Volunteering Naturally - Summer 2016

Summer 2016

UPCOMING EVENTS AND OPPORTUNITIES MAY 21 Children’s Fishing Derby

OHIO & ERIE CANAL RESERVATION

MAY 22 Children’s Fishing Derby

MILL STREAM RUN RESERVATION (WALLACE LAKE)

MAY 28-29 Kid’s Fest

CLEVELAND METROPARKS ZOO

JUNE 4 Healthy Planet,

Healthy People

ROCKY RIVER RESERVATION

JUNE 9-30 Mountain Bike Time Trials (THURSDAYS) MILL STREAM RUN RESERVATION JUNE 9- Edgewater LIVE AUGUST 11 LAKEFRONT RESERVATION (THURSDAYS) JUNE 10- Euclid Beach LIVE AUGUST 12 EUCLID CREEK RESERVATION (FRIDAYS) JULY 6-27 Stinchcomb Concerts (WEDNESDAYS) ROCKY RIVER RESERVATION AUGUST 20 Reptiles, Amphibians, and Fun SOUTH CHAGRIN RESERVATION

Whiskey Island SUP Race and Festival LAKEFRONT RESERVATION

AUGUST 27 Backyard Biodiversity Bash WEST CREEK RESERVATION

Salute to Snakes

ROCKY RIVER RESERVATION

SEPTEMBER 17 Ledges to Lake

Adventure Race

HINCKLEY RESERVATION

NEXT STEPS

Last year, Volunteer Services completed the draft 2016-2020 Volunteer Services Strategic Plan to guide the growth and breadth of the division over the next five years! In order to finalize the Plan, we needed to gather feedback from staff and volunteers to understand if there was agreement with the direction and objectives! Thanks to all who participated in the volunteer survey last summer to provide feedback and/ or additional ideas about the Plan. Earlier this year, the results of the survey were shared with volunteers.

The next step is working to realize the goals and objectives through implementation of the Plan! The short list below is just a glimpse of the initial projects or programs that are part of the Volunteer Services work program for 2016 and relate directly to the goals of the Strategic Plan!

SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAM During the 2016 pilot Summer Youth Volunteer Program, volunteers,

ages 10-15, will be provided with meaningful volunteer opportunities at various reservations and centers throughout the Park District. Opportunities will be mostly for half day commitments on weekdays, and one session per month offered on Saturdays during the summer. Individuals interested in service projects must commit to at least 5 volunteer sessions in July and August, with a required kickoff in June.

Please note, this is a new opportunity for the Park District. Cleveland Metroparks Zoo has coordinated a successful teen volunteer program, Zoo Crew, for 18 years!

DIVERSITY Cleveland Metroparks benefits from the efforts of over 2,000 volunteers on an ongoing basis! Although the Park District and Zoo have an extensive volunteer base, the diversity that makes up that base is very low. Through outreach and targeted recruitment, Volunteer Services strives to improve the diversity of the volunteer group so that it better reflects the communities served.

VOLUNTEER SERVICES BRAND AND OUTREACH Volunteer Services is working with the Marketing Department to create a Volunteer Services brand and develop outreach strategies to targeted audiences.

This outreach will include the creation of a Volunteer Services video which will include photos and video of volunteers in action and/or sharing their reasons for volunteering! In addition, graphics such as the one on the back page will encourage the consideration of volunteering with the Park District and Zoo. On behalf of all Volunteer Services staff we look forward to keeping you updated on the progress of these objectives and sharing as new initiatives are planned! Thank you for all you do!

We wish you a happy and safe summer!

Heather Triplett Director of Volunteer Services

SEPTEMBER 25 FallFest

BRECKSVILLE RESERVATION MEADOWS PICNIC AREA

OCTOBER 1 Hands On Heritage

ROCKY RIVER RESERVATION

Please contact Millie at 440-253-2145 or Lisa at lfb@clevelandmetroparks.com if you are interested in assisting at or attending any of these events.

Cleveland Metroparks Volunteer Services

2277 West Ridgewood Drive | Parma, OH 44134

DISTRICT-WIDE VOLUNTEER RECOGNITION PICNIC The 2016 Cleveland Metroparks District-Wide Volunteer Picnic is scheduled for Friday, June 17, at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. All active Cleveland Metroparks volunteers who have donated a minimum of 15 cumulative hours will receive an invitation by mid-May to the picnic!

VOLUNTEER BUS TOUR

A volunteer bus tour is being offered again this year on Friday, September 23. The theme is “The Great Nature Center Road Show Tour.” Stops will include CanalWay Center, North Chagrin Nature Center, Watershed Stewardship Center, Brecksville Nature Center, and Rocky River Nature Center. The tour is from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Lunch will be provided.

