Our Parks depend on support from those who use and love them. Your contribution of time is one way to help Cincinnati Parks maintain our status as one of the top urban park systems in the country. From working out in the parks with dirty hands to engaging the community for special events to administrative tasks – there are opportunities for everyone. We have one-time and ongoing opportunities available to provide you with a rewarding and satisfying volunteer experience.
Krohn Conservatory hosts a nationally recognized showcase of more than 3,500 plant species from around the world. Our permanent collection includes desert plants, tropical specimens, Bonsai trees, rare orchids, carnivorous plants and exotic fruit trees.
Krohn Conservatory was built in 1933 at the height of the Art Deco era. Boasting five unique floral shows annually, including the ever-popular “Butterfly Show,” which can be viewed mid-March through mid-June. During that time, thousands of butterflies are free to fly throughout the show room in a specially-themed garden.
Volunteers support the day to day operations of the facility, help with changing out floral displays, support events and provide educational interpretation as docents, and welcome guests as ambassadors.
There is a tremendous need for outdoor enthusiasts to help maintain urban parks and greenspaces throughout by:
Horticulture assistance – mulching, weeding, litter removal, varying tasks depending on season
Removing honeysuckle and other invasive plants
Trail maintenance
Removing and/or replacing ground cover
Planting flowers and trees
Cincinnati Parks enlists the invaluable assistance of teen volunteers to serve in the Counselors-In-Training Program. Designed for teens, it’s an awesome opportunity to learn new skills in a fun, safe environment. Our Counselors-In-Training (CIT) assist group leaders during games, give guidance during crafts time, and provide an additional watchful eye during hikes and other engaging activities. A CIT may also be paired as a “buddy” with a special needs child who requires more personal attention during camp activities. This volunteer opportunity is a great chance for teens to become engaged in their community and build their leadership skills.
REQUIREMENTS:
Must be at least 13 years old
Complete the application process
Send one personal reference email
Show respect for the environment, enjoy being outdoors in all weather conditions and have a desire to interact with children
Are you interested in supporting the Cincinnati Parks, band have organizational skills, administrative talents, or would prefer to help "behind the scenes"? CincyParks welcomes the enthusiasm and support of individuals that want to be a part of our leadership teams, help administratively, and advocate for our public lands. Opportunities include:
Cincinnati Parks depends on the support of volunteers in our endless efforts to combat the impact of invasive plant species throughout our parks system. Cincinnati Parks makes up 10% of the city's land mass, including thousands of acres of forest and woodland areas, we are faced with acres of honeysuckle, invasive vines, garlic mustard, lesser celandine and other aggressive and stubborn non-native plant species. Our mighty, but limited staff cannot not consistently attend to the aggressive nature of these plants without community involvement.
Volunteers are organized by staff and community leaders. This structured program offers a wide range of opportunity for volunteers to engage in our efforts of habitat restoration and the preservation of our natural areas. Volunteers work alongside staff and volunteers on service projects from an introductory and novice level to becoming trained and established as a Land Steward, holding a license to apply pesticide, certify volunteers in pesticide application, and managing the long-term land management plan of a Cincinnati Parks designated area.
Cincinnati Parks welcome the help and talents of a wide variety. The gifts of many talented, pragmatic, devoted volunteers enhance our parks and programming in invaluble ways.
If you have a knack for crafting, building, photography, creative writing, data entry, crunching numbers, organizing, scheduling, sewing, acting, playing, technology, or anything you'd like to share - please check out what these interesting or unusual ways volunteers help us! If you see something missing - contact our Volunteer Coordinator.
Activity | Shifts | Start | End | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Mask Makers | 1 | |||
Multi-Media Support Team | 1 | |||
Photgraphy, Videography & Editing | 1 | |||
Tree Catalog Project | 0 | |||
Virtual Administrative Support | 0 | |||
Cincinnati Parks depends on the support of volunteers in our endless efforts to combat the impact of invasive plant species throughout our parks system. Cincinnati Parks makes up 10% of the city's land mass, including thousands of acres of forest and woodland areas, we are faced with acres of honeysuckle, invasive vines, garlic mustard, lesser celandine and other aggressive and stubborn non-native plant species. Our mighty, but limited staff cannot not consistently attend to the aggressive nature of these plants without community involvement.
