Dakota County, MN

Dakota County partners with the University of Minnesota Extension to deliver even more practical education and research right in your county.

Today's most pressing issues cross state and world boundaries, requiring strong partnerships, focused investments and diverse perspectives from multiple disciplines. Extension researchers and educators engage individuals and organizations in asking the challenging questions to discover science-based answers that make a difference.

The Adopt-a-Highway Program looks for volunteers to collect litter along designated segments of County highways to help keep roadsides clean. Coordination of the program and supplies (safety vests, trash bags and training) are provided by the Dakota County Transportation Department.

Community Corrections has a broad range of volunteer and intern opportunities available. We offer unique opportunities, whether you want to contribute to your community or are a student looking for work experience to fulfill academic requirements. Position openings vary throughout the year.

Examples of volunteer and intern opportunities

• Help with juvenile offenders engaged in community projects
• Assist probation officers in juvenile or adult supervision
• Assist juveniles participating in extended day treatment
• Perform computer queries on information systems
• Help manage paperwork  

Community Corrections has a broad range of volunteer and intern opportunities available. We offer unique opportunities, whether you want to contribute to your community or are a student looking for work experience to fulfill academic requirements. Position openings vary throughout the year.

Examples of volunteer and intern opportunities

• Help with juvenile offenders engaged in community projects
• Assist probation officers in juvenile or adult supervision
• Assist juveniles participating in extended day treatment
• Perform computer queries on information systems
• Help manage paperwork  

The Master Recycler/Composter program provides training on waste reduction, recycling, composting and solid waste.

Graduates agree to volunteer 30 hours putting their skills to work. Graduates have the opportunity to staff informational booths at community events, make presentations, and work on special projects in their neighborhoods, schools, and workplaces.

The Wetland Health Evaluation Program engages citizen volunteers to help monitor wetlands in their community. Since 1997, WHEP volunteers have been monitoring wetland health throughout Dakota and Hennepin counties. They provide important information to city and county planners, engineers, resource managers, and others.  The data is also used by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency to track wetland health throughout the Twin Cities metropolitan area. 

The Wetland Health Evaluation Program teaches citizen volunteers to become wetland monitors in their community. WHEP volunteers work in teams to evaluate the biological health of wetlands selected by their community. All training and equipment is provided.

For more information about this program, visit the MN WHEP website.

Please select the team (city) you want to join. If desired team is full, please join the nearest team to your home location that is still available. For help, please contact Garrett Zaffke at 651-438-4635.

Dakota County Citizen Advisory Committees support County government by involving citizens in the decision-making process, meeting requirements of state law, helping to define community norms and standards, providing technical expertise, serving as advocates, offering feedback, and reflecting the diverse interests of County clients and residents.

Heading Home Dakota is a 10 year plan to prevent and end homelessness, which was finalized in 2012. The work to create it included a variety of surveys and focus groups, a community retreat, analysis and utilization of data on homelessness in Dakota County, and the development of a strategic plan and an implementation guide to meet the needs in our community. Please check out our plan and join us in our effort to end homelessness in Dakota County!

DISCLAIMER: The positions listed below are not with Dakota County Volunteers but with another organization located in Dakota County. You may have to complete additional registration documentation with the host organization to fully apply for this opening. The organizations that host these opportunities take full responsibility for the management of the opportunities listed below. 

The Dakota County Historical Society continues to build upon the efforts of Fred E. Lawshe and others who have worked for the Society over the years. There are now over 25,000 objects in the museum’s collections and more than 20,000 photographs. Its publishing program, first begun in 1951 with a newsletter called Over the Years, now creates over 100 pages of original historical research a year. Its research library has one of the best collections of local history in Minnesota.

130 3rd Avenue North
South St. Paul, MN 55075
651-552-7548
Get Directions

Wednesday & Friday 9-5
Thursday 9-8
Saturday 10-3

This program is only for individuals who need to perform court-ordered community service hours. Please be aware that any other opportunity within the county library is not eligible for court-ordered community service hours unless otherwise noted.

Minimum Qualifications

• 12-18 years old
• Must be a Dakota County Resident
• Must be willing to work within our schedule, we will not make special arrangements to satisfy deadlines
• We cannot help fulfill hours related to a felony offense or violent misdemeanors

Address
1101 W County Road 42
Burnsville, MN 55306

Phone
952-891-0300

Regular Hours
Monday–Thursday: 9:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Friday–Saturday: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Sunday: 1:00 - 5:00 p.m.

Closed on holidays

Address
508 Third St.
Farmington, MN 55024

Phone
651-438-0250

Regular Hours
Monday–Wednesday: Noon - 8:00 p.m.
Thursday–Saturday: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Sunday: Closed

Closed on holidays

Address
14955 Galaxie Ave.
Apple Valley, MN 55124

Phone
952-891-7045

Hours
Monday–Thursday: 9:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Friday and Saturday: 9:00 a.m.– 5:00 p.m.
Sunday: 1:00 – 5:00 p.m.

Closed on holidays

Address
20085 Heritage Dr
Lakeville, MN 55044

Phone
952-891-0360

Regular Hours
Monday–Thursday: 10 a.m.–8:30 p.m.
Friday and Saturday: 10 a.m.–5:30 p.m.
Sunday: 1–5 p.m.

