Cincinnati Parks

COUNSELOR IN TRAINING PROGRAM (C.I.T.) 2024

Applications for the 2024 CIT program are closed. Check back in January 2025 for details.

Program Changes for 2024:

New CITs: Sign up for one week initially; additional weeks based on camp director approval.
All CITs: Limited to three weeks initially, with more weeks available from June 21, 2024.

Why Become a C.I.T.?

• Earn volunteer hours
• Develop leadership skills
• Enhance your resume
• Positively impact campers by assisting with games, crafts, and hikes

Requirements:

• Age: 13+ before camp starts
• Commitment: At least one week (M-F)
• Schedule: Half-day (9:30 AM – 11:30 AM / 9:30 AM – 1:30 PM) or Full-day (9:00 AM – 3:30 PM)

Application Steps:

1. Create a Better Impact account: [https://bttr.im/0lxi1 ]
   • Please be sure to include correct date of birth, emergency contact information, and t-shirt size.
2. Complete CIT Application Supplemental Questions: [http://bttr.im/tarjr ]
3. Submit a Community Reference: [https://explorenature.regfox.com/cit-personal-reference ]
4. Sign-up for an online interview: [https://bttr.im/k5gj6 ]

More Information:

Watch the testimonial video: [https://youtu.be/lC0tFg_POtk ]

CONTACT: 

Joe Brenzel, joseph.brenzel@cincinnati-oh.gov or call/text 1(513)-787-0398

General Questions: parks.ne@cincinnati-oh.gov or call 513-321-6070

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 manage 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 other volunteers on service projects from an introductory or novice level up to eventually becoming trained and established as a Volunteer Site Leader, which can include holding a license to apply pesticide, certify volunteers in pesticide application, and becoming an integral part of implementing the long-term land management plan of a Cincinnati Parks designated area. 

The roles and requirements of this program are outlined below:

Introductory Volunteer:

• One - time or occasional service event volunteer

CPB Trained Service Person:

• Minimum of 10 hours logged at a supervised Cincinnati Parks conservation site (all sites are listed in this section of the portal)
• Complete the online Pesticide Application Training  
• Successfully pass a TSP Qualifier event and pass the 
• Submit the Cincinnati Parks TSP Indemnification Policy
• Volunteers must be 18 or older

Volunteer Group Leader:

• Must be a CPB Trained Service Person
• Is coordinated by the Volunteer Site Leader 
• Responsible for submitting a Volunteer Group Service Report and pesticide record for the day of their event

Volunteer Site Leader:

• Must be a CPB Trained Service Person
• Appointed by the Conservation and Land Managment (CLM) team
• Continues to attend trainings held by CLM in order to stay abreast of what is happening at our conservation sites 
• Serves as the primary point of contact between the Parks CLM team and a Cincinnati Parks Advisory Council (CPAC) 

To get started on the pesticide application program - follow this link to the virtual training:

http://bttr.im/j7wmh

The Pesticide Application Program is made possible by the generous contribution of our friends at the Cincinnati Parks Foundation.  

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.

Community driven support for our neighborhood parks. For decades, our amazing community leaders, CPAC's and local organizations have coordinated efforts to support staff in the work of prepping our parks for the season. Green Up Days are typically scheduled from March thru May. Tasks may include mulching, planting, big litter clean up efforts, picnic table painting & repair. 

If you do not see your neighborhood park listed and have a suggestion or desire to coordinate efforts - please reach out to Christyl @ christyl.johnson-roberts@cincinnati-oh.gov or call 513.240.5735.  

Cincinnati Parks have a long and distinguished tradition in Cincinnati. The city is fortunate to have a thriving system consisting of 5,000-plus acres of city parklands including five regional parks, 70 neighborhood parks, 34 natural areas, five neighborhood nature centers, 30 sites managed by the Cincinnati Recreation Commission, five parkways, 16 scenic overlooks, 2 arboretums, and 65 miles of hiking and bridle trails. Within this robust "city within a park", thousands of square footage of floral displays are created and maintained by a team of horticulturists that in no small way place the finishing beauty on the special destinations of Cincinnati Parks. 

We are organizing opportunities for volunteers to support the important work of Parks horticulture staff in select parks locations. Volunteers will assist Parks horticulturists with general horticultural needs (clearing, weeding, deadheading, light pruning, watering, and planting). This a great opportunity for anyone who is interested in public horticulture and enjoys working outdoors, and is comfortable engaging with the public to answer questions about our gardens. 

Some opportunities are team based and others have more autonomy, but in all cases the work is guided by our staff. The goal is to build an experienced group of volunteers to support efforts that keep our parks beautiful and healthy. All of these opportunities require an on-going commitment, minimum of one season, but hopefully more! 

When you register, you will have a brief interview with a volunteer coordinator or someone from the horticulture team. We want to ensure a good fit for all volunteers and the team. 

Located in the heart of Eden Park, Krohn Conservatory is Cincinnati’s nationally recognized indoor botanical garden that attracts over 200,000 visitors annually and is home to more than 3,500 plant species from around the world, including desert plants, Bonsai trees, tropical specimens, carnivorous plants, exotic fruit trees, and rare orchids.

Open year-round with ever-changing special exhibits and programs, the conservatory is the perfect place to volunteer during any season. Krohn Conservatory offers a wide variety of volunteer opportunities year-round!

General Opportunities at Krohn:

• Horticulture Helper
• Holiday Greeters
• Model Railroad 
• Greeter 
• Floater
• Special Events
• Crafts and Education
• Butterfly Show Door Guards

Want to learn more about these opportunities? All are welcome! 

Questions? Contact:  Deborah Lawhorn, Volunteer Coordinator, Krohn Conservatory

deborah.lawhorn@cincinnati-oh.gov

513.421.4086 

One of the biggest issues our staff faces is dealing with litter and dumping in all of our parks. Fortunately, we have dozens of volunteers that work on litter pick up in their neighborhood parks all year long. Cincinnati Parks also schedules clean up events and partners with community organizations that take initiative to host litter blitzes in our parks.

We welcome the support of individuals and groups of all sizes to address the issues of litter. 

Sign up for an scheduled event or to strike out on your own - we'll get your completely geared up and connected with district staff!