Opportunities From: Wood County Park District

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

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

Help plant, maintain, and harvest seed from the native plants in the nursery. All tools and training provided. 

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

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

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

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

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

Help plant, maintain, and harvest seed from the native plants in the nursery. All tools and training provided. 

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

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

Assist with arrow making materials, serve as safety spotter.

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

Record hours here each time you monitor. Monitoring period finished 6/14/26. Registered Frog Monitor Volunteers survey the anuran (frog and toad) population in our parks. Training required before monitors can log hours. For more information contact Program Naturalist, Craig Spicer - 419-661-1697x3 | cspicer@wcparks.org

Help us provide a shaded park-like oasis in the parks tent with a breezeway! Help WCPD staff with The Life in the Parks Game, greet guests, and answer guests questions/point them to relevant park district programming and information. This position may also be the person who clicks the people counter to record the number of visitors in the tent and record that number at the end of your shift. Please bring a water for your shift and wear WCPD Volunteer shirts/merch if able.  

*There will be a required training in the tent at the fairgrounds, date tbd. You will be required to present a fair ticket to get into the fairgrounds for your shift. Tickets can be can be picked up at Park District Headquarters starting date tbd.

Headquarter office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 am - 4:30 pm at 18729 Mercer Road, Bowling Green, OH 43402. If you do not pickup your tickets early, they will be handed out at the training.

Please email or call Jessie Walton-Summers regarding any questions.

419-353-1897 or jwalton@wcparks.org

Help plant, maintain, and harvest seed from the native plants in the nursery. All tools and training provided. 

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

Help plant, maintain, and harvest seed from the native plants in the nursery. All tools and training provided. 

Help plant, maintain, and harvest seed from the native plants in the nursery. All tools and training provided. 

Help WCPD staff with The Life in the Parks Game, greet guests and offer game play on the simple 3-5 minute board game.  This position may also be the person who clicks the people counter to record the number of visitors in the tent and record that number at the end of your shift.

*Please bring a reusable water bottle for your shift and wear WCPD Volunteer shirts/merch if able. 

Please email or call Jessie Walton-Summers regarding any questions.

419-353-1897 or jwalton@wcparks.org

VOLUNTEER: 1 experienced canoer

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

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

Help plant, maintain, and harvest seed from the native plants in the nursery. All tools and training provided. 

VOLUNTEER: 1 experienced canoer

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

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

Help plant, maintain, and harvest seed from the native plants in the nursery. All tools and training provided.

Join the stewardship department at Otsego Park to celebrate Pawpaw season! Learn about North America’s largest edible native tree fruit, and Ohio’s official state native fruit! We will be planting Pawpaws, along with other native trees and shrubs along our riparian forest restoration area to replace the invasive species that were cleared out during previous Habitat Heroes programs. Long pants and long sleeves are recommended. Closed-toed shoes required. Tools, instructions, and snacks provided. Please note that the work area will be on a slope.

Help plant, maintain, and harvest seed from the native plants in the nursery! All tools & training provided.

Be a hero for the environment by joining the stewardship department in removing invasive species and improving the woodland habitat at William Henry Harrison Park. Long pants and long sleeves are recommended. Closed-toed shoes required. Tools, instructions, and snacks provided.

** This is scheduled for 2 days. Feel free to join us on one or both days!

Be a hero for the environment by joining the stewardship department in removing invasive species and improving the woodland habitat at William Henry Harrison Park. Long pants and long sleeves are recommended. Closed-toed shoes required. Tools, instructions, and snacks provided.

** This is scheduled for 2 days. Feel free to join us on one or both days!

Join the Stewardship Department with a special co-leader, Community and Communications specialist and Cherokee Nation member, Jessie Walton-Summers, at W.W. Knight Preserve for a fun morning of planting native trees and shrubs! For Indigenous Peoples Day, we'll share some cultural stories and relationship between native plants and Indigenous people. The goal of this program is to restore the forest ecosystem behind the nature center where previous Habitat Heroes programs removed large patches of invasive buckthorn. Long pants and long sleeves are recommended. Closed-toed shoes required. Tools, instructions, and snacks provided.

Be a hero for the environment by joining the stewardship department in removing invasive species and improving the woodland habitat at Otsego Park. Long pants and long sleeves are recommended. Closed-toed shoes required. Tools, instructions, and snacks provided. Please note that the work area will be on a slope.

