Opportunities From: Center for Community Engagement

SPAC  

Pumpkin Chuck Festival!

Saturday, November 2 | 10am - 5pm

The Stanbery Park Advisory Council is seeking volunteer support for one of the best fall events in town! 

Community members bring their Jack-o-Lanterns to Stanbery and watch as two huge  trebuchets that need 4-5 folks each to operate. Volunteers will also use wheelbarrows to move pumpkins back to the launching pad. 

Snacks will be provided!

Activities include removing invasive species, planting native trees and shrubs, and other work as determined by BPAC and the Cincinnati Parks Conservation and Land Management team.

Fall 2025 Schedule of Events

Sat, Nov 1 | 9-12pm

Sat, Nov 8 | 9-12pm

Sat, Dec 13 | 9-12pm

Sat, Dec 20 | 9-12pm

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

Our Greenspace Team is looking for some support with the planters that beautify Fort Washington Way Bridges @ Race Street.

Parks has been fortunate to have the amazing support of volunteers as an annual event planting the bridges, providing hundreds of volunteers over the years. We are looking for some on-going support to keep that hard work looking beautiful and the beds healthy.

Individuals or groups can participate on the third Wednesday of each month from June through November, with the November 20th date as a tear out.  

Staff will meet will guide the works each session. We will provide what is needed.

Please contact Christyl for more information! 513.240.5735 

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. 

Saturday, September 20 | 9am - 12pm habitat restoration 

Saturday, October 18 | 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 locations are as follows:

April 5 Parker Woods (Montessori school parking lot) *CANCELLED DUE TO RAIN

April 19 Buttercup Valley (Stanford trailhead)  

April 26 Parker Woods (Montessori school parking lot)  

May 10 *Parker Woods (Thompson Heights trailhead)  

July 26 Buttercup Valley (Stanford trailhead)  

Sept 20 Parker Woods (Montessori school parking lot) 

Oct 4 Buttercup Valley (Stanford trailhead) 

Nov 1 Parker Woods (Montessori school parking lot)

Nov 22 Buttercup Valley (Stanford trailhead)

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

Regarding Covid-19:

In efforts to stop the spread, for the safety of our staff, volunteers and community please consider the following guidelines:

Saturday, September 13th, 9-12pm: Invasive Species Removal

Saturday, October 11th, 9-12pm: Forest Planting (meet near the park shelter at the top of the hill) 

Saturday, November 8th, 9-12pm: Invasive Species Removal

Saturday, December 13th, 9-12pm: Invasive Species Removal

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

SPRING EVENTS: Garlic Mustard & Wintercreeper Removal

April 19 | 1pm - 3pm  

May 3 | 1pm - 3pm *CANCELLED DUE TO RAIN

FALL EVENTS: Honeysuckle cutting, breaking down, treating of cut stumps (trained service persons only), trail clearing. Occasionally planting of native trees/plants

September 13 | 1pm - 3pm

September 27| 1pm - 3pm  

October 4| 1pm - 3pm

October 25 | 1pm - 3pm

November 1 | 1pm - 3pm

November 22 | 1pm - 3pm

December 6 | 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.

Regarding Covid-19:

In efforts to stop the spread, for the safety of our staff, volunteers and community please consider the following guidelines:

Special Community Event Opportunity! 

Bluegrass and BBQ at Alms Park

Friday, September 26 | 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!

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.

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! 

Caldwell Nature Center is looking for volunteers to assist with Halloween Hikes! Each volunteer will have a role to ensure the program runs smoothly and is enjoyed by all. 

Volunteers will support the following tasks:

Pumpkin Carvers 10/15 | 4:30p - 6:30p

We will meet Wednesday evening to gut & carve 100 pumpkins for the trails!! Prize for the best Jack-O-Lantern!

Trail Guides 10/17|5p - 9p

These volunteers will lead each group of 15 through the trail. Must be comfortable giving instructions and engaging community. Each hike is about an hour and possibly leading multiple hikes during the evening. Once hikes end, some trail clean up.

Mascots! 10/17 |5p - 10p

Need a couple of volunteers to wear a mascot costume to meet and greet participants before they head on the trail. Photo ops with the kids. Also need someone willing to guide around the one wearing the mascot costume. They will switch back and forth the roles.

Parking Attendants 10/17 & 10/18 | 5p - 10p

Will assist people as they arrive on where to park. How to maximize parking spaces safely and also assist when people leave on how to safely get out. Will work as a team and use radios, etc.

Photo Booth & Event Support 10/18 5p - 10p & 10/19 | 6:30p - 10p

Be outgoing and engaging to invite and take pictures of participants (using the guest phones). 

Where:

430 W North Bend Rd. Cincinnati, OH 45216

If you have a preference for role, please indicate in the "Notes" section when you register and we will to accommodate your preference. 

Support the Burnet Woods Park Advisory Council (BPAC) for FALL FEST at our beloved Burnet Woods! Community leaders will welcome support of volunteers to set up/break down of this fun filled event, assist with pumpkin painting & carving, engage event attendees in outdoor lawn games (also help keep these organized & sanitized), and ensure the event site is FUN, clean and safe (litter sweeps). 

Report to the parking lot adjacent the pavilion (there are dumpsters in this lot). Follow this google link to exact meeting spot. 

Tasks include mulching, weeding, planting, pruning, litter pick up. 

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

If you have any immediate questions you can contact Nick Koch at 513.484.2776 (text or call).