Opportunities From: Center for Community Engagement

Do you have an interest in board games?

We host a series of game nights every other Wednesday at the Krohn Conservatory from 6pm-8:30pm. The games typically have a botanical theme or are associated with the current floral show design. Up to 24 guests can join the games per event (6 tables of 4 players).

We need four volunteers to learn the games and work as proctors for each event. Each proctor will guide a table of up to four players in the rules of the selected game.

Requirements:

6/3: Mariposas 

6/17: Butterfly Garden 

7/1: Photosynthesis 

7/15: Papillon 

7/29: La Fleur 

9/9: Mycelia 

9/23: Bonsai 

10/7: Tea Garden 

11/4: Black Forest 

11/18: Botany 

Please contact marlene.fitzwater@cincinnati-oh.gov for further information or questions.

The Stowe Park Advisory Council launched efforts in 2025 to support the gardens and grounds of the Harriet Beecher Stowe House. Plans include improving gardens by removing invasive species, planting natives and installing educational signage. The CPAC is working in collaboration with the Harriet Beecher Stowe House leadership. 

2950 Gilbert Ave, Cincinnati OH 45206

Parking: The parking lot is very small—please leave spots for visitors who need accessible parking. There’s plenty of free street parking on Foraker Ave.

For more information about Stowe Park CPAC, please contact Chris Homan

Join NANA for Green Up Day to provide the TLC these community gateways and neighborhood parks require. 

Meet at Seasongood Square. Volunteers will focus on tasks such as mulching, litter removal and various tasks to beautify several park areas in North Avondale. 

Krohn Conservatory- Butterfly Show Destination Monarch,  May 9th - August 9th, 2026

Volunteers help monitor the entrance and exit of the exhibit per USDA guidelines during operating hours to ensure the safety of the butterflies. As a volunteer you will be helping staff ensure butterflies remain in the showroom by asking guests to check themselves for any hitchhiker butterflies before exiting. 

SHIFTS AVAILABLE: (7) days a week 9:45am-2:00pm, 1:45pm-5:00pm & 4:45pm-8:00pm.

Butterfly Show Online Orientation/Training Reminders:  All volunteers must complete the orientation before their first shift. This simple 10-minute online video is now required for all new and returning volunteers.  Upon arriving, make sure to visit the Visitor Center, sign-in, grab your name badge.

The conservatory is usually 10-15 degrees warmer than outside temperatures.  This volunteer position requires frequent standing.

Please Contact Marlene with any questions: Marlene Fitzwater marlene.fitzwater@cincinnati-oh.gov

Bring a friend.  We always welcome additional volunteers! 

Cincinnati Parks works with community groups called CPACs or (Cincinnati Parks Advisory Councils) to produce events and activate our parks. Several CPACs have social media presence and are looking for some support to maintain and enhance their accounts. Community group accounts have been  one of the most effective ways to promote these community events. 

Alms Park Allies (and potentially additional groups) are looking for a self starter who can spend a couple hours a week (flexible) keeping up on their social media accounts. The ideal candidate will be willing to meet members of the CPAC in person at the park to hear their vision and needs. This volunteer will also commit to consistent communication and coordination of the accounts.

Requirements: 

Alms Park - 710 Tusculum Ave 45226   

Learn more about this group - CLICK HERE

Facebook Page

Instagram Account

Scarborough Woods - Dexter Ave., Cincinnati, OH 45206

Help our friends at Preserve Scarborough Woods in their efforts to remove invasive plants from this small preserve tucked away in a residential area. 

Thursday, April 2 | 9am - 12pm habitat restoration 

Saturday, April 11 | 9am - 12pm habitat restoration

Saturday, April 25 | 9am - 12pm habitat restoration

Saturday, May 16 | 9am - 12pm habitat restoration

Work with community leaders and Parks staff to remove honeysuckle, pull wintercreeper, and plant native trees.

Residents have been volunteering their time and resources to remove honeysuckle, lesser celandine, garlic mustard and various vines. They are restoring this area by planting native trees and seeds. 

Meet at the Wold Ave entrance. Please note: This preserve is in a residential area. Street parking only. 

4GJJ+WC Cincinnati, Ohio

Connect with Preserve Scarborough Woods, Inc. by visiting their website here 

Northside Greenspace Inc. is an all-volunteer, nonprofit organization founded to identify, preserve and restore natural areas in Northside and surrounding Cincinnati, Ohio communities.

