Fall/Winter 2012
UPCOMING EVENTS AND OPPORTUNITIES SEPTEMBER 8
Monarch Magic
Don’t miss another night at the zoo!
NORTH CHAGRIN RESERVATION
SEPTEMBER 16
Cedar Valley Settlers Celebration & Music Festival
Volunteers enjoy the 2012 picnic at the Zoo!
ROCKY RIVER RESERVATION
SEPTEMBER 16
Emerald Necklace Rally OHIO & ERIE CANAL RESERVATION
SEPTEMBER 22
Ledges to Lake Adventure Race HINCKLEY RESERVATION
SEPTEMBER 30
FallFest: 18th Century Festival BRECKSVILLE RESERVATION
OCTOBER SATURDAYS & SUNDAYS
OCTOBER 6
Fall Hayrides & Square Dancing MILL STREAM RUN RESERVATION
Ranger Open House ROCKY RIVER RESERVATION — RANGER HEADQUARTERS
OCTOBER 13
Outdoor Odyssey OHIO & ERIE CANAL RESERVATION
OCTOBER 13 & 14
North Chagrin Nature Photography Weekend NORTH CHAGRIN RESERVATION
NOVEMBER 10 & 11
“Reflections of Nature” Quilt Show ROCKY RIVER RESERVATION
NOVEMBER 25
First Day of Tobogganing MILL STREAM RUN RESERVATION
DECEMBER 8 & 9
Reflections of Nature Craft Show ROCKY RIVER RESERVATION
Please contact Heather at 216-635-3258 if you are interested in assisting at or attending any of these events.
New Volunteer Database By the end of this year,Volunteer Services will roll out a new volunteer database! This has significant impact internally as to how on-site coordinators and Volunteer Services staff track and report your time contribution,trainings,recognition,contact, and other information.
Over 300 volunteers enjoyed great weather, the traveling animal show, a behind the scenes experience, and fun at the Zoo on June 15th! The 2013 picnic has been scheduled for Friday, June 14th at the Zoo, so save the date!
What’s Next for Cleveland Metroparks Volunteer Services? For new volunteers,a new online application will be available which will feed information into the Over the next five years, Volunteer Services is expected to grow substantially, expand its database upon acceptance into Volunteer Services. reach into the community and offer new opportunities in which volunteers may share their skills and experience! This “vision” for Volunteer Services includes, but is not limited to, For current volunteers,you will finally be able to the following: access your volunteer record from any computer (with an email address and password).By • Active citizen science volunteer corps accessing your record,you will be able to view • Active trail volunteer corps (Trail Monitors, trail maintenance, Adopt a Trail) your hour entries and total volunteer hours.In • Corporate volunteer engagement addition,you will have the ability to update your • Youth program contact information,including email addresses • Family volunteer opportunities and phone numbers! As these and other opportunities are being developed and implemented your input and The new volunteer database is a web-based, support as it relates to these new opportunities is appreciated. If you feel there is a potential hosted program which ensures security of your new or expanded volunteer activity that you would like to see considered, please feel free to information as well as ease of access from any share your suggestions! I hope that all current volunteers will view this expansion for what it computer. is, an exciting and positive opportunity for the Park District and members of the community to continue their work together for the betterment and continuation of Cleveland Metroparks! Information about the new volunteer database will be sent to all current volunteers by the end Heather Triplett of the year! Manager of Volunteer Services Cleveland Metroparks Volunteer Services
4101 Fulton Parkway
Cleveland, OH 44144
216-635-3258
hal@clevelandmetroparks.com
EarthWords Nature Shops
North Chagrin Nature Center Volunteers Roger and Dee Loos greet visitors and answer questions as part of their shift as Nature Education Building (NEB) volunteers.
Volunteer Mary Kiczek assists with inventory during her shift at the new EarthWords Nature Shop at Hinckley Lake Boathouse and Store.
If you like retail and love meeting new friendly folks, please consider volunteering at one of our four shops. Each shop is unique and very specific to its location, which presents different volunteer opportunities at each store. Hinckley Lake Boathouse and Store offers volunteers a chance to help boaters and fishermen follow their passion. Volunteers at our smaller shop at CanalWay Center can also help welcome visitors to the building, as well as help with bike rentals. If you volunteer at the shops in Rocky River and North Chagrin Nature Centers, you can choose to be a part of many of the special events offered at the centers. No matter where you choose to offer your time and talent, all EarthWords volunteers are able to interact with customers, ring up sales, work with new products, maintain a clean shop, control inventory, help at our unique events ... AND get a 15% discount!! Come join us!! featured volunteer opportunity
Have you visited our native gardens around the nature center and Nature Education Building? Well, maybe you haven’t, but many special guests have ... we call them “weeds” and “weed whackers” are what we need. If you would like to join our gardening team, please call the nature center. Other areas that need volunteer assistance are hosting the Nature Education Building and live animal care (including: owls, flying squirrels, fish, amphibians and reptiles). featured volunteer opportunity
NATURETRACKS/ECO EXPLORERS The NatureTracks and Eco Explorers Outreach programs have been busy this year travelling around Cuyahoga County providing educational programs for school and senior groups,festivals and special events.Eco Explorers has offered multiple teacher workshops with assistance from volunteers.Our volunteers also assist regularly in assembling teacher kits while providing the best visitor experience during special events like BugCity and Touch A Truck.If you are interested in volunteering for NatureTracks or Eco Explorers activities,please call 216-341-1707.
