Winter/Spring 2016
UPCOMING EVENTS AND OPPORTUNITIES JANUARY 10 Winteriffic
MILL STREAM RUN RESERVATION
FEBRUARY 15 Fairy Tales & Frogs
CLEVELAND METROPARKS ZOO
MARCH 5-20 History of Maple Sugaring ROCKY RIVER RESERVATION
MARCH 15 Annual Return of the
Buzzards
HINCKLEY RESERVATION
MARCH 19 World Water Day
WEST CREEK RESERVATION
APRIL 23 Party for the Planet
THE VOLUNTEER SURVEY SAYS…
In October 2015 a Volunteer Survey was distributed to all active volunteers! Thanks to the 33% of volunteers who took the time to respond and share feedback about their volunteer experience and the Volunteer Services Strategic Plan. Below is a short summary of some of the findings and responses from the survey. Please know that your suggestions and feedback are welcome at any time by contacting Volunteer Services staff and/or your on-site volunteer coordinator! Of those who responded to the survey: • 12 years is the average time as a volunteer with Cleveland Metroparks (CM) and/or Cleveland Metroparks Zoo (CMZ) • 68% are between 55-74 years • 90% are proud to volunteer with CM/CMZ • 83% feel they add value to CM/CMZ • 84% prefer staff saying thank you as an excellent way to show appreciation • 50% were aware of the Cleveland Metroparks Strategic Plan (please review the organization’s strategic plan under the “About Us” tab at www.clevelandmetroparks.com)
CLEVELAND METROPARKS ZOO
MAY 8 Mother’s Day at the Zoo CLEVELAND METROPARKS ZOO
MAY 21 Children’s Fishing Derby
OHIO & ERIE CANAL RESERVATION
MAY 22 Children’s Fishing Derby
MILL STREAM RUN RESERVATION (WALLACE LAKE)
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.
Special Events are fun! Zoo volunteers (L-R), Ann Snyder, Sandy Emery and Kathleen Kijek volunteered to represent Cleveland Metroparks in the 2015 St. Patrick’s Day parade!
Cleveland Metroparks Volunteer Services 2277 West Ridgewood Drive | Parma, OH 44134
Top 3 Reasons Why Cleveland Metroparks Volunteers volunteer: 1. Being Outdoors 2. Organization’s mission 3. Social opportunities Top 3 Reasons Why Cleveland Metroparks Volunteers continue volunteering: 1. Organization’s mission 2. Volunteer activity options 3. Interaction with other volunteers Newsletters/Updates – the majority of volunteers prefer to receive newsletters/correspondence via email. Please note, for those who do not have email, general correspondence will still be mailed or posted at your volunteer site. Social Media – the volunteers who responded prefer not to use social media as a means of communication. However, as part of the Volunteer Services Strategic Plan, some social media opportunities will become available to communicate with a variety of audiences. Volunteer Services Strategic Plan – volunteers rated the following strategic plan objectives as the highest: • Increase underrepresented populations • Develop e-learning volunteer options • Develop online sign up options • Expand citizen science opportunities • Provide optional volunteer learning opportunities Some of the most valuable feedback came in the form of stories. Volunteers were asked to share a memorable story from their volunteer activity. The stories cover a spectrum of experiences, emotions, responses and memories. Thanks to all who shared! Stories are an invaluable tool to relay the impact that volunteers have on the organization and community, well beyond numbers and hours! Thanks to each of you for the precious gift of your time! All your efforts and services to the Park District and the Zoo are greatly appreciated. Best wishes to all for a happy and healthy 2016! Heather Triplett Director of Volunteer Services 1
GOLF SERVICES
Cleveland Metroparks eight golf courses offer a variety of volunteer opportunities ranging from merchandising the pro shops with new golf apparel and hard goods, to working with junior golfers participating in league play, or even helping with concession and catering events! Volunteer rangers monitor the pace of play and ensure golfers enjoy their round at Cleveland Metroparks.
A note from Sean McHugh, Executive Director of Golf: “In 2015, over 85 volunteers donated 11,736 hours of their time to our eight golf courses. As I am writing this, I am trying to fathom how we could manage without such a dedicated group of individuals. During the peak of daylight savings time, the golf courses may be open as long as 16 hours in a day. Our volunteers work during these long days to ensure our guests enjoy their round of golf. Some duties of the volunteers include; helping with staging and washing golf carts, patrolling the course as rangers, making sure a lost ball can be found, assisting to keep play moving along at a reasonable pace and last, but not least, to bring that welcome glass of water on a hot day. Our volunteers are the front line to “first impressions;” they are the fabric of Cleveland Metroparks, making sure our guests have a very memorable and enjoyable experience. As mentioned earlier, it is hard to imagine how we would operate on a daily basis without volunteers, it would be very difficult! Thank you for all you do!”
