Organization: Taking Root 

Task: Call or visit local nurseries, garden centers and landscapers to encourage them to register the trees they sell. Offer them promotional materials to pass out to their customers and maintain relationships with them. This role will involve managing a group of volunteers that will go out to local green industry businesses and advocate for taking root and more importantly build relationships with nurseries, landscapers and tree care companies.

Details: Taking Root will give you contact information, questions to ask and promotional materials to distribute. Businesses are encouraged to sign up as a partner on our website.

Contact: Matt Stenger, 513-619-7666, mstenger@takingroot.info

Organization: Taking Root 

Task: Contact local parks, conservation agencies, tree boards, municipalities and land owners to find properties where we can plant trees.You will be provided with a list to get started. 

Details: Taking Root will provide you with contact information and questions to ask. You will encourage people to visit http://www.takingroot.info/join-in/clearinghouse/ to fill out a project application to be considered for funding.

Contact: Matt Stenger, 513-619-7666, mstenger@takingroot.info

Organization: Gorman Heritage Farm 

Education Volunteer for School Groups During the Work Week

After training and shadowing, education volunteers lead groups of 10 children to specific stations around the Farm. At each stop there is an approximately 15 minute lesson. Of course, this is not a lecture but give-and-take with the children. Most tours include the compost pile, planting, Children's Garden, bees, goats, hen house, and corn grinding. A schedule given to you the morning of a tour you are to lead includes when and how long to be at each station.

Training to be an education volunteer includes two 2-hour sessions. Of course, we are always willing to reteach, give you time to practice lessons, etc. After training we ask that you shadow at least two different experienced leaders. Unless you are extremely comfortable leading a group, we can accompany you for your first teaching experience. There is always one other adult, usually a teacher or parent chaperone, with your group.

We provide a teaching binder and our own Gorman Heritage Farm Education website. The latter includes most of the teaching information you will need.

From you we require a resume, background check ( we pay for and require  this from all staff and education volunteers), and two references.

We prefer that volunteers work at least one morning a week, but we understand that you have other commitments. Most volunteers look ahead at the schedule and choose dates and times that fit their needs. A morning of leading usually runs from about 9:00 am - 12:00 pm or so.   

Come join the fun of teaching the next generation while playing on the Farm!  Contact Claire Long at clong@gormanfarm.org for more information. 

Great Parks of Hamilton County would like to invite you to join the Stew Crew, our conservation based volunteer group. Each month you will receive a newsletter and calendar of events and workdays you can participate in. This volunteer group focuses on controlling invasive species, tree plantings, nest box installation, trash clean-up, and plain ol’ hard work that’s incredibly rewarding. Visit our volunteer options at the Great Parks website and sign-up.

Volunteering for Great Parks of Hamilton County will lead you to fun, rewarding and unforgettable experiences! Help with invasive plant removal, patrol one of our more than 70 miles of trails, volunteer at our Shaker Trace Nursery or interact directly with park guests at one of our gift shops, visitor centers or nature programs. Join our outstanding team of volunteers and staff members and learn new skills, meet people with similar interests, all while making a difference in your community. Whether you have time to volunteer long-term, a few weeks or only once or twice a year, Great Parks of Hamilton County has a place for you! It's fun, rewarding and easy to get involved. To find your perfect niche, check out the current volunteer opportunities here!

For more information send an email to volunteer@greatparks.org or phone:

Kris Roselle, Volunteer Services Manager
Phone: 513-728-3551, ext. 245

Niki Marengo, Volunteer Coordinator
Phone: 513-728-3551, ext. 278

Do you love the Cincinnati Parks... then we've got a volunteer opportunity for you! 

Our Parks depend on support from those who use it and treasure it. Your contribution of time is one way you can help Cincinnati Parks maintain our status as one of the top urban park systems in the country.  We have one-time and ongoing opportunities available to provide a rewarding and safe volunteer experience.

Click here to view current volunteer opportunities

Urban Parks and Greenspaces: There is a great need for outdoor and gardening enthusiasts to help maintain numerous urban parks and greenspaces throughout the city by • Removing honeysuckle and other invasive plants • Planting flowers and trees • Removing and/or replacing ground cover.

