Opportunities From: Get Connected

Be a part of the OCAC's biggest night of the year - the 2026 Annual Gala!
Event hours: 6:30 - 10:30

This year's theme: Route 66: Get Your Kicks!

The event will include retro hors d'oeuvres, an open wine bar, bourbon tasting, casino games, a silent auction, and more!

Volunteers needed in two shifts*:
6:00 - 8:30PM: Greeters, Coat Check, Lite Bussing, or Food Replenishment.
(check-in for this shift starts at 5:45PM)

8:30 - 11:00PM: Greeters, Coat Check, Lite Bussing, or Food Replenishment.
(check-in for this shift starts at 8:15PM)

*Sign-up for both shifts is available for those wanting more hours, indicate in notes what shift you want or both

Dress: Comfortable party attire is required. This is a high-ticket event for the OCAC.
However - all shifts include lots of standing and walking, so wear COMFORTABLE SHOES.

Not a current OCAC Volunteer? Submit an application through the OCAC website today! 

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.

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.

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

Come learn, grow, and give back to the trails you love with this exciting trail maintenance volunteer opportunity! Led by our Trail staff, these trail maintenance opportunities will focus on revitalizing the trail systems in Englewood MetroPark. Learn alongside like-minded individuals on the whys and how's of building and maintaining a sustainable trail system on these hands-on workdays.

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.

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

​Basic trail maintenance at Englewood MetroPark; Corridor clearing, drainage clearing, tread maintenance, and invasive removal.

Join the Wilks Institute in creating mental health care packages for local teens. 

Make DIY stress balls, decorate a journal, write affirmations and kind messages, and more!

Caring Adults Needed!

iC.A.R.E. Mentoring, a program of Red Oak Behavioral Health, matches caring adults to mentor one student, once a week, for one school year. Our volunteers work with K-12 students in the Akron, Barberton, Cuyahoga Falls, and Tallmadge public schools. We support our volunteers with training, supplies, and a fun & interactive workbook that covers important skills such as goal setting, resilience, and self confidence.

Why mentor?

Youth of all ages benefit from having a relationship with a caring and consistent adult role model.
Student with a mentor are:

(National Mentoring Partnership)

Ready to learn more?

Sign up for a 30 minute virtual information session to learn the basics of iC.A.R.E., what you can expect as a mentor, and much more. Click here to sign up for an info session.

Please contact us at mentor@redoakbh.org to learn more!

Volunteers will be trained by Office of Sustainability staff beforehand on how/what waste to sort, and will oversee a waste station during the mealtime (either Olivia or I will be at each volunteer shift to supervise). The volunteer will stand behind a landfill, recycling, and compost bin and advise students as they go to throw away their waste from the meal, which bin to put a specific item in. At the end of each meal, volunteers will help me weigh each bag of waste and take it out to the corresponding dumpsters. 

Make a real impact on the lives of Ohio students and their surrounding community - become an AmeriCorps member.  Serve as an advisor and mentor and guide Ohioans by providing the information they need to prepare for, access, and complete a postsecondary credential. 

The AmeriCorps College and Career Guides deliver workshops and advising on college and career exploration and planning to 8th through 12th graders and adult learners. While providing service, members develop marketable advising, mentoring, interpersonal, and leadership skills.

This position is a full-time commitment of 1,700 service hours to be completed 40 hours per week in 11 months in August 2026 through June 2027.  College and Career Guides will receive a living allowance up to $30,000 or $2,727.68 monthly before taxes, and an education award up to $7,395 upon completion of service.

College and Career Guides are eligible for free health care insurance and childcare, and their qualified Federal student loans are eligible for forbearance during time of service.

College and Career Guides receive ongoing skills training and professional development.

Applicants must have earned an Associates degree (required) or Bachelors degree (preferred) or higher, or nearing completion of a bachelor's degree.

Serving in Cleveland, Stark County, Summit County, or Mansfield with College Now or in Columbus with our partner organization I Know I Can, the College and Career Guide will:

Applicants must be a U.S. citizen, national, or lawful permanent resident. Applicants must pass a national criminal history check and may not have convictions for murder or be registered sex offenders. 

Be part of the change and help promote access to healthy foods in our community! Nourishing Montgomery County is a community initiative aimed at promoting food equity and access to health foods for all residents. This event offers a variety of resources and classes to help spread aid and nutrition awareness for all Montgomery County residents.

Montgomery County organizations along with MetroParks staff will host booths in front of the Market to engage community members in activities that spread awareness and help educate while having some fun. Volunteers are needed to assist with simple crafts and games alongside our MetroParks staff. 

Impact

Program Support volunteers make programs like this one celebrating our community and spreading awareness possible!

Tasks

Eligibility: This opportunity is open to individual Long-Term and Short-Term volunteers ages 16 and up.

Additional Notes

Learn more about Programming 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.

Help us celebrate Mother's Day at the 2nd Street Market! On May 10th, we will be offering a free DIY heart-shaped craft to help our community recognize and celebrate all of our mothers. Volunteers are needed to help community members of all ages with this simple but meaningful craft.

Impact

Program Support volunteers make programs like this one celebrating our community and spreading awareness possible!

Tasks

Eligibility: This opportunity is open to individual Long-Term and Short-Term volunteers ages 16 and up.

Additional Notes

Learn more about Programming 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.

The area that is now Taylorsville MetroPark was once one of the busiest crossroads in the country, the meeting place of major transportation arteries — the Old National Road, the Great Miami River, the Miami-Erie Canal, and railroads. Today, the area serves as the crossroads of bike trails, hiking trails, and river recreation. The park is a gateway to new outdoor experiences, such as running, biking, hiking, fishing, and paddling. Your participation in an Adopt-A-Park volunteer service project helps MetroParks continue its mission to protect the region's natural heritage and provide outdoor experiences that inspire a personal connection with nature.

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.

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

Learn more about Conservation 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.

Building Block events are our way of joining together with our neighbors throughout Butler County to give back in a way that will build a solid foundation for the future. Each Building Block event is tailored to one of the building blocks for a good life: Youth Opportunity, Healthy Community, Financial Security, and Community Resiliency.