OUTDOOR RECREATION
Interested in the outdoors? If so, consider joining the Outdoor Recreation Volunteer crew to meet new friends, learn new skills, and help deliver top-notch outdoor recreation programs. Outdoor Recreation’s vast program offerings provide year round, natural resource based, active outdoor recreation experiences through classes, programs, events, and trips. Volunteer program assistants help with kayaking, mountain biking,
backpacking, stand up paddleboarding, land navigation, GPS classes, powerboat water trail monitoring, as well as snowshoeing, cross country skiing, and unique special events. Great volunteers are essential in helping us provide safe, high-quality programs while learning more about these great, lifetime activities. If you love working with people and are interested in any of these activities or are just looking for more information, email us at or@clevelandmetroparks.com or call Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. at 216-341-1704 and we will be glad to talk to you. To learn more or to participate in a program yourself, visit clevelandmetroparks.com/or. Meet new friends and learn new skills while volunteering with Outdoor Recreation!
NEW! SUMMER YOUTH VOLUNTEER PROGRAM
A Summer Youth Volunteer Program will begin in 2016. This pilot program will be a special opportunity for motivated youth ages 10-15 to give back and make a difference throughout the Park District. This opportunity is designed as an introduction to volunteering with Cleveland Metroparks. Therefore, it is only open to individuals who are not already registered volunteers with Volunteer Services. Most volunteer opportunities will be on weekdays with one session per month on Saturdays during the summer. Individuals interested in service projects must commit to 5 volunteer sessions in July and August, with a required kickoff in June. Summer Youth Volunteers will be provided with meaningful volunteer opportunities throughout various reservations and centers throughout the Park District. For the pilot year, activities will be primarily focused in the central reservations. Families will be responsible for transportation of participating youth volunteers to service projects. Participation in the summer volunteer program provides youth with leadership development and offers ongoing special event and volunteer opportunities following the conclusion of the program. Interested youth who will be 10 – 15 this summer need to complete an application by Friday, April 8. For more information, visit: clevelandmetroparks.com/Main/Volunteer.aspx
TRAIL AMBASSADORS
Since 2005, Cleveland Metroparks and its visitors have benefitted from the service of Trail Ambassador (formerly known as Trail Monitor) volunteers. These volunteers monitor Park District trails and Lakefront properties, to interact with visitors, alert management crews to any hazardous situation and be first responders in emergencies on the trails. Trail Ambassadors are pairs of volunteers who are First Aid/CPR certified and hike or bike throughout the Park District year round. Trail Ambassador volunteers are expected to donate a minimum of 40 on-trail hours each year. Optional winter monitoring is available after completion of the first regular season. Convenient online scheduling allows volunteers to choose their date, time and monitor location. In 2016, Trail Ambassador volunteers, age 30 and older, are invited to participate in this fun and rewarding volunteer activity. Applications will be accepted through February 12, 2016 with training and certification classes held in April. A limited number of volunteer slots are available for this activity. For an application or additional information about this opportunity, contact Cleveland Metroparks Volunteer Services at 440-253-2145 or volinfo@clevelandmetroparks.com. Outdoor Recreation volunteer, Karen Farago assists during a Kayak I class. 2
TRAILS DIVISION
Trails Division volunteer involvement experienced continued growth in 2015. The Trail Building volunteer group expanded in participant numbers and variety of projects. 2015 highlights include: •
The completion of the Touchstone Loop of the Bedford Mountain Bike & Hiking Trail. This portion of the trail allowed volunteers to apply sustainable trail construction principles learned in a spring workshop. Construction began on the Forbes Woods Hiking Trail project. In the spring, volunteers helped clear the trail. The fall volunteer project focused on trail finishing and site restoration. Smaller restoration projects were performed on the North Chagrin and Ohio & Erie Canal Reservations trails.
