Event Types
Primary Events: These events are open to registered Cleveland Metroparks WVP volunteers. They count towards credit for Watershed Stewardship Certification. Some events are only open to WVP Certified Stewards. Types of primary events include:
(E)ducation: Broaden and share watershed knowledge at presentations, workshops, community events, and tours
(M)onitoring: Make observations and collect watershed data
(R)estoration: Restore and care for natural areas and green infrastructure
Public Events: These events are indicated by an (*) at the end of the title and are open to both the public and WVP volunteers. Public volunteers may register here.
(S)upplemental Events: These events are held by our partner and collaborating organizations but count towards WVP service hours.
January Supplemental Events
(S) Winter Salt Week: Freshwater Salinization
Mon, Jan 26, 1:30 p.m. @ Livestream
Get the big-picture view of freshwater salinization and why it’s emerging as a critical water-quality challenge across the country. We’ll break down the major drivers, the ecological and infrastructure impacts, and the trends scientists are tracking in rivers, lakes, and groundwater. Then we’ll zoom in on a real-world case study from the Occoquan Reservoir, where researchers and managers are grappling with the complex mix of land use, weather patterns, and human behavior that fuels rising chloride levels. This case will illustrate both the challenges and the practical management strategies communities can use to protect their drinking water supplies.
More Information and Registration Here
(S) Winter Salt Week: Salt Wise Stories
Tues, Jan 27, 1:30 p.m. @ Livestream
Hear directly from winter maintenance practitioners who have made the shift to smarter salting. In this webinar, they’ll share how they built the business case for change—reducing costs, improving efficiency, and protecting local waters. You’ll learn how they retooled their operations, from equipment upgrades to staff training, and what results they’ve seen on the ground. These leaders now pay it forward by educating peers, supporting contractors, and inspiring communities to adopt Salt Wise practices of their own.
More Information and Registration Here
(S) Winter Salt Week: Smart Salting Contracts
Wed, Jan 28, 1:30 p.m. @ Livestream
Knowing how to ask for best practices can be difficult. If you aren’t an industry professional, you likely feel out of your league when deciphering terms like deicing vs anti-icing, pre-treatment vs pre-wet. What chemical deicers should you ask for or steer away from? Learn the basics about industry best practices and valuable resources that are available to support you to get the services you need and reduce liability at your property.
More Information and Registration Here
(S) Winter Sowing Workshop
Wed, Jan 28, 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. @ Virtual
Join West Creek Conservancy for an engaging online workshop about the power of native plants and how small changes in your yard can make a big impact on biodiversity and watershed health. In this interactive session, you’ll learn: Why native plants matter in Northeastern Ohio, practical tips to shrink your lawn and create pollinator-friendly spaces, and step-by-step guidance on seed stratification and winter sowing using milk jugs. Whether you’re new to native gardening or looking for fresh ideas, this virtual event will give you the tools and confidence to start making a difference right in your own yard.
More Information and Registration Here
(S) Winter Salt Week: Engineering Solutions
Thurs, Jan 29, 1:30 p.m. @ Livestream
Discover how innovative engineering can dramatically reduce the need for winter salt. This webinar will highlight design approaches—such as optimized grading, drainage, and material choices—that set the stage for safer, more efficient winter maintenance. We’ll also explore the growing role of smart sensors and connected infrastructure in tracking conditions in real time. Finally, learn how AI-driven storm management tools can support crews in making faster, more precise decisions that keep surfaces safe while minimizing salt use.
More Information and Registration Here
(S) Winter Salt Week: Advocating for Change
Fri, Jan 30, 12:00 p.m. @ Livestream
Want to make a difference? Let's talk practical ways to mobilize your community, collaborate with local leaders, and champion policies that support smarter winter maintenance.
More Information and Registration Here
(S) Winter Salt Week: Salt Monitoring 101
Fri, Jan 30, 1:00 p.m. @ Livestream
Monitors will share their monitoring experiences on the Farmington River in Connecticut and the Rouge River in Michigan before fielding participant questions and discussion topics.
More Information and Registration Here
(S) CSWCD: Winter Sowing Workshop
Sat, Jan 31, 10:00 - 11:00 a.m. @ Moreland Hills Village Hall
Winter sowing native seeds is a simple and cost-effective way to grow your own native plants! Growing native plants in mini greenhouses using transparent milk jugs (or another similar plastic container) is easy and effective. This method emulates the cold winter conditions many plants need to germinate and also protects them from predators. Cuyahoga SWCD will provide seeds, potting soil, instruction, and other supplies. We ask each attendee to bring their OWN milk jug to create a mini greenhouse. Feel free to bring an extra for yourself or a friend, we’ll provide soil until we run out. If you have native seeds to share, please bring them!