** This is scheduled for 2 days. Feel free to join us on one or both days!

Be a hero for the environment by joining the stewardship department in removing invasive species and improving the woodland habitat at Otsego Park. Long pants and long sleeves are recommended. Closed-toed shoes required. Tools, instructions, and snacks provided. Please note that the work area will be on a slope.

** This is scheduled for 2 days. Feel free to join us on one or both days!

Please join us at J.C. Reuthinger Memorial Preserve for an Adopt-A-Garden volunteer appreciation lunch/season wrap up. As the gardening season wraps up we would like to bring everyone together to share how the season went and discuss ideas for next year! Lunch will be provided by the Stewardship department, but feel free to bring any additional food items to share if you would like!

Help clean native plant seeds that have been harvested from Park District properties. This is an indoor, sit-down activity. All instruction and materials provided.

Be a hero for the environment by joining the stewardship department in removing invasive species and improving the woodland habitat at W.W. Knight Preserve. Long pants and long sleeves are recommended. Closed-toed shoes required. Tools, instructions, and snacks provided.

** This is scheduled for 2 days. Feel free to join us on one or both days!

Be a hero for the environment by joining the stewardship department in removing invasive species and improving the woodland habitat at W.W. Knight Preserve. Long pants and long sleeves are recommended. Closed-toed shoes required. Tools, instructions, and snacks provided.

** This is scheduled for 2 days. Feel free to join us on one or both days!

Help clean native plant seeds that have been harvested from Park District properties. This is an indoor, sit-down activity. All instruction and materials provided.

Help clean native plant seeds that have been harvested from Park District properties. This is an indoor, sit-down activity. All instruction and materials provided.

In this ongoing project, volunteers have the opportunity to asses native plant bloom times and populations within select Wood County Park District parks. This project allows volunteers to play a vital role in identifying both native and invasive species and determine where those species are, allowing the stewardship department to create better management plans.

The Native Plant Monitoring program runs from April 1st to October 1st. 2026, and all hours spent volunteering will need to be recorded by December 1st, 2026.

For more information or any questions, contact Restoration Specialist, David Linsky - dlinsky@wcparks.org

Join citizen scientists around the world to count wintering birds. A presentation about how to identify and count the birds will be followed by a practice session at the feeders. This informational session will train volunteer interested in doing Bird Monitoring for an ongoing volunteer opportunity.  

Our native plant gardens need your help!

Gain valuable gardening experience while helping your local parks and community! Sign-up to be part of a team of people who design, implement and care for the native plant gardens. Staff will meet you in the spring to get you started. You choose the day and time to visit and tend to the garden. We will supply the plants and tools you need for a successful garden.

Sign-up to be care for a native plant gardens. You choose your schedule. Coordinate with park district stewardship staff before beginning: Hayley Barrett, hbarrett@wcparks.org, 419-661-5113.

Park District main office: (419) 353-1897 office@wcparks.org   

Register and log your hours.

Expectations

Gain valuable gardening experience while helping your local parks and community! Sign-up to be part of a team of people who design, implement and care for the native plant gardens. Staff will meet you in the spring to get you started. You choose the day and time to visit and tend to the garden. We will supply the plants and tools you need for a successful garden.

Adopt-A-Garden locations :

Our native plant gardens need your help!

Gain valuable gardening experience while helping your local parks and community! Sign-up to be part of a team of people who design, implement and care for the native plant gardens. Staff will meet you in the spring to get you started. You choose the day and time to visit and tend to the garden. We will supply the plants and tools you need for a successful garden.

Sign-up to be care for a native plant gardens. You choose your schedule. Coordinate with park district stewardship staff before beginning: Hayley Barrett, hbarrett@wcparks.org, 419-661-5113.

Park District main office: (419) 353-1897 office@wcparks.org   

Register and log your hours.

Expectations

Gain valuable gardening experience while helping your local parks and community! Sign-up to be part of a team of people who design, implement and care for the native plant gardens. Staff will meet you in the spring to get you started. You choose the day and time to visit and tend to the garden. We will supply the plants and tools you need for a successful garden.

Adopt-A-Garden locations :

Our native plant gardens need your help!

