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You can make a difference at your Metroparks!
Every year thousands of volunteers donate countless hours to the Huron-Clinton Metroparks. Become an invaluable member of the team by joining efforts to preserve the parks and enhance the environment for generations to come. The Huron-Clinton Metroparks is grateful for your contribution and has many opportunities to match your talents or hobbies with each metropark’s needs.
Give your time to nature or farm centers, or at Historic Wolcott Mill to enrich the experience of every visitor. Nature lovers can plant and maintain flower gardens, or census some of the Metroparks' plant and animal life. If you enjoy handy work, you can paint and refurbish signs, exhibits and smaller buildings. If golf is your favorite pastime, we can use your help on the fairways. Help maintain the pace of play, repair ball marks on the greens, move tee markers, clean trash and perform other tasks that make golfing at one of the Metroparks' courses a most enjoyable past time.
Lend Nature a Helping Hand
Natural areas within the Metroparks need your help, too. Learn about supporting our native plant populations by removing invasive trees, shrubs, and plants or collecting seeds to be sown at restoration sites within the Metroparks. In addition to these activities, occasional special projects may require your assistance, such as planting native vegetation or testing water quality. The Metroparks provide all necessary tools and equipment, including water and snacks. The gift of your time will be enjoyed by hundreds of thousands of visitors for years to come.
Why should you help?
Imagine you own 25,000 acres of forests, fields, lakes and rivers, inhabited by thousands of species of plants and animals. Trees, grasses and flowers thrive. But non-native species threaten the existence of many of the plants and creatures that inhabit your land. What would you do?
At the Metroparks, about 80 percent of its 25,000 acres are kept natural. In some of these areas invasive plants are taking over native plants. Honeysuckle, garlic mustard and autumn-olive are just three culprits invading and destroying natural vegetation. At other locations, wildflowers and prairie plants have been identified that could flourish with some help and protection from us.
Volunteer workdays are held weekdays and weekends, typically for two or three hours. Workdays can also be specially scheduled for organizations, businesses and other groups. For more information on how to get involved with ecological stewardship activities, including volunteer workdays at the Metroparks, contact the Natural Resources Department.
 
Garlic mustard invading a forest understory (left) and a healthy understory where invasive plants have been controlled (right), Stony Creek MetroparkHow Volunteering Benefits You
Although there is no monetary compensation, volunteers at the Huron-Clinton Metroparks enjoy many benefits. First, take pleasure in the rewarding fulfillment of serving your community and making the Metroparks better places to visit. Enjoy ample opportunities to socialize with others, pursue a new or favorite hobby, and help the environment.
Individuals who volunteer a designated number of hours receive a Metroparks annual permit, free use of some of the facilities and an invitation to the volunteer recognition dinners that are held each year.
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