Opportunities From: Wood County Park District

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

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

So many bubbles! We will have bubble machines, large wands, and other fun bubble toys to play with while listening to your favorite kid-friendly tunes. Please assist staff in helping with tools and items!

Help Stewardship staff load plants from the Greenhouse at J.C Reuthinger to take to the Fall Native Plant Sale happening on Saturday!

Meet WCPD Staff at W.W Knight Nature Preserve to set up for the Fall Native Plant Sale! We will be setting up tables, chairs, and staging.  Heavy items may be moved, please be mindful of this when signing up to volunteer!

Join us at W.W Knight Nature Preserve after the Fall Native Plant Sale and help clean up tables, chairs and other signage used!  Some heavy lifting may be needed. Please be mindful of this when signing up to volunteer!

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

Help us improve accessibility and user-friendliness through projects like graffiti removal, cliff-face cleaning and trail maintenance, to make Sawyer Quarry an even better climbing and rappelling destination.

Please bring clothes for working outside in the rocks, along with a change of clothes, water, snacks, and personal care items. Closed-toe shoes required. A dust mask or respirator is recommended for certain projects. Know how to climb or rappel? Bring your gear and anchor setup to work on cliffs! Enjoy a provided pizza banquet at 12:30pm! A special thank you to Climb Toledo, Adventus Climbing, and Ohio Climbers Coalition for making this event possible. Find out more about the Ohio Climbers Coalition and the Access Fund at http://www.ohioclimberscoalition.org/

Join the Stewardship department at JC Reuthinger Memorial Preserve in celebrating the first day of autumn with a native planting! We will be spending the morning planting native trees and shrubs in a wetland reforestation area, and learning why fall is a great time for adding natives to your garden and natural areas! Long pants and long sleeves are recommended. Closed toed shoes required. Tools, instructions, and snacks provided. 

Help us give some much needed TLC to the paddle craft that makes our programming possible. Cleaning, applying protectant, replacing decals, and cleaning lifejackets are all on the docket, and we could use some extra hands! 

Protective equipment and JIMMY JOHNS will be provided! Come for as long as you're able. Contact Craig Spicer for details: 419-661-1697x3 | cspicer@wcparks.org 

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!

Participants carve a jack-o-lantern then sharpen their archery skills and shoot their creations for a scary good time! Volunteers may be responsible for managing carving and archery equipment, cleaning, and assisting with decorations, along with adding to a positive program atmosphere!

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!

Visitors experience a fun-filled night complete with story telling, crafts, nature discovery, and a night hike!

Volunteers may register for: Craft Help (2 volunteers), Fire tender (1 volunteer), Costumed Greeter (1 volunteer), or Costumed Outdoor Animal Ambassador (6 volunteers). Please state in your signup your preferred job!

All costumes should be family-friendly and preferably of a local nocturnal animal. Costumed Outdoor Animal Ambassadors should be dressed as a local nocturnal animal and will be prepped with biofacts to share about "themselves" to nature walkers during the event by naturalists. Examples of nocturnal animals include: Raccoon, Coyote, Owls, Bats, Opossum, Skunk, Flying Squirrel, Moths, Bobcat, etc.

Need help? Contact the Naturalists! 419-661-1697 | cspicer@wcparks.org

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!