Our 'Macaroni Madness County-Wide Volunteer Event' will be held on Thursday, April 9, 2026, where we will divide volunteers into teams to compete to see who can pack the most macaroni! All food packed will be sent to families facing food insecurity in Butler County in partnership with Shared Harvest Foodbank.

Before the volunteer event, help us celebrate National Volunteer Month by joining us for our Community Impact Breakfast on Thursday, April 9, from 8 AM - 9:30 AM at Edgewood High School. The event will include a hot breakfast, special volunteer awards, and more. The event is $20 if you wish to have breakfast and learn more about what Butler County United Way does. 

Please join us on Thursday, April 9, 2026
from 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM at:

Edgewood High School
3045 Busenbark Road
Trenton, OH 45067

All big things start out small. Let's be the cornerstone of big change!

GIVE. ADVOCATE. VOLUNTEER.

The Carter Historic Farm staff and volunteers have been working hard all year long to raise and produce food and champion sustainable agriculture. This Farm Breakfast will feature the harvest and reward of the good work. 

Help us greet guests, serve breakfast, and wipe down tables and chairs.

This event will be held at Otsego Park. Volunteers will have a chance to eat.

Penta Students / BGSU /  any outside organizations volunteering their time to assist the Stewardship Department at Wood County Park District with a variety of conservation related tasks.

This opportunity is for pop-up needs of the Park District. It may involve in office administrative work, fieldwork, or anything in between. Volunteers communicate with staff members to determine what is needed, when, and where. 

To assess butterfly populations along transects within designated Wood County Park District parks. This ongoing project allows volunteers to play a vital role by informing the stewardship department of what species are being seen in parks and their relative numbers, and also in contributing to the picture of butterfly populations around the state in submitting the data to Ohio Lepidopterists. 

Help tend the heritage gardens at the Carter Historic Farm. We will donate most of the produce to the Brown Bag Food Pantry and the remainder will be utilited to teach programming in traditional life skills 

Assisting the Stewardship Department with the native plant program by transplanting seedlings and performing other tasks in the warmth of the greenhouse.

Help us create new habitat for pollinators in our community! Volunteers will assist with installing a native pollinator garden in Maple Heights by preparing garden beds, planting flowers, spreading mulch, and more.

No experience is needed, just a willingness to get your hands dirty and work outdoors alongside TCWP staff and fellow volunteers! This is a great opportunity to support local wildlife, improve neighborhood green space, and make a lasting environmental impact.

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:

Your volunteer service helps protect our region’s natural heritage and keeps our parks and river corridors healthy and beautiful.

To receive your kit, you must RSVP for a Drive-Thru Adopt-A-Park Service Kit Pick-up. Kits will be available for pick-up in the morning at Cox Arboretum and Wegerzyn Gardens MetroPark on Saturday, April 25.

Service kits are intended to be used during April and May as part of our Adopt-A-Park efforts. Cleanups completed outside of this timeframe will not be eligible for volunteer hour tracking in Get Connected.

If you're registering as an individual, click Respond.
If you're planning to participate with a small team, select Respond as a Team to register your group.

As a Team Leader, you will:

For a step-by-step guide, click here to watch a short video walkthrough of the team registration process.

For registration assistance, contact Volunteer Services at volunteer.services@metroparks.org or call 937-275-PARK.

If this is your first time using a service kit or you'd like a refresher, please review the service kit instructions. These instructions will be included in your kit. You may clean up any green space of your choosing, or use the list provided in your kit to find high-priority areas within MetroParks.

Trash Disposal:
Please take your bagged trash with you or place it in the nearest park trash receptacle if working outside of a Five Rivers MetroPark.

Log Your Impact:
After your cleanup, please:

We appreciate our volunteers, staff, and generous community sponsors for supporting this effort:

Montgomery County Environmental Services

Keep Montgomery County Beautiful

QEI Engineers Inc.

Join us for these additional Public Volunteer Days: 

Interested in other volunteer opportunities with MetroParks? Learn more about our types of volunteer service and how to get started as a volunteer with us. 

Aullwood Garden MetroPark offers a collection of wildflowers, beautiful gardens, and natural areas for visitors to enjoy. Your participation in an Adopt-A-Park volunteer service project helps MetroParks continue its mission to protect the region's natural heritage and provide outdoor experiences that inspire a personal connection with nature.

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.

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

The 618-acre Sugarcreek MetroPark is filled with a diverse habitat of scenic creeks, rolling hills, dense woods, wildflowers, fields, prairies, and wetlands, all conveniently located just south of Centerville/Kettering. Your participation in an Adopt-A-Park volunteer service project helps MetroParks continue its mission to protect the region's natural heritage and provide outdoor experiences that inspire a personal connection with nature.

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.

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

Learn more about Conservation 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.

Possum Creek MetroPark offers a blend of nature, history and community for adults and children alike. Your participation in an Adopt-A-Park volunteer service project helps MetroParks continue its mission to protect the region's natural heritage and provide outdoor experiences that inspire a personal connection with nature.

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. 

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

Learn more about the 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.

Cox Arboretum MetroPark invites visitors to connect with nature and discover and rest in the serenity and majesty of trees and shrubs thoughtfully arranged to capture the imagination. Your participation in an Adopt-A-Park volunteer service project helps MetroParks continue its mission to protect the region's natural heritage and provide outdoor experiences that inspire a personal connection with nature.

To preserve this diversity of habitats, parklands are carefully managed to preserve and protect native plant and animal communities of the Miami Valley. Non-native invasive species, such as honeysuckle, compete with or eliminate native plant species and are controlled with mowing and, in some cases, controlled treatment with herbicides. Volunteer support helps to expand our efforts in protecting our region's natural heritage. 

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

Learn more about Conservation 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.

Cox Arboretum MetroPark invites visitors to connect with nature and discover and rest in the serenity and majesty of trees and shrubs thoughtfully arranged to capture the imagination. Your participation in an Adopt-A-Park volunteer service project helps MetroParks continue its mission to protect the region's natural heritage and provide outdoor experiences that inspire a personal connection with nature.