Waterfront Parks: The Waterfront parks have a need for volunteers to perform the invaluable task of removing litter from the riverbanks as well as assisting with data entry.   Carol Ann’s Carousel (opening on May 16th, 2015) has a need for a Ambassador/Greeter; someone who can provide information and enhance the overall carousel experience.

Group Projects: Is your organization looking for an outdoor volunteer project or a team building opportunity?  Does your scout troop need a service outing? If the answer is yes...just give us a call (at least 3 weeks in advance) and we can arrange a project that may include maintaining urban landscapes • Cleaning up a wooded area • Removing honeysuckle and other invasive plants • Planting flowers and trees • Painting tables, benches & flower pots  • Building a bridge • Building a trail.

Explore Nature! Our youth programs require many volunteers to help with special events and nature programs. If you enjoy nature and children...this may be the perfect opportunity.  Available volunteer opportunities are: Nature Camp Assistant • Trail Patrol • Nature Center Ambassador • Seamstress for Costumes & Crafts • Animal Caregiver at Nature Centers • Survey Taker.

If you would like to volunteer for any of the above volunteer opportunities, please contact Cheryl Lackey, Volunteer Coordinator @  513-357-2614 or cheryl.lackey@cincinnati-oh.gov

SPECIAL EVENT OPPORTUNITIES:

Cincinnati Mayor's Corporate Challenge: Since its inception in 2007, many companies have sent thousands of employees to urban Parks and greenspace areas as well as the downtown Cincinnati area, including Washington Park in Over-The-Rhine, the waterfront parks, Smale Riverfront Park, Eden Park and more! Volunteers come from corporations such as GE Aviation, The Home Depot, Duke Energy, Ethicon Endo Surgery, Humana, Toyota, PNC Bank, Fifth Third Bank, U.S. Bank, Kao USA Inc, The Nielsen Company, and many, many more to dig in, clean up downtown, and make a big difference! 

River Grill before the Big Chill 2015  - www.cincyrivergrill.com: If you want to volunteer at an event that is smoky, sweet and savoury...then River Grill before the Big Chill is the event for you! River Grill is a KCBS sanctioned barbeque competition and music festival that takes place on the waterfront in the fall season.

If you would like to volunteer for any of the above volunteer opportunities, please contact Cheryl Lackey, Volunteer Coordinator @  513-357-2614 or cheryl.lackey@cincinnati-oh.gov

OTHER OPPORTUNITIES:

Krohn Conservatory: Whether you prefer working with our tropical plant collection, pricing our Gift Shop merchandise or helping out at the annual Butterfly Show, certainly you will find one of our many opportunities enjoyable! Available volunteer opportunities are: Horticulture Helpers • Office Assistants • Ambassadors • Tour Guides/Interpreters • Craft Room Attendants.

For opportunities at Krohn Conservatory, please contact Sarah Schmalz, Volunteer & Tour Coordinator, sarah.schmalz@cincinnati-oh.gov or call 513-421-4086.

Volunteers needed for our trail work crews! Please send an email to trailmail@flmsp.org telling us where you access the trail, and we'll hook you up with a crew! We'll provide the tools and gloves, and you decide when and how often you'd like to help out.

Western Wildlife Corridor is dedicated to preserving and protecting the wooded hillsides in the beautiful Ohio River Valley on the west side of Cincinnati.  

Each year volunteers remove Amur honeysuckle, garlic mustard and many other alien invaders that choke out the native plants.  The result is that WWC now boasts some of the best native wildflower viewing in Hamilton County while also creating a natural habitat for native animal species to thrive.  WWC has recently acquired new properties that need restoration, along with our older preserves that need a bit of maintenance.

If you would like to volunteer for this important work, please contact WWC for habitat restoration times and dates.  A bonus benefit of volunteering is seeing and hiking woodland trails, many with panoramic views.

For information about upcoming habitat restoration events contact Tim Sisson at 513-922-2104 or tsisson@fuse.net.