Closed on holidays

Address
8098 Blaine Ave
Inver Grove Heights, MN 55076

Phone
651-554-6840

Regular Hours
Monday–Wednesday: Noon – 8:00 p.m.
Thursday–Saturday: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Sunday: Closed

Closed on holidays

Address
1490 South Frontage Rd.
Hastings, MN 55033

Phone
651-438-0200

Regular Hours
Monday–Thursday: 9:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Friday and Saturday: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Sunday: 1:00 – 5:00 p.m.

Closed on holidays

Address
14395 S. Robert Trail
Rosemount, MN 55068

Phone
651-480-1200

Regular Hours
Monday–Thursday: 9:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Friday and Saturday: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Sunday: 1:00 – 5:00 p.m.

Closed on holidays.

Address
199 East Wentworth Ave
West St. Paul, MN 55118

Phone
651-554-6800

Regular Hours
Monday–Thursday: 9:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Friday and Saturday: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Sunday: 1:00 – 5:00 p.m.

Closed on holidays.

Address
1340 Wescott Road
Eagan MN 55123-1029

Phone
651-450-2900

Regular Hours
Monday–Thursday: 9:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Friday and Saturday: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Sunday: 1:00 – 5:00 p.m.

Closed on holidays

Dakota Woods Dog Park is a 16-acre, fenced, wooded park and a great place to let your dog run and exercise off leash. The park is centrally located in Dakota County, just east of Rosemount, MN. 

Lake Byllesby Regional Park is nestled in the scenic Cannon River Valley on Lake Byllesby Reservoir, the largest lake in southern Dakota County. This beautiful park offers vast open space for a variety of year-round active sports or quiet recreation for company picnics, family reunions or other large and small group gatherings. And don't forget the lake, public access points allow you to enjoy the water as you take in the sheer cliff facings that are hundreds of years old or catch a glimpse of the Lake Byllesby Dam.

Lebanon Hills Regional Park is the largest park in the Dakota County park system. Containing almost 2,000 acres, the park offers miles of trails and many lakes for year-round outdoor sports, recreation and environmental education.

Miesville Ravine Park Reserve is a large nature preserve that provides miles of trails for you to enjoy the picturesque Cannon River Valley. Located at the confluence of Trout Brook and the Cannon River near Miesville, this beautiful park offers the feel of scenic southeastern Minnesota in our very own backyard.

Enjoy the feel of northern Minnesota from this scenic park that overlooks the Mississippi River. A rest stop along the Great River Road, Spring Lake Park Reserve is the "hidden jewel" of the Upper Mississippi River Valley. The Schaar’s Bluff Trailhead and picnic area provide a scenic overlook of the Mississippi River Valley as well as access to summer hiking and winter ski trails.

This charming 57-acre park provides a quiet get-a-way in the midst of the West St. Paul, Minnesota area. The park features a large picnic area that overlooks Thompson Lake and miles of wooded trails that connect to the North Urban Regional Trail — a trail system that links Thompson County Park to Kaposia Park in South St. Paul and to the Mississippi River Regional Trail.

Thompson County Park is also the home of the Dakota Lodge — a four-season event center that is perfect for weddings, reunions, meetings, banquets, retreats, parties and much more.

Dakota County’s newest park, 456-acre Whitetail Woods Regional Park, is located in Empire Township in the center of Dakota County, one mile north of the Vermillion River. The park is bordered by the Vermillion Highlands Modified Wildlife Management Area to the east and the Vermillion River Wildlife and Aquatic Management areas to the south. Privately owned property lies directly north of the park. The University of Minnesota’s UMORE Park is located to the northeast and east of the park.

The American Red Cross and Dakota County partner to offer onsite blood donations at our main building locations throughout the county. 

The Public Health Department provides a limited number of opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students from educational institutions that have a current agreement or contract with Dakota County.

• Preference will be given to students living in Dakota County.
• Preference may be given to students currently enrolled at local schools, or schools within Minnesota.
• A written agreement/contract must be in place between Dakota County and the college/university before the student will be accepted.
• An interview may be requested before accepting a student.
• Written and verbal contact from the school instructor is required before placement.

The following dates will serve as guidelines in making placement decisions:

• Fall Semester - Request must be received by June 1
• Spring Semester - Request must be received by November 1
• Summer Semester - Request must be received by March 1

Contact us at Public.Health@co.dakota.mn.us or 651-554-6156 if you have any questions.

The Dakota County Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) is part of a national network of volunteers that are trained to assist with emergency and non-emergency public health events.  Dakota County Public Health is always looking for engaged and active community members to help strengthen the county’s preparedness capabilities and overall health.

Take the first step. The Simple Steps Walking Program is a great way to boost energy, reduce stress and improve your health. Regular physical activity helps prevent chronic diseases like diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer and can help you maintain a healthy weight. 

Check out the tools and resources below for walking tips and a walking log you can download.

https://www.co.dakota.mn.us/HealthFamily/HealthyLiving/FitnessExercise/Pages/simple-steps.aspx

The Dakota County Sheriff's Explorer Program, run by the Dakota County Sheriff's Office in partnership with Learning For Life, is a non-profit organization dedicated to introducing young adults (14 - 20 years of age) to Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice careers. Explorers are trained by department advisors in law enforcement techniques, community policing, crime prevention and first aid. This program helps prepare participants for a career in law enforcement and beyond.

The Dakota County Sheriff’s Office enhances the training and education of students pursuing careers in law enforcement, corrections and criminal justice, so students gain practical experience. Interns have the opportunity to shadow deputies within various divisions in effort to provide them with a holistic view of the many opportunities available at the Dakota County Sheriff’s Office.