm-5pm

Volunteers should be available for a minimum of two hours, but can stay as long as they like beyond that. Commitment to a consistent schedule is necessary. If you like people and getting to know their stories, this is the role for you!

The Discovery Shop is in need of volunteers to process and price donated clothing on select days of the week. The job involves sorting donations for acceptable items, pricing clothing (including vintage and designer items), and hanging clothing out on the floor. We are especially in need of volunteers in this role at the following times:

Wednesday: 3pm-5pm

Thursday: 12pm-5pm

Friday: 10am-5pm

Saturday: 8am-5pm

Volunteers should be available for a minimum of two hours, but can stay as long as they like beyond that. Commitment to a consistent schedule is necessary. If you like fashion, organization, and learning about special items, this is the role for you!

The Discovery Shop is in need of volunteers to help keep the store tidy and a pleasant place to shop for our customers. The job involves regular vacuuming and dusting, keeping the bathrooms clean, and cleaning up display glass. We are especially in need of volunteers in this role at the following times:

Tuesday: 8am-10am

Thursday: 4pm-7pm

Friday: 8am-10am

Volunteers should be available for a minimum of two hours, but can stay as long as they like beyond that. Commitment to a consistent schedule is necessary. If you take pride in keeping a space tidy and creating a warm and welcoming environment, this is the role for you!

The Discovery Shop is in need of volunteers to join our housewares team. The job involves sorting or pricing housewares (such as glassware, home goods, and decorations), identifying vintage items, setting merchandise on the floor in an appealing way, and accepting donations at the back door. We are especially in need of volunteers in this role at the following times:

Thursday: 2pm-5pm

Friday: 8am-5pm

Saturday: 8am-5pm

Sunday: 12pm-4pm

Volunteers should be available for a minimum of two hours, but can stay as long as they like beyond that. Commitment to a consistent schedule is necessary. If you like sorting and organizing, investigating unique items, or merchandising, this is the role for you!

What is a Heirloom Garden? Do you enjoy working outside while learning about our local history, particularly as it pertains to growing food? The heirloom kitchen garden and flower beds at the Carriage Hill MetroPark Historic Farm tell important stories that celebrate our agricultural heritage in the Miami Valley. This includes a significant portion of our local landscape, shaped by generations of farmers growing a variety of heirloom crops commonly found on farms in the 1880s. So let's grow together at Carriage Hill and get our hands in the soil!

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.  

Under the supervision of the assigned staff, volunteers will support and assist with the following:

typical garden maintenance, including soil preparation, laying out beds, planting both seeds and plants, weeding and cultivation, and harvesting. This position is open to gardeners of all skill levels, from beginner to expert. In addition, some landscape gardening in flower beds may be included.

Volunteers will share their textile skills and support staff in leading a fun program inspired by historical quilt block patterns. By the end of the series, participants will create a small quilt made up of all the blocks they have completed. In each session, volunteers will help students construct a 12-inch block using templates and a few modern techniques. To assist with these sessions, volunteers should have a textile qualification and be capable of guiding participants in using sewing machines, laying out patterns, and developing basic sewing skills.

Volunteers for this opportunity will be supporting the staff during a public program, and it DOES NOT REQUIRE PERIOD APPAREL! 

The individuals who volunteer their time and talents in the textile area help make it possible for others to experience these 19th-century skills that are still relevant today, create interest in these skills, enhance a more personalized experience in a program, and allow us to create beautiful items that have a function at the farm. Volunteers allow the interpretive teams to help visitors make a stronger connection to the history of Carriage Hill and experience life on an 1880s working farm.   

This opportunity is open to the following volunteers: Short-term and Long-term. Learn more about our types of service here. 

Look for Additional Details about this opportunity at the bottom of this listing!  See the Skilled Trades and Programming Volunteer Positions for more information on volunteer opportunities with us.  

Visit the Historic Interpreter page in our Training Library to see what training is required to become part of the Historic Interpreter volunteers. 

Help us share our conservation message with the next generation while providing routine animal care for our most important ambassadors! Five Rivers MetroParks Wildlife Ambassadors assist our education team in sharing our conservation message with community members of all ages at a variety of programs, events, and outreach opportunities year-round. Wildlife Ambassador Animal Care Volunteers provide daily care for these important animal ambassadors year-round at the Twin Valley Welcome Center so that they can continue sharing our message. 