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Volunteers had the opportunity to attend advanced trail building workshops with two national experts on sustainable natural surface trail design. Influential trail author and designer Troy Scott Parker put on a comprehensive two-day workshop in April, focusing on volunteer trail vocabulary, and again in September focusing on Advanced Trails Division volunteers and staff (L-R), Mike Wallace, Milan Green, Rick Oyen, Teresa Bollinger, Natural Surface Trail Design concepts. In and Kara Browning, work on the Forbes Woods Hiking Trail project. August, Mike Shields, a former National Park Service Trail Boss with over 50 years of up and maintain program equipment, provide safety and assistance on hikes, experience, came down from Alaska to host a workshop for volunteers. and care for the animals that may be featured. It is truly a team effort at the His emphasis on soil composition furthered volunteer appreciation Stewardship Center! of factors that impact trail sustainability. These educational opportunities allowed our volunteers to interact with these presenters CLEVELAND METROPARKS ZOO in a small group setting out in the field. Cleveland Metroparks Zoo is a year-round venue for families, groups and individuals and Zoo Volunteers have a major role in the guest experiences. The Section Monitor program was formalized in 2015 at both the Bedford For example, volunteers are assigned to animal encounters in what we and Royalview Mountain Bike & Hiking Trails. Volunteers monitor the trails call “Get-Close Programs” for Preschool Safaris, Family Discoveries and on a daily basis, update the trail condition report on Cleveland Metroparks educational programs at the African Elephant Crossing Exhibit. website, contribute data on trail wear patterns, and advocate for the trails Cleveland Metroparks Zoo offers two tiers of ongoing volunteer service: when interacting with trail users. Service and Docent volunteers: Trail building projects in 2016 include completion of the Forbes Woods Service Volunteer Hiking Trail, projects on existing trails in the Bedford and Mill Stream Run Service volunteers, along with Guest Service staff, are integral to Reservations, and new trail projects in Rocky River Reservation. All of which ensuring that Zoo guests are informed about the facility, programs and will include opportunities for Trails Division volunteers! events. Whether dispensing maps, other hand-outs, general information WATERSHED STEWARDSHIP CENTER or just a smile, Service volunteers enhance a guest’s Zoo experience. The mission of the Watershed Stewardship Center (WSC) is to enhance Docent Volunteer and protect the health of our urban watersheds through scientific discovery, Docent volunteers receive additional training and act as informal active restoration and management, education, and innovative community educators. Docent volunteers assist the education division by providing participation. Since “Stewardship” is our middle name, it’s no surprise that “Get Close” experiences on grounds, and educating visitors through environmental restoration, habitat management, and community participation interpretive posting at the Zoo’s major exhibits. is a major part of what WSC volunteers are involved in. In 2016, the WSC Only volunteers who have completed the zoo-specific volunteer training may looks forward to hosting a series of workshops intended to train volunteers, participate as a service volunteer which paves the way to being considered staff and individuals in the local community about proper tree care. This for docent training. Anyone interested in becoming a zoo-specific volunteer capability will really round out the opportunities and activities undertaken by should contact Cleveland Metroparks Volunteer Services at 440-253-2145 our Green Team volunteers. or clevelandmetroparks.com for more information. The next zoo-specific But to host workshops like Tree Steward training and our many other training will be held in April. The deadline to apply for 2016 is March 1. programs, the WSC relies on many Program Assistants to provide muchThe Zoo also utilizes some one-time volunteers to assist during needed support. For every guest speaker or naturalist engaging a group on special events! a hike, there are many volunteers who register our program participants, set 3
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
Dennis Jones VOLUNTEER SITE
Mastick Woods Golf Course
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
Cleveland Metroparks Volunteer Dennis Jones How did you get involved with Cleveland Metroparks? Dennis shares, “Cleveland Metroparks has been a big part of my life since I was a child. I have always enjoyed and lived near the parks.” Even when deciding to buy his home, Dennis looked for a location that was both close to the parks and the lake! In 2010, Dennis was fairly new to golf so he decided to learn more about the game while also giving back as a volunteer golf ranger. Even though Dennis is not physically able to play much anymore, he enjoys watching other people play during his volunteer shifts and has now contributed 800 hours over 5 years as a golf ranger!
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Dennis truly enjoys being out on the golf course as a ranger! He appreciates that Mastick Woods caters to “ordinary” players and enjoys seeing and getting to know the “regulars” during his shift on Mondays and Wednesdays. As a ranger, Dennis interacts with all guests on the course. He has helped countless guests look for lost car keys and cell phones, while also helping “his” senior women’s league during their weekly outings!
MOST MEMORABLE VOLUNTEER MOMENTS Dennis has had a variety of memorable moments! One situation involved assisting one of the senior women’s league ladies find her golf cart. There were four ladies and four carts at one hole. Dennis recalls, “One of the carts had to be hers! We found that she had put her pink coat over her blue golf bag. She was looking for the color blue so she couldn’t find her cart!” On another occasion, the same guest found herself in a dangerous situation. Fortunately Dennis was keeping an eye on her from the first tee box when she ventured onto a slippery culvert to get her ball. Dennis raced over just as she fell and hit her
head. Luckily she was ok! Finally, Dennis recalls a strange situation, “There was a young girl riding her bike all over the course. The employees were trying to catch up with her on their mowers until I intercepted her and got her to move off the course onto the regular trails.”
WHY DO YOU VOLUNTEER?
When asked why Dennis volunteers, his answer is simple and to the point. He states, “I want to give back since the park has given me so much enjoyment over the years. I also enjoy meeting and talking with people. These people become my friends! I look forward to seeing them every week!”
COMMENTS FROM PROGRAM/SITE STAFF
Comments from Mike Inman, Mastick Woods Clubhouse Supervisor: “Dennis has created quite a following during his time at Mastick Woods. He knows most of the regular golfers on a first name basis and provides outstanding guest services. Dennis is always friendly, welcoming, caring, and willing to assist with any project. Mastick Woods is truly fortunate that Dennis decided to volunteer his time with us!”