Gain valuable gardening experience while helping your local parks and community! Sign-up to be part of a team of people who design, implement and care for the native plant gardens. Staff will meet you in the spring to get you started. You choose the day and time to visit and tend to the garden. We will supply the plants and tools you need for a successful garden.

Sign-up to be care for a native plant gardens. You choose your schedule. Coordinate with park district stewardship staff before beginning: Hayley Barrett, hbarrett@wcparks.org, 419-661-5113.

Park District main office: (419) 353-1897 office@wcparks.org   

Register and log your hours.

Expectations

Gain valuable gardening experience while helping your local parks and community! Sign-up to be part of a team of people who design, implement and care for the native plant gardens. Staff will meet you in the spring to get you started. You choose the day and time to visit and tend to the garden. We will supply the plants and tools you need for a successful garden.

Adopt-A-Garden locations :

Our native plant gardens need your help!

Gain valuable gardening experience while helping your local parks and community! Sign-up to be part of a team of people who design, implement and care for the native plant gardens. Staff will meet you in the spring to get you started. You choose the day and time to visit and tend to the garden. We will supply the plants and tools you need for a successful garden.

Sign-up to be care for a native plant gardens. You choose your schedule. Coordinate with park district stewardship staff before beginning: Hayley Barrett, hbarrett@wcparks.org, 419-661-5113.

Park District main office: (419) 353-1897 office@wcparks.org   

Register and log your hours.

Expectations

Gain valuable gardening experience while helping your local parks and community! Sign-up to be part of a team of people who design, implement and care for the native plant gardens. Staff will meet you in the spring to get you started. You choose the day and time to visit and tend to the garden. We will supply the plants and tools you need for a successful garden.

Adopt-A-Garden locations :

Our native plant gardens need your help!

Gain valuable gardening experience while helping your local parks and community! Sign-up to be part of a team of people who design, implement and care for the native plant gardens. Staff will meet you in the spring to get you started. You choose the day and time to visit and tend to the garden. We will supply the plants and tools you need for a successful garden.

Sign-up to be care for a native plant gardens. You choose your schedule. Coordinate with park district stewardship staff before beginning: Hayley Barrett, hbarrett@wcparks.org, 419-661-5113.

Park District main office: (419) 353-1897 office@wcparks.org   

Register and log your hours.

Expectations

Gain valuable gardening experience while helping your local parks and community! Sign-up to be part of a team of people who design, implement and care for the native plant gardens. Staff will meet you in the spring to get you started. You choose the day and time to visit and tend to the garden. We will supply the plants and tools you need for a successful garden.

Adopt-A-Garden locations :

Park Ambassadors greet visitors, attend the trails, pick up trash, and report items to park staff. 

Parks with nature centers may have a nature craft station that park ambassadors maintain.

Specific training is required for all Park Ambassadors. 

The Friends of the Parks is a non-profit affiliate organization that support park activities. The volunteer Board of Trustees participate in numerous engaging activities throughout the year. For more information on the Friends of the Wood County Parks, please visit wcparks.org/friends.  

Our native plant gardens need your help!

Gain valuable gardening experience while helping your local parks and community! Sign-up to be part of a team of people who design, implement and care for the native plant gardens. Staff will meet you in the spring to get you started. You choose the day and time to visit and tend to the garden. We will supply the plants and tools you need for a successful garden.

Sign-up to be care for a native plant gardens. You choose your schedule. Coordinate with park district staff before beginning: Madeline Nelson, mnelson@wcparks.org, 419-661-5113.

Park District Headquarters: (419) 353-1897 office@wcparks.org   

Register and log your hours.

Expectations

Feeding, cleaning, handling, and general care and upkeep of the Animal Ambassadors and their enclosures. These positions are worked out ahead of time with Naturalist Craig Spicer, 419-575-8074. If you are interested in possible openings, please contact him.

Help around the farm in a myriad of ways. We are thankful for the great work our farm volunteers do at the farm. Everything from construction to gardening and animal care. 

Park Ambassadors greet visitors, attend the trails, pick up trash, and report items to park staff. 

Parks with nature centers may have a nature craft station that park ambassadors maintain.

Specific training is required for all Park Ambassadors. 

Park Ambassadors greet visitors, attend the trails, pick up trash, and report items to park staff. Parks with nature centers may have a nature craft station to maintain.