Volunteer work projects provide hands on learning experiences for community members and result in tangible improvements to our greenspaces.

Join other volunteers as we tackle invasive species in Buttercup Valley Nature Preserve, Parker Woods, and Badgley Run. Activities may include cutting honeysuckle, pulling garlic mustard and Japanese chaff flower, and other tasks. 

Volunteer dates and locations for 2026 are as follows:

March 28 Parker Woods (Thompson Heights trailhead) 

April 11 Buttercup Valley (Stanford trailhead)  

April 25 Buttercup Valley (Stanford trailhead)  

May 9 Parker Woods (Thompson Heights trailhead)  

July 18 Buttercup Valley (Stanford trailhead)  

Sept 19 Parker Woods (Thompson Heights trailhead) 

Oct 3 Buttercup Valley (Stanford trailhead) 

Nov 7 Buttercup Valley (Stanford trailhead)

Nov 21 Parker Woods (Thompson Heights trailhead)

*All times are 10-1pm unless otherwise indicated 

*Please note: the Sunday, February 8th workday is cancelled due to weather conditions 

Mount Airy West Conservation (MAWC), a member of Mount Airy Forest Advisory Committee (MAFAC; Cincinnati Parks Advisory Council or CPAC), is working closely with Cincinnati Parks Conservation & Land Management Team on forest restoration on the western half of Mt. Airy Forest.  

FOCUS: We will be tackling different invasive plants depending upon the season. This may include - Breaking down honeysuckle with loppers and handsaws* - Cutting out small sections of vines on trees with handsaws* - Removing and bagging garlic mustard or Japanese stiltgrass. *Trained Service People (TSP) will apply herbicide to cut stumps. 

ATTIRE: Long sleeves, long pants. Closed-toed shoes. Raincoat (where applicable)

WHAT TO BRING: Bug spray, sunscreen, water bottles. We will provide gloves but feel free to bring your own. All tools will be provided.

WHERE TO MEET/PARK: Bicentennial Park 2885 Diehl Rd 45211 - Meet at the last/furthest parking lot.  

SITE LEAD/CONTACT: Events will be led by Mount Airy West Conservation volunteers. Contact: Sydney Barnes Feel free to arrive late or leave early. Please call Sydney at 513-349-1669 if you're running late and she will help you find the group. If you know in advance that you will be running late, please email MountAiryWestConservation@gmail.com to let us know and make a plan. 

FOREST BASE: We will walk here together. The trailhead is located on the marked "Nature Trail" off of the paved walking path. Continue straight on the path (DO NOT TAKE THE LEFT/RIGHT TRAILS) until you reach the forest clearing with picnic tables. This will be our base.

RESTROOMS: Restrooms are available in the main area of Bicentennial Park. Note that it may take a moment to get there from the forest base.

RAIN/INCLEMENT WEATHER: We will monitor weather conditions ahead of the event and cancel if it prevents us from safely and effectively achieving our focus goal. We may work through rain/drizzle depending upon how heavy it is under the forest cover.

 Volunteers will be oriented and trained in best management practices in invasive plants removal, reforestation of areas, planting native seeds, plants and trees.  

Volunteers should wear clothes appropriate to the weather conditions, long sleeves and pants, gloves, closed toes shoes are required. 

Loppers and handsaws will be used to cut invasive plants less than 3" diameter. Application of pesticide will be performed by certified Trained Service Persons. 

To learn more about the Conservation & Land Stewardship program for Cincinnati Parks, and to become trained in pesticide application, please follow this link:

http://bttr.im/3j6ix

2026 Schedule of Events

Volunteers should be prepared for the weather in clothing appropriate for the temperature, wear long pants and layers (long sleeves), close-toed shoes are required. Suggested: gloves & refillable water bottle. Cincinnati Parks discourages single - use plastics.  

General hand tools will be used: loppers, hand saws, hand pruners. Planting - Volunteers will use shovels to plant seedlings, and some volunteers may use wire cutters to wrap the small trees in metal caging. Planting will likely result in getting muddy. Volunteers can prepare by wearing sturdy footwear and pants and long sleeves to protect against possibly Poison Ivy. Gloves and tools will be provided. Garlic Mustard - Volunteers will use snips to cut off Garlic Mustard plants. Volunteers can prepare by wearing sturdy footwear and pants and long sleeves to protect against possibly Poison Ivy. This activity is physically easier than removing honeysuckle but may be challenging for anyone with arthritis. Gloves and tools will be provided.