Gardening volunteers support our horticulture and education staff in caring for a variety of gardens throughout our parks. These gardens not only provide beautiful spaces for Miami Valley residents to get outside, explore, and connect to nature, but many also provide fresh local produce to those in need in our community. 

This opportunity is open to individuals, families, groups, public, long-term and short-term volunteers, ages 10 and up.

Learn more about the 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.

Englewood MetroPark offers a serene setting for fishing, birdwatching, and picnicking, and invites visitors to discover the beauty of its woodlands, meadows, and three waterfalls. Your participation in an Adopt-A-Park volunteer service project helps MetroParks continue its mission to protect the region's natural heritage and provide outdoor experiences that inspire a personal connection with nature.

Five Rivers MetroParks provides clean, safe parks and conservation areas for the public to enjoy year-round. Our Park Maintenance volunteers help to manage and sustain 18 beautiful parks, 11 conservation areas, and 160 miles of hike, bike, mountain bike, and horseback-riding trails for park visitors to safely enjoy.

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

Located in Miami Township, Medlar Conservation Area protects 416 acres containing mature woods, fields, shrub-scrub habitat, a pond and a number of created wetlands, preserving some of the last quality open space in this part of Montgomery County. Your participation in an Adopt-A-Park volunteer service project helps MetroParks continue its mission to protect the region's natural heritage and provide outdoor experiences that inspire a personal connection with nature.

Healthy forests are critical to a healthy environment. However, Ohio’s tree population has declined due to climate change, invasive species such as the emerald ash borer, and aggressive honeysuckle growth. Habitat restoration projects are imperative to helping Five Rivers MetroParks protect the region’s natural heritage and preserve our forests.

This opportunity is open to individuals, families, groups, public, long-term and short-term volunteers, ages 12 and up.

Learn more about Conservation 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.

Just a few miles north of RiverScape, where the Stillwater River flows into the Great Miami, is an urban oasis with a long Dayton history: Island MetroPark. Your participation in an Adopt-A-Park volunteer service project helps MetroParks continue its mission to protect the region's natural heritage and provide outdoor experiences that inspire a personal connection with nature.

Five Rivers MetroParks provides clean, safe parks and conservation areas for the public to enjoy year-round. Our Park Maintenance volunteers help to manage and sustain 18 beautiful parks, 11 conservation areas, and 160 miles of hike, bike, mountain bike, and horseback-riding trails for park visitors to safely enjoy.

This opportunity is open to individuals, families, groups, public, long-term and short-term volunteers, ages 5 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.

Hills & Dales MetroPark offers a historical urban forest that has been a natural refuge for Daytonians since 1907. Your participation in an Adopt-A-Park volunteer service project helps MetroParks continue its mission to protect the region's natural heritage and provide outdoor experiences that inspire a personal connection with nature.

Five Rivers MetroParks provides clean, safe parks and conservation areas for the public to enjoy year-round. Our Park Maintenance volunteers help to manage and sustain 18 beautiful parks, 11 conservation areas, and 160 miles of hike, bike, mountain bike, and horseback-riding trails for park visitors to safely enjoy.

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

Learn more about Conservation 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.

Amid the beautifully landscaped gardens, flowering pots, hanging baskets, and reflecting pools, this lively park on the banks of the Great Miami River offers a place for those who live, work, and play downtown to connect to nature. RiverScape preserves glimpses of the city’s origins while embracing modern innovation and evolving with the needs of the vibrant, connected neighborhoods around it. Your participation in an Adopt-A-Park volunteer service project helps MetroParks continue its mission to protect the region's natural heritage and provide outdoor experiences that inspire a personal connection with nature.

Five Rivers MetroParks provides clean, safe parks and conservation areas for the public to enjoy year-round. Our Park Maintenance volunteers help to manage and sustain 18 beautiful parks, 11 conservation areas, and 160 miles of hike, bike, mountain bike, and horseback-riding trails for park visitors to safely enjoy.

This opportunity is open to individuals, families, groups, public, long-term and short-term volunteers, ages 10 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.

Join us for a family-friendly morning in the gardens as we welcome spring!  Wegerzyn Gardens MetroPark actively promotes landscaping with native plants in balance with traditional garden selections to inspire visitors. Your participation in an Adopt-A-Park volunteer service project helps MetroParks continue its mission to protect the region's natural heritage and provide outdoor experiences that inspire a personal connection with nature.

Gardening volunteers support our horticulture and education staff in caring for a variety of gardens throughout our parks. These gardens not only provide beautiful spaces for Miami Valley residents to get outside, explore, and connect to nature, but many also provide fresh local produce to those in need in our community.  

This opportunity is open to individuals, families, groups, public, long-term, and short-term volunteers, ages 5 and up.

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.

Germantown MetroPark is your gateway to a wilderness adventure. Discover the largest areas of old-growth forest within Montgomery County, creating some of the best habitats for wildlife. Your participation in an Adopt-A-Park volunteer service project helps MetroParks continue its mission to protect the region's natural heritage and provide outdoor experiences that inspire a personal connection with nature.

Five Rivers MetroParks provides clean, safe parks and conservation areas for the public to enjoy year-round. Our Park Maintenance volunteers help to manage and sustain 18 beautiful parks, 11 conservation areas, and 160 miles of hike, bike, mountain bike, and horseback-riding trails for park visitors to safely enjoy.

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

RiverScape MetroPark preserves glimpses of the city’s origins while embracing modern innovation and evolving with the needs of the vibrant, connected neighborhoods around it. Your participation in an Adopt-A-Park volunteer service project helps MetroParks continue its mission to protect the region's natural heritage and provide outdoor experiences that inspire a personal connection with nature.

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. 

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

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.

Land once slated to become a landfill is one step further toward a long-term vision of becoming a new MetroPark. The 550-acre Spring Run Conservation Area is comprised of two land parcels: the 190-acre former Larch Tree Golf Course and the 360-acre Great Miami Wetland Mitigation Bank, the property once planned to become a landfill. The Wetlands Restoration Project will create approximately 22 acres of wetlands on the former golf course property. Your participation in an Adopt-A-Park volunteer service project helps MetroParks continue its mission to protect the region's natural heritage and provide outdoor experiences that inspire a personal connection with nature.

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. 