More Information and Registration Here
(S) CSWCD: Winter Sowing Workshop & Seed Swap
Sat, Jan 31, 6:00 - 7:00 p.m. @ South Euclid City Hall
Winter sowing native seeds is a simple and cost-effective way to grow your own native plants! Growing native plants in mini greenhouses using transparent milk jugs (or another similar plastic container) is easy and effective. This method emulates the cold winter conditions many plants need to germinate and also protects them from predators. Cuyahoga SWCD will provide seeds, potting soil, instruction, and other supplies. We ask each attendee to bring their OWN milk jug to create a mini greenhouse. Feel free to bring an extra for yourself or a friend, we’ll provide soil until we run out. If you have native seeds to share, please bring them!
February Events
(R) Edgewater Invasive Vine Cutting
Wed, Feb 4,10 a.m. - 12p.m. @ Edgewater Park, Lake Front Reservation in Lake Erie Watershed
Join Natural Area Manager Valerie Carter-Stone to help eliminate invasive vines that are choking the wooded hillsides of Edgewater Park.
(R) Seed Processing
Fri, Feb 6, 6 - 7:30 p.m. @ Watershed Stewardship Center, West Creek Reservation in West Creek Watershed
Join WVP as we process and prepare the seed that we collected during the fall.
(M) Marine Debris Monitoring
Sun, Feb 8, 9 - 11 a.m. @ Euclid Beach in Euclid Creek Watershed
Join us for monitoring Marine Debris at Euclid Creek.
(M) Winter Stonefly Survey
Sat, Feb 14, 11 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. @ Baldwin Creek in Baldwin Creek Watershed
Join volunteer leader Bob Bennett for the second of a three part stonefly monitoring work session. Learn about the first discoveries of stoneflies in Baldwin Creek, search on-land for two species of stoneflies at three Baldwin Creek sites, and submit photo data to iNaturalist. Data collected during these surveys will be utilized to estimate the presence and abundance of stonefly families within Baldwin Creek.
(R) Seed Processing
Wed, Feb 18, 6 - 7:30 p.m. @ Watershed Stewardship Center, West Creek Reservation in West Creek Watershed
Join WVP as we process and prepare the seed that we collected during the fall.
(E) Natural Resources Winter Lecture Series: Cleveland Metroparks Priority Watershed Assessment
Wed, Feb 25, 6 - 7:30 p.m. @ Watershed Stewardship Center, West Creek Reservation in West Creek Watershed
Have you ever wondered how Cleveland Metroparks decides where to do stream restoration? Join Natural Resources staff Claire Weldon, Nathan Byer, and Elizabeth Hiser to hear about the team's work on harnessing primary headwater assessment and land cover data to create a resource for effective and adaptive watershed management.
February Supplemental Events
(S) Master Rain Gardener Winter 2026 Residential Online Course
Feb 2- March14, 12 - 1 p.m. @ Webinars
This course will teach you how to manage rain water in your own yard by enabling you to design and install a rain garden. The online course consists of pre-recorded webinars that can be watched at your convenience within the course timeline. Weekly virtual Q&A sessions and one final in-person class are optional to attend.
More Information and Registration Here
(S) Winter Sowing Workshop
Sun, Feb 8, 10 - 11:30 a.m. @ The Watershed Stewardship Center
Join Wild Ones and West Creek Conservancy for a hands-on workshop about the power of native plants and how small changes in your yard can make a big impact on biodiversity and watershed health. This interactive event includes: a quick introduction to why native plants matter in Northeastern Ohio, practical tips to shrink your lawn and create pollinator-friendly spaces, and step-by-step guidance on seed stratification and winter sowing using milk jugs. After learning the basics, you’ll roll up your sleeves and prepare your own winter sowing containers to take home—giving you a head start on a beautiful, eco-friendly garden this spring.