Impact

Volunteers like YOU provide hands-on daily care including monitoring, feeding, and cleaning to promote the health and well-being of our Wildlife Ambassadors so that they can share our conservation mission and the importance of healthy habitat for animals like them and people like us to a variety of audiences throughout our community.

Tasks

Eligibility: This is an opportunity for individual Long-Term volunteers who are 18 and older and is also open to family-friendly volunteers with adult volunteers (18 and up) with children ages 9 and up who would like to volunteer regularly together. Learn more about our types of service here. 

Additional Notes

Look for additional details about this opportunity at the bottom of this listing! See the Animal Care Volunteer Position Description for more information.  

Get Started! Visit the Wildlife Ambassador Training Page in our Training Library to see what training is required to become part of the Wildlife Ambassador Volunteers.

Help community members enjoy our parks on horseback by supporting our Trail Rides at the Carriage Hill Riding Center as a volunteer Equestrian Trail Guide!

Equestrian Trail Guides assist with grooming and saddling the horses, help customers while they get on and off their horses, and untack and clean up once the trail riders return. In addition to these tasks, Trail Guides will join the trail ride on horseback while giving instructions, keeping a watch on spacing and behavior, and answering questions. Trail rides are often a customers’ first exposure to horses, and their experience with us creates a lasting memory and a deep connection to nature through this experience. 

Impact

Volunteers help ensure a safe experience and provide personal attention to each rider.  This extra support allows us to offer a direct connection to large animals and nature through programming.

This opportunity is open to individual Long-Term, Short-Term and Youth Volunteers ages 16 and up who have qualified as Barn Aides and completed the Equestrian Trail Guide Training Series.

See the Programming Volunteer Position Description for more detailed information. 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.

**This opportunity is a SHADOW Experience open to volunteers in training to be qualified Equestrian Trail Guides at the Carriage Hill Riding Center. These volunteers have qualified as Barn Aides and completed the Equestrian Trail Guide volunteer training. Now, they will shadow qualified volunteers and Carriage Hill Riding Center staff to practice the skills needed to become a qualified Equestrian Trail Guide volunteer. **

Help community members enjoy our parks on horseback by supporting our Trail Rides at the Carriage Hill Riding Center as a volunteer Equestrian Trail Guide! Equestrian Trail Guides assist with grooming and saddling the horses, help customers while they get on and off their horses, and untack and clean up once the trail riders return.

In addition to these tasks, Trail Guides will learn to ride on horseback while giving instructions, keeping a watch on spacing and behavior, and answering questions. 

Impact

Trail rides are often a customers’ first exposure to horses, and their experience with us creates a lasting memory and a deep connection to nature through this experience. Volunteers help ensure a safe experience and provide personal attention to each rider.  This extra support allows us to offer a direct connection to large animals and nature through programming.

Tasks

Working alongside qualified volunteers and staff, volunteers in training will do and learn the following at this shadow experience:

Eligibility

This opportunity is open to individual Long-Term, Short-Term and Youth Volunteers ages 16 and up who have qualified as Barn Aides and are in training to serve as Equestrian Trail Guides.

Additional Notes

See the Programming Volunteer Position Description for more detailed information. 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.

Be a part of the magic! Volunteering as a Pony Ride Assistant is a fun way to support the Carriage Hill Riding Center on the weekends. For many of our riders, a Pony Ride is their first experience with a horse or pony, and that experience creates a lasting memory.

Pony Ride Assistants support the pony ride programming at the Carriage Hill Riding Center leading ponies by hand while the children ride, serving as a spotter, or walking alongside the pony during the ride.

Impact

Volunteers help ensure a safe experience and provide personal attention to each rider and their family. This support allows us to offer a direct connection to large animals and nature through programming.

Tasks

Eligibility

This opportunity is open to individual Long-Term, Short-Term and Youth Volunteers ages 14 and up who have qualified as Barn Aides and have qualified as Pony Ride Assistant Volunteers.

Additional Notes

See the Programming Volunteer Position Description for more detailed information. 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.