Cincinnati Parks

Support the restoration progress at California Woods Nature Preserve 

Join our team for one date or all of them. We will restore our beautiful native forest by killing invasive plants or stopping their spread. From late Fall through Winter and early Spring we'll cut and stack bush honeysuckle and other woody invasives. In Spring we'll pull and bag garlic mustard. In late Summer and early Fall we’ll pull and bag Japanese stilt grass and Japanese chaff flower, and throughout the year we may engage in other habitat restoration projects. This will usually be off trail in wooded, often hilly terrain.

2026 Schedule of Events

• Monday, January 19, 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.  (3hrs) MLK Day of Service *CANCELLED DUE TO WIND CHILL ADVISORY 
• Saturday, January 24, 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. (3hrs) *CANCELLED DUE TO WINTER STORM FORECAST
• Saturday, February 21, 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. (3hrs)
• Saturday, March 7, 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. (3hrs)
• Saturday, April 25, 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. (4hrs) GARLIC MUSTARD BLITZ 1
• Saturday, May 2, 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. (4hrs) GARLIC MUSTARD BLITZ 2
• Saturday, May 9, 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. (4hrs) GARLIC MUSTARD BLITZ 3
• Saturday, August 15, 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. (3hrs) 
• Saturday, September 19, 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. (3hrs)
• Saturday, September 26, 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. (4hrs) 
• Saturday, October 10, 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. (4hrs)
• Saturday, November 7, 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. (3hrs) 
• Saturday, December 19, 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. (3 hours) 

For each of these project dates, staff will greet volunteers outside the nature center.

Park staff will guide the group. Use our gloves or bring your own, remember to bring water, and dress for going off trail. Open to adults and children ages 10 and up accompanied by an adult. 

Volunteers should be prepared for the weather (lightweight &/or layered clothing), wear long pants. Close-toed shoes are required. Recommended: Work gloves (if you own them), sunscreen, refillable water bottle. There will be work gloves available to borrow and a water on-site for volunteers to refill bottles. Cincinnati Parks discourages single use plastics.

** UC Registration **

For UC students who use the Center for Community Engagement portal, please use the link below to register. You will receive a confirmation email. Thank you!  

California Woods Nature Preserve - Forest Restoration Series | Center for Community Engagement