This opportunity is open to individuals, families, groups, public, long-term and short-term volunteers, ages 10 and up.

Learn more about the Conservation 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.

Wesleyan MetroPark provides a gathering spot for friends and family to meet and experience the outdoors just down the street. Your participation in an Adopt-A-Park volunteer service project helps MetroParks continue its mission to protect the region's natural heritage and provide outdoor experiences that inspire a personal connection with nature.

Five Rivers MetroParks provides clean, safe parks and conservation areas for the public to enjoy year-round. Our Park Maintenance volunteers help to manage and sustain 18 beautiful parks, 11 conservation areas, and 160 miles of hike, bike, mountain bike, and horseback-riding trails for park visitors to safely enjoy.

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

Learn more about the 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.

Huffman MetroPark, by its very name, draws connections to bicycles for local residents. The park and earthen dam within it are named after the Huffman family, founders of the Huffy Bike Corporation back in 1892. Your participation in an Adopt-A-Park volunteer service project helps MetroParks continue its mission to protect the region's natural heritage and provide outdoor experiences that inspire a personal connection with nature.

Five Rivers MetroParks provides clean, safe parks and conservation areas for the public to enjoy year-round. Our Park Maintenance volunteers help to manage and sustain 18 beautiful parks, 11 conservation areas, and 160 miles of hike, bike, mountain bike, and horseback-riding trails for park visitors to safely enjoy.

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

Learn more about the 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.

Carriage Hill MetroPark is made up of forests, thickets, meadows, and prairies to enjoy on foot or horseback, as well as an 1880s historical farm, creating a unique experience for guests during their visit. Your participation in an Adopt-A-Park volunteer service project helps MetroParks continue its mission to protect the region's natural heritage and provide outdoor experiences that inspire a personal connection with nature.

Five Rivers MetroParks provides clean, safe parks and conservation areas for the public to enjoy year-round. Our Park Maintenance volunteers help to manage and sustain 18 beautiful parks, 11 conservation areas, and 160 miles of hike, bike, mountain bike, and horseback-riding trails for park visitors to safely enjoy.

This opportunity is open to individuals, families, groups, public, long-term and short-term volunteers, ages 10 and up.

Learn more about the Conservation 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.

Carriage Hill MetroPark is made up of forests, thickets, meadows, and prairies to enjoy on foot or horseback, as well as an 1880s historical farm, creating a unique experience for guests during their visit. Your participation in an Adopt-A-Park volunteer service project helps MetroParks continue its mission to protect the region's natural heritage and provide outdoor experiences that inspire a personal connection with nature.

Gardening volunteers support our horticulture and education staff in caring for a variety of gardens throughout our parks. These gardens not only provide beautiful spaces for Miami Valley residents to get outside, explore, and connect to nature, but many also provide fresh local produce to those in need in our community.  

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

This opportunity is open to individuals, families, groups, public, long-term and short-term volunteers, ages 10 and up.

Learn more about the 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.

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. 

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.

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

Help us collect food donations from local businesses and deliver them to area pantries. Volunteers should have a vehicle with space for boxes and be able to lift moderately heavy items. Pickup locations will be assigned in advance. This role is perfect for someone who doesn’t mind a little driving and wants to see the impact firsthand as donations make their way directly to our neighbors.

Qualified Barn Aide volunteers and those in-training as Barn Aides completing Shadow Experiences can also assist with grooming and general horse care as needed throughout the year at the Carriage Hill Riding Center! These opportunities pop up periodically throughout the year and are only open to current Carriage Hill Riding Center Barn Aide volunteers. Responding to this opportunity will indicate your interest in these opportunities and you will be contacted when those opportunities arise. 

Volunteers assist with grooming and equine care and conditioning to promote the health and well-being of our horses at the Carriage Hill Riding Center.

This opportunity is open to the following volunteers:  Youth, Long-Term, and Short-Term volunteers who have completed the Carriage Hill Riding Center Barn Aide Training series. Short-term volunteers may be considered depending on the length of service commitment. Learn more about our types of service here. 

Additional Notes

Land Lab cleanup and refresh. Join Friends of HCPD picking up trash, blazing new trails, pulling invasives, painting and more. Lunch and equipment will be provided for all volunteers.

Teaching adults about garden plants can be an exciting journey when approached with hands-on, self-paced, and practical methods. Imagine digging into the soil, planting seeds, and watching them grow together while sharing stories and tips. This interactive approach allows learners to connect with nature, develop their gardening skills, and gain confidence in their abilities, all while having fun along the way. Participants have varying levels of knowledge and experience, and volunteers help create a more personalized learning experience for everyone.  Help us cultivate not just plants, but a vibrant community of passionate gardeners! This session starts in Skeeter's Garden with a discussion of the peppers, beans, and squash, the different types, and how they are best grown. Volunteers will assist with planting demonstrations and using the different supports needed for the different varieties. 
If you love plants and gardening and want to inspire others with this passion, we invite you to join us! 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 be able to hike the garden areas.   

Engaging volunteers within our gardening programs not only enriches the learning experience but also fosters a sense of community and collaboration.  Volunteers are the heart of our community, playing a vital role in engaging in gardening activities that transform our gardens into a lively classroom.

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 the Garden Guide opportunities, and begin with the virtual training:

Garden Guide Virtual Training

This AmeriCorps position promotes youth nutrition, garden education, and community engagement. The member administers weekly healthy snack demonstrations using seasonal produce, highlighting nutritional benefits and sharing creative ways for youth to try fruits and vegetables. Produce grown in the community garden is delivered to the Summer Food Program site in Elyria to support daily meal preparation for participants. The member maintains the Oberlin community garden by planting, weeding, watering, and harvesting crops while leading garden tours for youth and community members. These tours provide hands-on education about growing food, local food systems, and the importance of healthy, sustainable eating. Secondary activities support broader program initiatives and community outreach to enhance youth access to fresh, nutritious foods. Apply here.