Volunteers participated in the “Lakefront Reservations” bus tour hosted by Historic Interpreter, Foster Brown in 2015.

Active volunteers with 15 or more cumulative hours are invited to consider attending the tour.

Participants will be chosen by lottery. Only 25 spaces are available for this tour. If you are interested in participating, you must submit your name by Friday, July 8th to Millie Harnocz at volinfo@clevelandmetroparks.com or 440-253-2145. From the registration list, 25 names will be selected at random to participate. You will be notified whether or not you were selected by July 29th.

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For more information or to get involved in any of the activities mentioned in this publication, please contact Volunteer Services staff Lisa Fellows Bobbitt at lfb@clevelandmetroparks.com or Millie Harnocz at 440-253-2145.

ECO EXPLORERS

The preschool outreach unit of Cleveland Metroparks, Eco Explorers, reaches hundreds of classes and thousands of students every year.

Focusing on the youngest of our future nature stewards, Eco Explorers staff takes engaging programming, interactive activities and games, and live animals out to preschool classrooms across the greater Cleveland area. After their program, each class gets their own activity kit to keep to build upon the Eco Explorers curriculum, so volunteers are always needed to help assemble and prepare these important teacher kits.

by staff. Your efforts helped plant trees, remove invasive species, restore stream health, protect wildlife habitat, and enhance the resiliency of our park. Thank you volunteers! Your efforts are much appreciated!

Eco Explorers also represents Cleveland Metroparks and its educational resources to the public at area events and festivals. Occasionally, volunteers who enjoy working with small children and big crowds are needed to help assist with the games and activities at these appearances. New this year to Eco Explorers will be Insect Extravaganza, which will take place at different locations in Cleveland Metroparks on Wednesdays throughout the month of June. These programs will provide opportunities for fun and learning about the topic of water for preschool students, and volunteers will be needed to help assist with the fun! Eco Explorers holds a Discovery Days program at CanalWay Center. Once a month, in-home day cares have the opportunity to bring their 3-6 year olds to discover the natural world through music and games while being in the park!

NATURAL RESOURCES

The Natural Resources Division recognizes and values volunteers in our community and seeks out opportunities for engagement. We do so by serving as a resource for our community and also by benefiting from their volunteer support. One way staff contributes to community outreach and education is through programs, workshops and presentations.

This included 119 presentations and demonstrations to engage professionals, scientists, university and high school students, volunteers and general community members including regional parks, garden clubs, community groups, universities, professional organizations. While Natural Resources does engage and serve our community through outreach, we overwhelmingly benefit from the dedicated and passionate volunteers that love and give back to our park system. Those volunteer efforts contribute to the success of our research and management programs.

There were many volunteer events hosted throughout the year including Watershed Volunteer Program events, deer spotlighting, fish and aquatic conservation programs, forest health surveys, and restoration activities.

Many of these events included restoration/rehabilitation projects with outside partners contributing funding, sponsorships and other on-theground support including the US Fish & Wildlife Service, US Forest Service, National Fish & Wildlife Foundation, Rocky River Watershed Council, Biohabitats, Alliance for the Great Lakes, Cuyahoga River Restoration, Ohio EPA, City of Parma, and Big Creek Connects. This year was also marked with valuable volunteer assistance from various local businesses including Key Bank, Jo-Ann Fabric, American Greetings, General Motors, and YMCA. In summary, the division engaged 1,597 volunteers this year, and volunteers contributed over 6,200 hours as either a registered ongoing volunteer or during one of the 135 volunteer events that were hosted 2

Restoration Volunteers (L-R), Kym L., Anne R., Mike B. (staff), Al G, and Lin M. helped clean up and repair an old hoop house at Acacia Reservation. The restored hoop house became home to ~2,000 native plants. In the spring, these plants were moved out and planted as part of various ongoing restoration projects.

NATURETRACKS Happy 40th Anniversary to the mobile outreach education program now known as NatureTracks. In 1976, this program was developed to provide offsite, nature education opportunities to schools and other organizations who lack the opportunity to visit and enjoy Cleveland Metroparks facilities. In 2015, a new version of the outreach vehicle journeyed many miles through the highways of Cuyahoga County to reach more than 43,568 residents. In celebrating this milestone, the staff of Cleveland Metroparks NatureTracks would like to thank everyone who has participated and volunteered in the programs and festivals that it has been a part of over the years.

Plant Maintenance is always a key component in keeping the nature center and Look About Lodge looking its best during the growing seasons. Program assistants are always needed throughout the year to assist on hikes, programs, concerts, crafts and special weekend programs. If you are a nature enthusiast and enjoy communicating fun nature facts to visitors, the Posting position may be a good fit for you, coupled with insightful training. Citizen science projects like Frog Watch, NestWatch and Raptor surveys are seeking consistent Natural History Survey volunteers on a seasonal basis.