Volunteers are organized by staff and community leaders. This structured program offers a wide range of opportunity for volunteers to engage in our efforts of habitat restoration and the preservation of our natural areas. Volunteers work alongside staff and volunteers on service projects from an introductory and novice level to becoming trained and established as a Land Steward, holding a license to apply pesticide, certify volunteers in pesticide application, and managing the long-term land management plan of a Cincinnati Parks designated area.
The roles and requiremnts of this program are outlined below:
Introductory volunteer:
CPB Trained Service Person:
Site Manager:
Land Steward:
Activity | Shifts | Start | End | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Alms Park Allies - Invasive Removal Work Days | 2 | 3/20/2021 | 4/24/2021 | |
California Woods - Forest Restoration Series | 2 | 3/13/2021 | 4/10/2021 | |
California Woods - Green Up Day | 1 | 4/24/2021 | 4/24/2021 | |
Invasive Removal | 1 | |||
Northside Greenspace - Invasive Removal Projects & Program Events | 6 | 4/10/2021 | 11/6/2021 | |
CPAC Mission: To build and maintain public support for Cincinnati Parks by providing feedback to the Cincinnati Park Board and exchanging and sharing information and providing mutual support between park advisory councils.
Activity | Shifts | Start | End | |
---|---|---|---|---|
CUF Area Parks | 1 | |||
Mt. Airy Forest Advisory Council | 1 | |||
Mt. Echo Advisory Council | 1 | |||
Preserve Burnet Woods | 1 | |||
The Friends of Alms Park | 1 | |||
Activity | Shifts | Start | End | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Rosie Chair | 1 | |||
Activity | Shifts | Start | End | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Krohn Conservatory Grounds Assistance | 0 | |||
Krohn Conservatory Horticulture Help | 0 | |||
Krohn Conservatory Outreach Capstone | 0 | |||
Krohn Crafters | 1 | |||
The purpose of the Deer Program is to reduce (not eliminate) the number of deer in order to restore the health of our parks and to sustain long-term biodiversity and native forest plant species.
The Cincinnati Park Board has a responsibility to conserve the natural resources under it’s ownership for future generations to enjoy. The overpopulation of deer severely threatens those natural resources by reducing the diversity of plant life, including seedling trees that would become our future forest, and the wildlife that depend upon those resources. We feel that reducing the deer population is a key component of managing our natural resources and maintaining biodiversity.
Each year more than a hundred licensed, qualified bow hunters volunteer hours and skills to support the deer management program.
For more information about the deer management program, follow this link to the FAQ page on our website.
Activity | Shifts | Start | End | |
---|---|---|---|---|
2020/2021 Bow Hunting Season | 1 | 7/27/2020 | 3/31/2021 | |
Activity | Shifts | Start | End | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Mt. Airy Trail Runners - Trail Work Days | 3 | 3/28/2021 | 4/25/2021 | |
Trail Maintenance | 1 | |||
Activity | Shifts | Start | End | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Arboretum Hort Helper | 86 | 3/2/2021 | 12/23/2021 | |
Smale Gardening Group | 30 | 3/23/2021 | 10/26/2021 | |
Activity | Shifts | Start | End | |
---|---|---|---|---|
CIT - Councelor In Training | 1 | 5/1/2021 | 8/14/2021 | |
EAGLE SCOUT PROJECTS | 1 | |||
"To conserve, manage, sustain and enhance parks' natural and cultural resources and public green spaces for the enjoyment, enlightenment and enrichment of the Cincinnati community."
The mission of the Cincinnati Board of Park Commissioners is “to conserve, manage, sustain, and enhance parks’ natural and cultural resources and public greenspace for the enjoyment, enlightenment and enrichment of the Cincinnati community.“ Our vision is to serve as a leader in using Cincinnati parks to build better lives and better communities. The Park Board’s guiding principles are for the parks to be clean, safe, reliable, green, beautiful and enriching.
Cincinnati Parks C.A.R.E.S
Creating Economic Impacts
Advancing Conservation
Rejuvenating Health and Wellness
Enhancing Quality of Life
Sustaining Social Equity