YOUTH OUTDOORS Youth Outdoors (YO) provides opportunities for urban youth to experience nature and gain valuable life skills through outdoor adventure recreation.Activities include hiking, exploring streams, biking, fishing, canoeing, kayaking, horseback riding, camping, rock climbing, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, nature exploration and community service. Children ages 8–18 years become involved in Youth Outdoors through adventure clubs based at
City of Cleveland recreation centers and other urban organizations. Adult volunteers are an essential part of Youth Outdoors, providing assistance on outings and encouraging youth success.Volunteers are also vital for the annual May fishing derbies and the Outdoor Odyssey special event (to be held on October 13, 2012 at Ohio & Erie Canal Reservation) which reaches out to youth and families that may not be aware of all the recreational opportunities available within Cleveland Metroparks. Committed YO volunteers also have the opportunity to participate in a variety of training activities which enhance their skills and leadership abilities, making them more effective on YO programs. YO welcomes volunteers who have a passion for helping youth discover nature and developing skills that last a lifetime. For more information about volunteering with YO clubs and events, contact Greg at Youth Outdoors, 216-206-1010 or gmy@clevelandmetroparks.com.
Park Manager Highlight Each of Cleveland Metroparks 16 reservations have a park manager who plans, develops, directs, and manages a comprehensive natural-resource-based park reservation with respect to each reservation’s physical facility inventory. Each manager works to enhance services, facilitates collaboration among community organizations, and supports agencies and stewardship partners. The park manager is typically the main contact for community service groups who register to complete a done-in-a-day project with Cleveland Metroparks. In 2011, over 1,000 individuals as part of community service groups contributed 6,000 hours to reservation-based projects. In recognition of their efforts and to introduce you to Cleveland Metroparks park managers, some of these individuals will be highlighted in this and future newsletter issues. I hope you enjoy learning more about the park managers who were each asked to share the following responses: 1. How long and in what capacity (capacities) have you worked for Cleveland Metroparks? 2. What do you enjoy most about working with volunteers? 3. Share a personal note about yourself. Rob Angiocchi
Gary Baran
Shamar Young
Bedford & West Creek Reservations
Bradley Woods & Huntington Reservations
South Chagrin Reservation
Rob Angiocchi started his career with Cleveland Metroparks as a seasonal employee in 1992. Since that time, Rob has worked in a variety of positions including Natural Resources Specialist, Handyperson, Technician, and Management Trainee. He has been in his current role of park manager for almost 10 years! Currently Rob oversees the management of Bedford and West Creek Reservations.
Gary Baran has been working with Cleveland Metroparks for almost 13 years! For the past five years, Gary has been park manager at Bradley Woods and Huntington Reservations. Prior to that time, he was park manager at Ohio & Erie Canal Reservation.
In 2008, Shamar Young came to Cleveland Metroparks as a manager trainee. Initially stationed at South Chagrin Reservation, Shamar then continued his trainee days at Brookside Reservation. In June 2009, Shamar was named park manager at Brookside then moved back to South Chagrin, his current location, in March 2010 as park manager.
When asked what he enjoys most about working with volunteers, Rob replies, “I enjoy working with individuals or groups in the reservations allowing them to “give back” to the parks that they enjoy so much. They can truly feel a sense of pride and ownership for the contributions they provide. I can definitely relate, as it is the same reason that I chose this profession. The volunteers also provide us with tremendous service and work that we simply would not be able to accomplish without their help.” Aside from his professional life, Rob states, “I am a passionate angler and camper, enjoying these outdoor activities with my lovely wife Christine and daughters Faith and Katie.”
Gary states, “I enjoy the enthusiasm that volunteer groups bring to the tasks we ask them to do. For example, the KeyBank group has really taken ownership of the annual planting bed clean-up project in front of the Lake Erie Nature and Science Center (LENSC) at Huntington Reservation. All of the volunteers from KeyBank work in an office, so they really seem to enjoy being outdoors for a day, have a fun time together, and are very proud of the finished product.” Away from work, Gary states, “I am most proud of my marriage of 36 years to my wife, Polly. We have two great kids who live nearby, and are doing very well in their respective occupations. We are also looking forward to the birth of our first grandchild in October.”