Teaching adults about garden plants can be an exciting journey when approached with hands-on, self-paced, and practical methods. Imagine digging into the soil, planting seeds, and watching them grow together while sharing stories and tips. This interactive approach allows learners to connect with nature, develop their gardening skills, and gain confidence in their abilities, all while having fun along the way. Participants have varying levels of knowledge and experience, and volunteers help create a more personalized learning experience for everyone.  Help us cultivate not just plants, but a vibrant community of passionate gardeners!   This session starts in Skeeter's Garden with a discussion on planting design of the raised beds and containers.  Volunteers will assist with planting demonstrations and using the different supports needed for the different varieties.

If you love plants and gardening and want to inspire others with this passion, we invite you to join us! 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 be able to hike the garden areas.   

Engaging volunteers within our gardening programs assist not only enriching the learning experience but also in fostering a sense of community and collaboration.  Volunteers are the heart of our community, playing a vital role in engaging in gardening activities that transform our gardens into a lively classroom.

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 the Garden Guide opportunities, and begin with the virtual training:

Garden Guide Virtual Training

Teaching adults about garden plants is most effective when using hands-on, self-paced, and practical methods. Volunteers support the staff by enhancing these programs and discovery hikes, providing extra attention to participants' curiosity and individual learning speeds. Participants have varying levels of knowledge and experience, and volunteers help create a more personalized learning experience for everyone. Volunteers are the heart of our community, playing a vital role in engaging in gardening activities that transform our gardens into a lively classroom.  This session starts in a classroom and discusses early blooming flowers, trees, and shrubs, followed by a walk through the Arboretum to see examples.
If you love plants and gardening and want to inspire others with this passion, we invite you to join us! 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 be able to hike the garden areas.   

Engaging volunteers within our gardening programs assist not only enriching the learning experience but also in fostering a sense of community and collaboration.

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 the Garden Guide opportunities, and begin with the virtual training:

Garden Guide Virtual Training

Would you like to be a part of preserving a sustainable and natural habitat around the Stillwater River in the Miami Valley? A partnership between Five Rivers MetroParks, Aullwood Audubon Farm and Center, and the Garden Club of Dayton, this project preserves John and Marie Aull’s vision to unite local conservation efforts. This activity is a collaborative, annual event in April supporting Ohio Native Plant Month.

To preserve the diversity of habitats, parklands are carefully managed to preserve and protect native plant and wildlife communities of the Miami Valley. Non-native, invasive species compete with or eliminate native plant species and can be controlled by pulling, cutting, and removing them from the area.  Volunteer support helps to expand our efforts in protecting our region's natural heritage. 

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

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

Learn more about Conservation 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.

Teaching adults about garden plants is most effective when using hands-on, self-paced, and practical methods. Volunteers support the staff by enhancing these programs and discovery hikes, providing extra attention to participants' curiosity and individual learning speeds. Participants have varying levels of knowledge and experience, and volunteers help create a more personalized learning experience for everyone. Volunteers are the heart of our community, playing a vital role in engaging in gardening activities that transform our gardens into a lively classroom.  This session starts at the Possum Creek Education building and discusses the different types of tomatoes, how they are best grown, and their best uses, followed by a walk through the demonstration garden to see examples.
If you love plants and gardening and want to inspire others with this passion, we invite you to join us! 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 be able to hike the garden areas.   

Engaging volunteers within our gardening programs assist not only enriching the learning experience but also in fostering a sense of community and collaboration.

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 the Garden Guide opportunities, and begin with the virtual training:

Garden Guide Virtual Training

Teaching adults about garden plants is most effective when using hands-on, self-paced, and practical methods. Volunteers support the staff by enhancing these programs and discovery hikes, providing extra attention to participants' curiosity and individual learning speeds. Participants have varying levels of knowledge and experience, and volunteers help create a more personalized learning experience for everyone. Volunteers are the heart of our community, playing a vital role in engaging in gardening activities that transform our gardens into a lively classroom.  This session starts at the Aullwood Garden parking lot and discusses blooming flowers, trees, and shrubs, followed by a walk through the grounds to see examples.
If you love plants and gardening and want to inspire others with this passion, we invite you to join us! 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 be able to hike the garden areas.   

Engaging volunteers within our gardening programs assist not only enriching the learning experience but also in fostering a sense of community and collaboration.

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 the Garden Guide opportunities, and begin with the virtual training:

Garden Guide Virtual Training

AmeriCorps Members will support healthy food access and nutrition education initiatives serving the southern Ohio community. Members will lead interactive, youth-friendly culinary demonstrations featuring fresh, seasonal produce available through our garden and local food system partners. Members will research and develop weekly nutrition themes aligned with seasonal produce availability; create and test simple, culturally relevant recipes that families can prepare at home; and facilitate engaging healthy-eating demonstrations for youth and families. They will administer daily meals through our Summer Food Service Program. Conduct enrichment activities post meal service (games, crafts, educational activities). This position is ideal for individuals who enjoy engaging with youth and community members, and supporting equitable access to healthy foods. Join us for a fun and rewarding summer serving NE Ohio youth! Apply here.

AmeriCorps Members will support healthy food access and nutrition education initiatives serving the southern Ohio community. Members will lead interactive, youth-friendly culinary demonstrations featuring fresh, seasonal produce available through our garden and local food system partners. Members will research and develop weekly nutrition themes aligned with seasonal produce availability; create and test simple, culturally relevant recipes that families can prepare at home; and facilitate engaging healthy-eating demonstrations for youth and families. They will administer daily meals through our Summer Food Service Program. Conduct enrichment activities post meal service (games, crafts, educational activities). This position is ideal for individuals who enjoy engaging with youth and community members, and supporting equitable access to healthy foods. Join us for a fun and rewarding summer serving Scioto county youth! Apply here.

AmeriCorps Members will support healthy food access and nutrition education initiatives serving the southern Ohio community. Members will lead interactive, youth-friendly culinary demonstrations featuring fresh, seasonal produce available through our garden and local food system partners. Members will research and develop weekly nutrition themes aligned with seasonal produce availability; create and test simple, culturally relevant recipes that families can prepare at home; and facilitate engaging healthy-eating demonstrations for youth and families. They will administer daily meals through our Summer Food Service Program. Conduct enrichment activities post meal service (games, crafts, educational activities). This position is ideal for individuals who enjoy engaging with youth and community members, and supporting equitable access to healthy foods. Join us for a fun and rewarding summer serving NW Ohio youth! Apply here.

