On April 21st – 27th here at MetroParks and across the country we celebrate National Volunteer Week. Volunteer Week’s a time to reflect on, highlight, and thank our volunteers for their achievements – so much of what we do wouldn’t be possible without their acts of service. That simple word “act” to me is at the core of all the things our volunteers do. No matter how big or small the task all volunteers chose to act and help make the MetroParks better for us all.
Whether it is Desiree N. and her children Lillian and Cameron who serve year-round as Farm Caretakers at the Chrisholm MetroPark Historic Farmstead; Trail Ambassador Jeff G. who has hiked and inspected over 300 miles worth of MetroParks’ trails in the last two years alone; Steve B who takes meticulous notes on the conditions of our Bluebird and Tree Swallow populations as a Nest Box Monitor; or seven Badin High school students who have signed up to do a little bit of everything over the last two years-from invasive species removal to helping kids with crafts at Pioneer Life and pulling trash from the Great Miami River, volunteers enhance almost every aspect of what we do.
There’s a famous quote attributed to Theodore Roosevelt (though in his autobiography he credits it to “Squire Bill” Widener): “Do what you can, with what you’ve got, where you are.” That I believe is at the core of what and why most volunteers do what they do. Life for many of us is so busy between work, family and friends – it seems like there’s barely time for anything else. Yet our volunteers make time to care for our amazing green spaces, plants, animals, and the human stories that fill them here at the MetroParks. And while they’re all superheroes in my book, they’ve all got one simpler thing in common: they’ve all chosen to act and do what they can, with what they’ve got, where they are.
Especially during Volunteer Month, I wouldn’t be doing my job unless I gave everyone reading this who’s not already volunteering a call to action.
If you love working with students, there’s a volunteer opportunity for you. If you have a passion for animals there’s a volunteer opportunity for you. If you hate honeysuckle there’s volunteer opportunity for you. Volunteer by yourself or with your work, church or youth group. Whether you’re with us for for thirty minutes a month or a couple hours a day there’s a volunteer opportunity for you.
To all our volunteers past, present, and future – enjoy this week, thank a volunteer if you see them in action, and reflect on all your achievements. Once again, thanks for choosing to act with the MetroParks.
About the Author:
Daniel Clepper is MetroParks’ Manager of Volunteer Resources.