For everyone's safety, it is recommended that volunteers be able to physically navigate hilly terrain and rough trails, as well as be able to safely operate tools such as shovels, garden snips, loppers, and saws. Accommodations could be made by finding other tasks to perform.

Parks Staff and/or Cincinnati Parks Trained Service Persons will be on site to apply pesticide when needed. 

Please contact FriendsofFrenchPark@gmail.com with any questions.

Join in the efforts of Cincinnati Parks staff and The Friends of LaBoiteaux Woods (Cincinnati Parks Advisory Council) to improve the state of the natural resources the this forest offers. 

LaBoiteaux Woods Nature Preserve - 5400 Lanius Lane 45224

Community Workdays

2026 Schedule of Events 

April 4 | 1pm - 3pm  

April 25 | 1pm - 3pm

May 16 | 1pm - 3pm

September 19 | 1pm - 3pm

October 3 | 1pm - 3pm  

October 24 | 1pm - 3pm

November 7 | 1pm - 3pm

November 21 | 1pm - 3pm

December 5 | 1pm - 3pm

Focus will be on invasive plant removal. Volunteers will use loppers and hand saws to cut back honeysuckle less than 3" diameter and break it down on site so that it will decompose. 

Volunteers should be prepared for the weather (lightweight clothing), wear long pants. Close-toed, sturdy 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 cooler will be provided on site for volunteers to refill bottles. Cincinnati Parks discourages single use plastics.

Support the restoration progress at California Woods Nature Preserve 

Join our team for one date or all of them. We will protect our beautiful native forest from invasive plants. In early Autumn we’ll pull and bag Japanese stilt grass and Japanese chaff flower. In late Autumn we’ll cut and stack bush honeysuckle and other woody invasives. This will be off-trail in wooded, hilly terrain.

Make sure to bring water and dress for the weather. 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. 

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!! 

California Woods Nature Preserve is located at 5400 Kellogg Ave, 45230

Staff will greet volunteers outside the nature center.

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.

2026 Schedule of Events

Work with Parks Staff and members of the Alms Park Advisory Council (Alms Park Allies) in their efforts to improve the overall health of the park and support maintenance efforts. Projects will often include invasive species mitigation efforts as well as beautification efforts and grounds maintenance tasks.

Special Community Event Opportunity! 

Mayfest at Alms Park

Friday, May 1| 3:30pm - 9:30pm

Event support for Alms Allies! Volunteers will help set up, provide support throughout the event with basic event tasks and help break down. Volunteers over 21 can help serve beer.

2026 Forest Restoration events

The removal of invasive species is part of ongoing efforts to restore our native forest understory. Volunteers will use loppers and handsaws to cut invasive Amur honeysuckle and may also be cutting invasive porcelain berry vine. On some volunteer days we will also plant native trees, shrubs, and wildflowers. 

Non - native plants such as honeysuckle and porcelain berry grow aggressively in this climate and create real problems for our native ecosystem. These invasive plants choke out the natural growth of native plants that provide more for a healthy under story and more for local wildlife. There are also safety concerns, as these plants grow fast and thick, and obstruct sightlines in public areas. Poison ivy (a native plant) also grows in these parks, please be cautious and aware of your surroundings.

Volunteers should be prepared for the weather in clothing appropriate for the temperature, wear long pants and layers (long sleeves), close-toed shoes are required. Suggested: face covering, gloves & refillable water bottle. Cincinnati Parks discourages single - use plastics.  

Cincinnati Parks and Alms Allies will supply tools and equipment. 

The location to meet for volunteer events is the Pavilion in Alms Park! 4H6C+P6 Cincinnati, Ohio 

Please note: BBQ & Bluegrass is a community event, not a habitat restoration event. We welcome volunteers for this event as well! 

Special Community Event Opportunity! 

Bluegrass and BBQ at Alms Park

TBA| 4:30pm - 9:30pm

Event support for Alms Allies! Volunteers will help set up, provide support throughout the event with basic event tasks and help break down. Volunteers over 21 can help serve beer. Sign up below! 

Washington Park Bulb Removal 

Work with Parks Staff to remove the spring bulb displays at Washington Park! 1230 Elm Street, 45202 Street Parking will be provided by permit. Please indicate in "notes" section when you sign up that you will require a permit.  

Meet at the plaza across from Music Hall and staff will direct you. 

Volunteers will use hand trowels and or shovels to remove bulbs from display beds throughout the park. Kneeling, bending, reaching and DIRT involved! 

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