This project delivers weekly healthy snack demonstrations for youth, featuring seasonal produce and hands-on nutrition education. Each session highlights a featured fruit or vegetable, explains its health benefits, and engages children in preparing and tasting fresh snacks—many grown and harvested from The Foodbank Urban Garden. Participation and feedback from youth and parents are documented to strengthen programming and increase engagement. Beyond meals, enrichment activities promote whole-child wellness through active games, storytelling, and lessons on composting and soil health, including live worm compost demonstrations. The initiative also maintains an on-site community garden and composting program while offering educational tours for schools, donors, and community members, emphasizing food as medicine, local food systems, and the connection between soil health and human health. Apply here.

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

AmeriCorps Members will support healthy food access and nutrition education initiatives. Members will lead interactive, youth-friendly culinary demonstrations featuring fresh, seasonal produce and assists with youth field trips and agriculture-based learning. On the urban farm, responsibilities include planting, harvesting, maintaining hydroponic systems, and supporting farm development projects. In the kitchen, the member assists with meal preparation and service for Kid’s Café, ensuring food safety, quality standards, and accurate production. The role also supports meal packing, delivery logistics, and USDA program compliance. Additional duties include community outreach and gathering feedback to strengthen meal programs, ensuring youth and families have consistent access to nutritious food. Apply here.

AmeriCorps Members will support healthy food access and nutrition education initiatives serving the southern Ohio community. Members will lead interactive, youth-friendly culinary demonstrations featuring fresh, seasonal produce. Members will research and develop weekly nutrition themes aligned with seasonal produce availability; create and test simple, culturally relevant recipes that families can prepare at home; and facilitate engaging healthy-eating demonstrations for youth and families. They will administer daily meals through our Summer Food Service Program. Conduct enrichment activities post meal service (games, crafts, educational activities). This position is ideal for individuals who enjoy engaging with youth and community members, and supporting equitable access to healthy foods. Join us for a fun and rewarding summer serving Cincinnati youth! Apply here.

This position supports youth nutrition and engagement through hands-on education and meal service. The member administers weekly healthy snack demonstrations both in person and virtually featuring seasonal produce. Each session highlights a fruit or vegetable, explains its nutritional benefits, and encourages youth to try new foods. Feedback from parents and participants is collected to strengthen programming and increase participation. The member also supports daily operations of the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), including tracking attendance and meal counts, distributing meals, promoting fruit and vegetable consumption, and ensuring proper cleanup. Enrichment activities are provided after meals and through social media to encourage active play and continued learning. Additional responsibilities include maintaining the on-site community garden and leading tours that educate youth and community members about growing food and the importance of local food systems. Apply here.

AmeriCorps Members will support healthy food access & nutrition education initiatives serving the Cleveland community. Members will lead interactive, youth-friendly culinary demonstrations featuring fresh, seasonal produce available through our garden & local food system partners. Members will research and develop weekly nutrition themes aligned with seasonal produce availability; create and test simple, culturally relevant recipes that families can prepare at home; and facilitate engaging healthy-eating demonstrations for youth and families. They will also participate in garden operations, including planting, weeding, watering, fertilizing, and harvesting. Conduct educational garden tours. This position is ideal for individuals who enjoy working outdoors, engaging with youth and community members, & supporting equitable access to healthy foods. Members will gain hands-on experience in nutrition education, urban agriculture, and community engagement while making a meaningful impact. Apply here.

THIS EVENT IS LOCATED IN LEXINGTON, KY 

~2 hours from Oxford 

~1 hour from Cincinnati 

We are gearing up for the K3DE April 23-26 and looking for volunteers to sign up to help at the event. This is a great opportunity for community service hours, as well as networking connections with leading industry leaders!

The links to sign up are shared below. Volunteers will receive a free 4-day ticket for volunteering just one shift, as well as access to the Hilltop Bio Volunteer Tent which provides endless swag, competitor meet & greets and of course, free food! We also have a few opportunities for event internships, which can be discussed separately – please send me and email with your resume and availability is that is of interest.

Scavenger Hunt Information booth

Chewy Demonstration Arena - Ring Setup

Hospitality Host/Hostess

Trade Fair Information Booth

Join us for the Interscholastic Wheelchair Basketball State Championship, hosted by Adaptive Sports Ohio at Cleveland Public Hall. This exciting event brings together the top school-based wheelchair basketball teams from across Ohio to compete for a state title. Volunteers play a vital role in creating a positive and inclusive championship experience for student-athletes with physical disabilities. Responsibilities may include admissions support, team check-in, hospitality, general event support. No prior experience with adaptive sports is required, just a willingness to help and be part of an inspiring day of competition and community. Come be part of an unforgettable championship atmosphere and help us ensure every athlete has A Chance to Play!

More information regarding this opportunity can be found here: https://signup.com/go/syKNfhb. Multiple shifts available. Business casual attire requested. 

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:

We are looking for compassionate, caring individuals 55 and older to serve as Foster Grandparents in structured settings such as schools, libraries, day cares, etc.

Foster Grandparents provide mentorship to at risk children through activities such as reading, fine motor activities, small groups, and more.  

Eligible Foster Grandparents may receive a small, non-taxable stipend that does not affect other benefits such as SNAP benefits, subsidized housing, social security, etc.  Foster Grandparents also enjoy mileage or public transportation reimbursement, paid holidays, 40 hours of benefit time every three months, paid training, and more.  

We are seeking volunteers to run activities to occupy students while their parents attend parent teacher conferences. Students will help keep kids quietly occupied by playing board games and doing crafts in the school cafeteria

Sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0949AFAC23ABF58-61713888-childcare#/ 

We are seeking volunteers to run activities to occupy students while their parents attend parent teacher conferences. Students will help keep kids quietly occupied by playing board games and doing crafts in the school cafeteria

Sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0949AFAC23ABF58-61713888-childcare#/ 

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 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 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.

Equestrian Arena Assistant volunteers assist staff in conducting lessons and 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 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.