On September 8, 2012, Shamar assisted with the coordination of our largest done-in-a-day project yet. With 500 individuals in attendance, Shamar and his colleagues planned activities to engage this group to assist with many activities throughout South Chagrin Reservation! Shamar enjoys working with groups, as he states, “I enjoy their enthusiasm. Volunteers want to do the work. They are engaged because of the sense of pride and opportunity to give back to the community, or in our case the parks that they enjoy.” On a personal note, Shamar shares, “I enjoy spending time with my sons Aaron and Isaiah, and all sorts of outdoor recreational activities. I have three dogs and several fish tanks, and I also love riding my motorcycle on the parkway and “back roads” throughout the area.”
PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID Cleveland, Ohio Permit No. 2911
4101 Fulton Parkway, Cleveland, OH 44144 ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED DATED MATERIAL DO NOT DELAY
Printed on recycled paper
Volunteer Vista TOM MUGRIDGE VOLUNTEER SITE/PROGRAM:
Natural Resources Trail Monitor FAVORITE VOLUNTEER ACTIVITY:
Tom enjoys all the activities that he participates in at Cleveland Metroparks. However, if he has to choose a favorite, Trail Monitoring would top the list. Tom states, “It is fun to meet new monitoring partners and nice visitors. Visitors often thank you for being out on the trails. It is also nice to develop new friendships while hiking or biking with different Trail Monitor partners.”
The Volunteer Vista section provides an opportunity to get to know fellow Cleveland Metroparks volunteers. On-site volunteer coordinators submit suggestions for which volunteer to highlight. From those suggestions, volunteer names are selected at random. HOW DID YOU GET INVOLVED WITH CLEVELAND METROPARKS?
Tom recalls exactly how he found out about volunteering with Cleveland Metroparks! In October 2008, Tom was on his Sunday morning bike ride from Cleveland Heights to North Chagrin, which he has been doing for 20 years! During his ride, Tom mentions, “I saw Trail Monitors ride by so I asked them about the program. I knew I wanted to get involved.” Although Tom was unable to get involved immediately, he finally started with the Trail Monitor program in 2010! Tom also got involved with the Ash Tree Survey in 2011. As a registered consulting arborist and general manager with Forest City Tree Protection Co., it was a natural fit for Tom to assist with the Ash Tree Survey and an opportunity to utilize his experience and skills. MOST MEMORABLE VOLUNTEER MOMENTS
Of the different activities that Tom has assisted with, his most memorable moments come from the gratitude that visitors express while he is out on the trails. Whether is it Trail Monitoring, assisting with the Ash Tree Survey or helping with deer telemetry, there is usually someone on the trail who thanks Tom for his service! Tom also mentions, “Besides the regular volunteer activities, I had an opportunity to assist with a Tour de Necklace bike program. It was great to help with a different activity and use my biking skills and knowledge of the parks in a different way.” WHY DO YOU VOLUNTEER?
Cleveland Metroparks Volunteer Tom Mugridge
Tom has always been involved as a volunteer in some capacity. Tom mentions, “My parents used to volunteer with church. My father helped fixed things. I followed that volunteer example.” During his late
teen years, Tom managed little league teams. For the past 27 years Tom has been a member of Hillcrest Rotary Club! During that time, he has held all positions within the organization and is the current chair of their Taste of Hillcrest fundraiser, a position which he has held for eight years. He also donates time through his company. In addition to volunteering, Tom enjoys biking and traveling. He has visited all 50 states! Tom has enjoyed visiting most of those locations with his wife, Pat, of 35 years! COMMENTS FROM NATURAL RESOURCES AND TRAIL MONITOR STAFF
In recognition of Tom’s volunteer contribution, Natural Resources Manager of Field Research, Terry Robison, Plant and Restoration Ecologist, Constance Hausman, and Wildlife Research Coordinator, Sara Kennedy, state, “Tom has been a stellar and reliable volunteer for the spotlighting, telemetry and ash mapping projects. He is dependable and brings with him a knowledge of the outdoors that he's gained from his personal experiences and business. Accuracy of the data collected for these projects is of the utmost importance, and we know we can trust the data Tom provides us. Tom has also been available on short notice to cover for cancellations by others.” In addition, Tom Laskowski, Trail Monitor East Region Coordinator, shares, “Tom has been monitoring the eastern parks since 2010. During those 2 years he is one of the trail monitors that consistently provides suggestions, pertinent maintenance concerns and ideas to keep the parks in their best possible condition. I am certainly grateful to him for being on our team.”