Specific training is required for all Park Ambassadors. 

Adopt-a-Heritage Garden

Assist the Carter Historic Farm by helping on the heritage gardens.

This is an important part of our cultural preservation and education.

This is an outdoor and on-going volunteer position.

Most of the produce is donated to the Brown Bag Food Pantry

Program Guidelines

​Project Coordinator: Anna Cotterman, acotterman@wcparks.org, (419) 353-1897

Volunteer Services: Jamie Sands, jsands@wcparks.org, (419) 353-1897

Location: Carter Historic Farm, 18331 Carter Road, Bowling Green, OH 43402

Duration: summer to autumn (May – October)

Days and times: Choose your own schedule during park hours: 8 am – 30 minutes past sunset.

Expectations of the volunteer(s)

Expectations of Wood County Park District staff

Requirements

Registration process

Things to Know

Adopt-a-Seed Collecting Bed

Assist the Stewardship Department by maintaining a specific native plant bed. This is an important part of our conservation efforts and is an outdoor and on-going volunteer position.

*Anyone can volunteer, but having native plant knowledge is very helpful. 

Program Guidelines

​Project coordinator: Sanja Jennings, sjennings@wcparks.org, (419) 509-9695

Stewardship Coordinator: 

Location: Reuthinger Memorial Preserve, 30730 Oregon Road, Perrysburg, OH 43551

Duration: summer to autumn (June – October)

Days and times: Choose your own schedule during park hours: 8 am – 30 minutes past sunset.

Expectations of the volunteer(s)

Expectations of Wood County Park District Stewardship staff

Requirements

Registration process

Things to Know

Help us maintain the most active trail in Wood County! Small sections of the trail are adopted by volunteers to conduct refuse pick-up and to report back with any concerns.  

Your support and involvement are important and appreciated. Please use this listed volunteer opportunity to record all of your hours with the Adopt-a-Trail: Slippery Elm Trail program. This is a good activity for a group. 

Before you start, be sure to reach out to Park Police officer Mark Wagner to register and receive all the details. 419-575-7335, mwagner@wcparks.org

This is a place to log hours for the ongoing History of the Parks Committee. 

To join the committee, please email jwalton@wcparks.org to be placed in contact with the committee chair with the Friends of the Parks. 

Volunteering is conducted on the volunteers own time and in their own space, but may include visits to Park district Headquarters for meetings and libraries, or other locations containing primary resource materials. 

Our native plant gardens need your help!

Gain valuable gardening experience while helping your local parks and community! Sign-up to be part of a team of people who design, implement and care for the native plant gardens. Staff will meet you in the spring to get you started. You choose the day and time to visit and tend to the garden. We will supply the plants and tools you need for a successful garden.

Sign-up to be care for a native plant gardens. You choose your schedule. Coordinate with park district staff before beginning: Zeb Albert, Stewardship Coordinator zalbert@wcparks.org, 419-661-5113. (419) 353-1897 office@wcparks.org   

Register and log your hours.

Expectations

Gain valuable gardening experience while helping your local parks and community! Sign-up to be part of a team of people who design, implement and care for the native plant gardens. Staff will meet you in the spring to get you started. You choose the day and time to visit and tend to the garden. We will supply the plants and tools you need for a successful garden.

Adopt-A-Garden locations :

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

Help the Construction Department with ongoing projects and be a set of extra hands! Projects include fixing and mending park boardwalks, trail signage, barn painting and much more!

For interest in any construction project please reach out to WCPD Construction Manager, Tom Belcher at 419-467-1017 or tbelcher@wcparks.org.

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 

Are you looking for a service project with the Wood County Park District?

Step 1: Reach out to Park Staff to coordinate your project. office@wcparks.org  (419) 353-1897

Step 2: Create a Galaxy Digital Account and log your project's volunteer hours.

Step 3: Conduct your project and ask about presenting to the Friends of the Parks about possibly support.

Step 4: Follow up and reporting. Be sure to share hours and media-allowed images with park district staff.

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.

All Friends of the Wood County Park District members, please log any extra volunteer hours here that may not fall under another opportunity or board meeting. 

Assist the Communications Department in marketing, graphic design, wayfinding, office work, scrap-booking, archival work and so much more! 

This is an on-going volunteer log, just record any volunteer hours that fit under this criteria here!