Volunteers can enhance their canning skills by learning techniques and recipes while helping visitors experience this unique program. This demonstration program will involve a basic pressure canning overview, how to preserve a batch of cooked black beans, reviewing the instructions of the canner, and safety. Bean preparation will include sorting and preparing beans. 

Volunteers contribute their time and talents, adding excitement and perspective to activities at Carriage Hill Historic Farm, enriching the visitor experience. Program Support Volunteers engage in a range of fulfilling entry-level opportunities to bolster our programs—typically, no expert knowledge is required. Volunteers who support the cookery programs should have some culinary experience.

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.

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

Look for additional details about this opportunity at the bottom of this listing! See the Programming Volunteer Position for more information on programming 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. 

Join us as we introduce our wildlife animal ambassadors to youth at Parkwood Elementary. Wildlife Ambassador volunteers are needed to help handle and present the animals at the wildlife ambassador booth including the turtles, snakes, owl, and hawk.

In this shadow experience, staff will work with you to show you how to confidently handle and interpret the animals to the public.

Five Rivers MetroParks Wildlife Ambassador volunteers assist with animal care and animal programming, sharing our conservation message with community members of all ages at a variety of programs, events, and outreach opportunities year-round.

Impact

Volunteers like YOU 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 qualified Wildlife Ambassador Animal Care volunteers.

Additional Notes

Learn more about Programming 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.

Join us for a second springtime Habitat Heroes program! Work with our stewardship department to become a hero for the environment and create a more sustainable and quality habitat. During this project, invasive buckthorn will be cut from the park. Tools and instructions will be provided. 

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.  

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!

The Discovery Shop is in need of volunteers to test donations of electronics, lights, and similar devices. The job involves changing batteries, identifying good merchandise, and stripping wires. We are especially in need of volunteers in this role at the following times:

Tuesday: 8am-12pm

Thursday: 8am-5pm

Friday: 8am-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 tinkering or repairing interesting donations, 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 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 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!

Join Bogan Elementary in their Kids Night Out Event! 

Sign-up here Bogan Kids Night Out 

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.

School group size:  Beavercreek Main Elementary

114 2nd grade w/5 teachers +5 chaperones + paraprofessionals
program beginning between 10-10:15 AM, expected to wrap up guided program by 12:30.  Students will be broken up into multiple smaller groups and some self exploration.

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!

Eligibility: This opportunity is open to Short-term and Long-Term volunteers who have qualified as a School Program volunteer. Learn more about our types of service here. 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.

Parking & Meeting Instructions: Click here for a map of Wegerzyn Gardens MetroPark. Volunteers should park and meet staff at Skeeter's Garden.  Volunteers are scheduled to arrive 1/2 hour before the school arrives for a brief orientation, review of stations, and to gather supplies needed.  

Environment & Physical Demands: This program takes place outdoors - Please be aware of outdoor exposure risks (i.e. sun, poison ivy, insects, etc.). Volunteers should be aware of seasonal allergies (i.e., grass, pollen, bees, etc.), and may participate in some bending, kneeling, reaching, and lifting objects of 15lbs or more. Volunteers may lead a group over uneven terrain and may be walking (1-to 3-mile hikes) during this opportunity.

Dress: Volunteers should dress for the weather, wear their MetroParks name badge and t-shirt,  long pants, closed-toe shoes, and have their favorite teaching aids, water bottle, sunscreen, and bug spray. 

Look for additional details about this opportunity at the bottom of this listing! See the Programming Volunteer Position for more information on programming opportunities with us.

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.

Give Native Trees a Great Start! Join our conservation and horticulture team at Cox Arboretum MetroPark to help care for young native trees and shrubs. Volunteers will use hand tools like shovels, rakes, and forks to remove old mulch and leaf litter, giving these plants a fresh start for the growing season. Afterward, we’ll work together to relocate the trees and shrubs to their proper spots in the holding area. This hands-on project is perfect for nature lovers who enjoy working outdoors and want to make a real impact on local conservation. Come get your hands dirty and help our native plants thrive! 

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:

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

Learn more about Conservation 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.

Help support the Kiwanis in the 4th annual Pancake day. Help cook, clean, and serve to the local community! 

Sign-up link to come!

(participation in this event including buying a ticket, eating pancakes, and/or making a monetary donation will NOT count for Miami University service hours but all volunteer shifts will) 

Join our Conservation team at Cox Arboretum to help plant the next generation of trees that will one day support wildlife, strengthen habitats, and shape the landscapes across our region!

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:

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

Learn more about Conservation 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.

Join our central Ohio team of compassionate volunteers and help bring comfort, companionship, and support to patients and families in need. Your time and kindness can make a world of difference in someone’s final journey. How you can help: ·      

No experience necessary- we will provide training and education. To get involved, contact Jennifer Porter at Jennifer.Porter@Compassus.com, or fill out a volunteer application on our website: Careers

Together we can provide comfort and dignity when it matters most.

Are you a veteran looking for a meaningful way to serve your community? Join our team as a Veteran-to-Veteran Hospice Volunteer and provide companionship, understanding, and support to fellow veterans in their final journey.

Why Veteran Volunteers Make a Difference

Veterans share a unique bond that goes beyond words. Your shared experiences can bring comfort and dignity to patients who served our nation.

What You'll Do

·       Providing Veteran to Veteran patients visits

·       Participating in Individual and community Pinning ceremonies to honor veterans and first responders

·       Facilitating connections with fellow veterans through group activities, discussions, or support groups

·       Organizing and participating in special events or ceremonies to honor veterans, such as Veterans Day celebrations or military branch-specific recognition events

·       Offering assistance with accessing veteran benefits, resources, and programs available through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)

Why Volunteer?

Who We're Looking For

Together, we can honor those who served and ensure no veteran faces the end of life alone. If you have the heart to serve, we would love to have you join our team! To get involved, contact Jennifer Porter at Jennifer.Porter@Compassus.com, or fill out a volunteer application on our website: Careers

Together we can provide comfort and dignity when it matters most.

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. 

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. Learn more about our types of service here. 

Additional Notes

Get ready to roll up your sleeves and help care for a truly special landscape. Volunteers on this project support restoration gardening work on the historic Aullwood Rock Hillside, helping preserve a garden shaped by John and Marie Aull and guided by original photographs and Marie’s journals. This hands-on work plays an important role in maintaining the character and beauty of this unique hillside garden.

