Metroparks Toledo offers a variety of volunteer opportunities. Visit metroparkstoledo. com/get-involved/ volunteer/ to learn more.
Overview
From May to July, Metroparks had 1017 volunteers contribute more than 9,500 hours. This is one-third of the park’s total average yearly hours. Volunteers who started this year logged about 1,500 of those hours.
Some of the long-term volunteers who are leading the way with their hours this summer included Jim Rejent with 163 hours, Diana Nowels with 166 hours and Carolyn Powers, 484 hours.
Trash Pickup, Glass City- Upriver (International Park)/ Ravine Area
Offered every second Wednesday and fourth Sunday, from 10 a.m. to noon.
Help keep greenspaces and waterways clean by picking up trash in and around Glass City Upriver. Must have an adult if under 16. Meet in the large lot across from the waterfront restaurants. Sign up on VicNet or contact Meredith at Mere dith.Busic@metroparkstoledo .com.
Singletrack Bike Trail Days, Oak Openings Preserve Metropark Offered every second and fourth Saturday, from 9 a.m. to noon.
Participants will assist with repairing the singletrack mountain bike trail. Activities include digging drainage, moving dirt and gravel, trimming brush and potentially constructing a boardwalk or stone path. Meet at the Wheelhouse, 3520 Waterville- Swanton Road, Swanton. For those 12 and older. Must be accompanied by an adult if under 16. Sign up in Volgistics or contact Meredith Busic at meredith.busic@metroparks toledo.com.
Back to School, Back to Nature Bash, at Swan Creek, Saturday, August 16, 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. or 2 to 4:30 p.m.
Volunteers are needed to assist with children’s activities including mud kitchen, water play and crafts. Must have an adult if under 16. Sign-Up on VicNet or contact Hannah Gillen at Han nah.Gillen@metroparkstole do.com.
Landscape Bed Maintenance Workday, at Wildwood Preserve Metropark, Tuesday, August 19, 8 to 11 a.m.
Help staff remove invasive shrub species, sorbaria sorbifolia, from the pool screen near the Manor House. Volunteers will load the brush into the dump truck, and help rake any leaves and debris. Tools are provided but volunteers should bring their own gloves, wear closed-toed shoes and long pants. There is potentially poison ivy in or near the weeding areas. For those 12 and older. Must have an adult if under 16. Sign up in VicNet or by contacting Emily Foshag at Emily.Fos hag@metroparks toledo.com.
Outdoor Sylvania Community Parks Event, Wednesday, August 20, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Sylvan Prairie Park, 8601 Brint Road, Sylvania Help a fellow conservation organization with seed collection and invasive species removal at Sylvan Prairie Park.
To sign up, contact Dawson at Dhoward@outdoorsylvania. com. This in not a Metroparks Toledo event.
Get the Lead Out Paddling and Shoreline Water Way Cleanup, at Providence Metropark Providence Dam, Wednesday, August 20, 6 to 8 p.m.
Metroparks is joining teams with Partners for Clean Streams (PFCS) for the continuation of their annual Get the Lead Out program. Participants will be removing trash from the Maumee River and dam area at Providence Metropark. For those eight and older. Must have an adult if under 16. Sign up on VicNet or through PFCS’s website. For more information, visit partnersfor cleanstreams.org/. Contact Meredith Busic at meredith. busic@metroparkstoledo.com for more information.
Maumee River Paddling Cleanup, Thursday, August 28, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., at Glass City Metropark Join Metroparks, Partners for Clean Streams and other community partners for a large scale river cleanup. Metroparks will have watercraft for participants to use but attendees are welcome to bring their own as well. This is not posted on Vic-Net, only through the programming calendar.
•Also offered is Maumee River Shoreline Cleanup, Thursday, August 28, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., at Glass City Metropark.
This group will be on the shore cleaning along the riprap or International Park fishing area. For those 12 and older. Must be with an adult if under 16. Participants will not be on the water.
Garden Keepers Needed Would you like to help Metroparks showcase the beauty of the natural world at our parks? Garden keepers are volunteers who are assigned a landscaping bed at the Metropark of their choosing and are tasked with its care and maintenance over the course of the year. If interested, contact Emily Foshag at Emily.Foshag @metroparkstoledo.com.
Mascots Needed
A mascot may appear at special events within the park district, events accompanied by staff away from the park, or maybe community events like parades in the Toledo area. They are a direct representation of Metroparks. If interested contact Emily at Emily.Foshag@metroparks toledo.com.
Nature Walk Leaders
Metroparks is now recruiting nature walk leaders. With guidance and training from Metroparks staff, these volunteers walk the trails while leading interpretive nature walks for area schools and the general public.
Contact Hannah.Gillen@metroparkstoledo.com for more information. For those 18 and older. Background check and additional training required.