2016 introduces a new era in NatureTracks programming. With the Tier II and After School programming, NatureTracks will not only bring the parks to the people, but it will also accomplish bringing the people to the parks. The participants’ experience will extend beyond the vehicle’s interior, encouraging exploration of the real habitats introduced inside NatureTracks’ simulated environment. The new outreach vehicle continues to promote Cleveland Metroparks throughout the community at varying summer camps, senior care facilities, schools, and festivals. New volunteers are always welcome!

It seems like there’s always something going on at Rocky River Nature Center. With a full calendar of events and festivals, volunteers are bound to find interesting opportunities to pitch in and help. Why not tap some maple trees and help collect sap to cook into syrup during March’s Maple Sugaring Festival? Or perhaps assist with snowy games in January at Winteriffic? And don’t forget to sign up to help with old-time skills and demonstrations like candle-making and cider-pressing at Hands On Heritage in October, or to help with artifacts, crafts, and face-painting at First People Festival in November!

NORTH CHAGRIN NATURE CENTER

Of course, there’s plenty to do in between events as well. This year, volunteers will be needed to help with the creation of an exciting new garden exhibit called the Food Forest. We’ll also be augmenting our herb, spring, and summer wildflower gardens. No green thumb? Don’t worry! An ever-changing list of hikes, programs, and summer camps provide numerous opportunities to pitch in as a Program Assistant. There’s no doubt about itthere’s plenty to do at Rocky River Nature Center!

North Chagrin and South Chagrin reservations will have many special event volunteer opportunities available in 2016. We will be celebrating the return of the 17 year cicada on June 4 with Cicada Invasion at the Shelterhouse in South Chagrin reservation. August 20 will be our exciting Reptile, Amphibian & Fun event also at the Shelterhouse. Our annual Nature at Night will be held again on October 8 at North Chagrin Nature Center.

Volunteer, Gail T., assists during the Hoot-ennanny! special event at North WeChagrin are alsoNature seekingCenter dedicated Center Assistant/Front Desk volunteers to serve in February. on weekends and to provide back-up during vacation months. Training is required.

ROCKY RIVER NATURE CENTER

Volunteer, Lin M., assists as a Green Team volunteer at Rocky River Nature Center.

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PRSRTS TD U.S. POSTAGE PAID Cleveland, Ohio Permit No. 2911

4101 Fulton Parkway, Cleveland, OH 44144

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED DATED MATERIAL DO NOT DELAY

Fatima Allen VOLUNTEER SITE Trail Ambassador

Cleveland Metroparks Volunteer Fatima Allen How did you get involved with Cleveland Metroparks?

Fatima has been a volunteer with Cleveland Metroparks since 2012.

Fatima lives near North Chagrin Reservation and enjoys visiting the park, and feels it is important to support the organization. She shares, “I don’t think we understand how fortunate we are to have so much green space that we can freely enjoy.” To get involved, Fatima started as a special event volunteer at North Chagrin Nature Center in 2012 and then joined the Urban Beach Ambassador program in 2013. In 2014 the Urban Beach Ambassador program was merged into the Trail Ambassador program. Since that time, Fatima has logged close to 100 on-trail hours!

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Volunteer Vista 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.

FAVORITE VOLUNTEER ACTIVITY

WHY DO YOU VOLUNTEER?

Fatima states, “It is hard to pick one. I really enjoy volunteering as a Trail Ambassador.” As a Trail Ambassador Fatima has an opportunity to continuously interact with visitors. In addition, she shares, “I have been able to form friendships with other volunteers!”

In short, Fatima volunteers because she feels it is her civic duty. She does enjoy the rewards of meeting visitors, making new friends and being outdoors!

MOST MEMORABLE VOLUNTEER MOMENTS Fatima has assisted with special events in addition to her activity as a Trail Ambassador.

She feels that the special events at North Chagrin have been quite memorable since there are many chances for visitor interactions. She states, “I also spend a lot of time trying to outwit mosquitoes when I am outdoors!”

COMMENTS FROM PROGRAM/SITE STAFF Trail Ambassador coordinator, Tom Laskowski notes, “I was lucky enough to be the East Region Coordinator when Fatima joined us. Whenever I saw her name on the calendar I knew the visitors who would meet her on trail were in good hands with a friendly “hello” and a willingness to help.”

Current East Region Trail Ambassador coordinator, Becky MacKay, shares, “Fatima is friendly and very pleasant to work with and is a good Cleveland Metroparks representative.”