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:

Help Preserve Our Parks' Stories! Do you love local history and want to make a lasting impact? Five Rivers MetroParks is seeking volunteers to help document the historical significance of our parks - especially those that joined our system from the City of Dayton in the 1990's. 

As a Historical Research volunteer, you'll collect and organize historical records, photos, and data researching park histories using archives, libraries and online resources, and catalog your findings into searchable formats for future interpretation. Best of all - you can work independently with regular check-ins with MetroParks staff. 

This research helps us document the historical significance of Five Rivers MetroParks and adds richness to how we can interpret the parks to the public.  

Move, groove and let's have some fun @ Tam-O-Shanter

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.

School group size: Mills Lawn Elementary

40 - Kindergarten w/ plenty of parent chaperones expected.  (Program 9:30 AM-11:30 AM).   Will be broken into smaller groups of students.

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!

Eligibility: This opportunity is open to Short-term and Long-Term volunteers who have qualified as a School Program volunteer. Learn more about our types of service here. 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.

Parking & Meeting Instructions: Click here for a map of Wegerzyn Gardens MetroPark. Volunteers should park and meet staff at Skeeter's Garden.  Volunteers are scheduled to arrive 1/2 hour before the school arrives for a brief orientation, review of stations, and to gather supplies needed.  

Environment & Physical Demands: This program takes place outdoors - Please be aware of outdoor exposure risks (i.e. sun, poison ivy, insects, etc.). Volunteers should be aware of seasonal allergies (i.e., grass, pollen, bees, etc.), and may participate in some bending, kneeling, reaching, and lifting objects of 15lbs or more. Volunteers may lead a group over uneven terrain and may be walking (1-to 3-mile hikes) during this opportunity.

Dress: Volunteers should dress for the weather, wear their MetroParks name badge and t-shirt,  long pants, closed-toe shoes, and have their favorite teaching aids, water bottle, sunscreen, and bug spray. 

Look for additional details about this opportunity at the bottom of this listing! See the Programming Volunteer Position for more information on programming opportunities with us.

Help us learn about past and current events using iPads and printed material.

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. 

Meet us at Grace Lutheran Church (4441 Monroe St., Toledo, OH  43613).  This ministry is designed to share the love of Christ with everyone, but with a special invitation to folks with developmental disabilities. It's a little bit of singing, a little bit of story, a little bit of praying, a little bit of craft. a little bit of snack, AND a whole lot of joy! EVERYONE is welcome!

Help our individuals play their favorite game . . . BINGO!

African Women for Change Network (AFNet) is seeking enthusiastic volunteers to support the AFNet 2026 Global Leadership Conference, a high-impact gathering of leaders, advocates, and change makers from across the U.S. and around the world.

This exciting event will feature professional networking, leadership sessions, and community engagement focused on empowering women and advancing global change.

We will be walking through woodlands, pulling and collecting garlic mustard before it has the opportunity to produce seeds.

Why do we pull garlic mustard?

Garlic mustard is a biennial herb that was introduced from Europe in the 19th century. Since its introduction, it has made its way across most of the United States, including every county in Ohio. Garlic mustard poses a threat to our native species by competing with spring flowers and suppressing soil fungi that have synergistic relationships with trees. By removing garlic mustard before it has the chance to produce seeds, we can help native species to thrive.

What to bring:

We recommend volunteers bring sturdy shoes that can get soiled, gloves if you would like them, and a water bottle.

Please complete the online volunteer waiver before arriving if you are a new volunteer. For returning volunteers, please update the waiver once per year.

Volunteers must be 18 years of age to participate unless accompanied by a parent.

Directions: This event will be on MTSO's campus and will start at the Seminary Hill Farm Barn. To reach the barn, enter MTSO's campus from Highway 23. Turn right at the stop sign and drive up the hill. Turn right again at the roundabout and park in the lot on your right. Once you park, look for an orange barn with five garage bays. We will meet near the eastern door of the barn, which is furthest away from the parking lot.

Rocket Blast is an end of year school carnival/celebration for the students.  It also serves as a fundraiser for the PTO.  There are food trucks, inflatables and carnival games along with a DJ.  The volunteers would be assigned to various event stations. 

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70A0F45AEA62EA5FB6-62385391-rocket

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.

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.

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

Look for additional details about this opportunity at the bottom of this listing! See the Programming Volunteer Position for more information on programming 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. 

Do you love spending your weekend in the vibrant, bubbling atmosphere of 2nd Street Market, where you always end up running into a familiar face? Volunteers will be stationed near the entrance and will enhance the visitor experience by greeting and welcoming visitors. Volunteers will also conduct sales of MetroParks merchandise, process EBT sales, provide wayfinding assistance, and promote the MetroParks by passing out literature.

Volunteers enhance the visitor experience and help curate the Market’s unique, vibrant culture for our customers who then support our vendors in providing sustainable local food to the community.

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

Help Preserve Our Parks' Stories! Do you love local history and want to make a lasting impact? Five Rivers MetroParks is seeking volunteers to help document the historical significance of our parks - especially those that joined our system from the City of Dayton in the 1990's. 

As a Historical Research volunteer, you'll collect and organize historical records, photos, and data researching park histories using archives, libraries and online resources, and catalog your findings into searchable formats for future interpretation. Best of all - you can work independently with regular check-ins with MetroParks staff, or at scheduled shifts with fellow volunteers and MetroParks staff. 

This research helps us document the historical significance of Five Rivers MetroParks and adds richness to how we can interpret the parks to the public.  

Participants enjoy canoes and kayaks on a first-come-first-serve basis between 4:00 – 7:30pm.

All equipment provided. VOLUNTEERS will be responsible for checking participants in, fitting and sizing of life jackets and paddles, beginner instruction (when appropriate and comfortable), positive public interaction, and serving as safety eyes. Training provided at the time of volunteering.

Weather looking iffy? You'll hear about cancellation by 2:00pm (nothing if all is good). Contact Craig Spicer with questions 419-661-1697x3 cspicer@wcparks.org