More Information and Registration Here
(S) Winter Sowing Workshop
Wed, Feb 11, 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. @ The Watershed Stewardship Center
Join West Creek Conservancy for a hands-on workshop about the power of native plants and how small changes in your yard can make a big impact on biodiversity and watershed health. This interactive event includes: a quick introduction to why native plants matter in Northeastern Ohio, practical tips to shrink your lawn and create pollinator-friendly spaces, and step-by-step guidance on seed stratification and winter sowing using milk jugs. After learning the basics, you’ll roll up your sleeves and prepare your own winter sowing containers to take home—giving you a head start on a beautiful, eco-friendly garden this spring.
More Information and Registration Here
(S) TCWP: Winter Webinar Series: Healthy Soils, Healthy Communities: Navigating the Complex Landscape of Soil Health
Thurs, Feb 19, 12 - 1 p.m. @ Webinar
Healthy soil is the foundation of healthy communities. Join Sara Continenza, Executive Director and Founder of Food Strong, for a FREE webinar on restoring degraded urban soils through community action and innovation. Sara will draw from her work transforming vacant lots into thriving green spaces.
March Events
(E) Macroinvertebrates 101
Thurs, Mar 5, 6 - 7:30 p.m. @ Watershed Stewardship Center, West Creek Reservation in West Creek Watershed
Come see, do, and learn about macroinvertebrates. Join Naturalist Mayim Hamblen for this hands-on training. Key terms and principles will be explored. Leave ready to assist with future macroinvertebrate outreach activities like World Water Day.
(M) Winter Stonefly Survey
Sat, Mar 14, 11 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. @ Baldwin Creek in Baldwin Creek Watershed
Join volunteer leader Bob Bennett for the third of a three part stonefly monitoring work session. Learn about the first discoveries of stoneflies in Baldwin Creek, search on-land for two species of stoneflies at three Baldwin Creek sites, and submit photo data to iNaturalist. Data collected during these surveys will be utilized to estimate the presence and abundance of stonefly families within Baldwin Creek.
(E) Natural Resources Winter Lecture Series: Tree Selector Tool: Case Study Application and Wildlife Benefits of Trees
Wed, Mar 18, 6 - 7:30 p.m. @ Watershed Stewardship Center, West Creek Reservation in West Creek Watershed
Responsible landscaping starts with you. Planting native trees helps in mitigating soil erosion, reduces flood impact, provides shade that reduces energy costs, improves air quality by filtering pollutants, and reduces greenhouse gas emissions. The essential ecosystem services provided by planting responsibly have significant positive impacts on our community. Come learn how to use the Tree Selector Tool and explore 90 native tree species to find the right one for your backyard.
(E) World Water Day
Sat, Mar 21, 9:30 a.m. - 12 p.m. & 12 - 2:30 p.m. @ Watershed Stewardship Center, West Creek Reservation in West Creek Watershed
WVP Volunteers who are comfortable working with macroinvertebrates can assist with the educational macroinvertebrate displays at this international celebration of water. Identification cards and images will be available.
(M) Marine Debris Monitoring
Sun, Mar 22, 9 - 11 a.m. @ Euclid Beach in Euclid Creek Watershed
Join us for monitoring Marine Debris at Euclid Creek.
March Supplemental Events
(S) Rain Barrel Workshop
Sat, Mar 7, 10:00 - 11:30 a.m. @ Orange Library Branch
Collect rainwater for outdoor use and help reduce stormwater pollution in your community by building your own rain barrel. A rain barrel captures and stores rainwater that would otherwise flow untreated into storm drains. You can use this collected water to nourish your lawn and garden, conserving resources and supporting a healthier environment. This workshop includes a rain barrel system pickup along with a brief presentation and demonstration at 10am. You’ll receive a barrel and a complete kit with all the parts needed to assemble your system at home using just a drill and a screwdriver. The $60 fee covers all materials, including a 60‑gallon barrel, drill bits, and a downspout diverter. If you’d like to create a two‑barrel setup, an additional barrel and linking kit are available for $40. Pre‑payment and workshop registration are required.
More Information and Registration Here
(S) TCWP: Winter Webinar Series: Nature Therapy: Finding Balance Through Pollinator Gardening
Thurs, Mar 26, 12 - 1 p.m. @ Webinar
Join Alyson Wakeen, wildlife biologist and certified shinrin-yoku (forest bathing) guide, for a FREE webinar on how connecting with nature can nurture both ecosystems and well-being.
Coming Attractions
(S) Cuyahoga Area of Concern Symposium
March 12 @ Slovenian National House
(M) City Nature Challenge
April 25 - 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
(M) Scenic Rivers Macro Monitoring
May 19, July 14, & Sept 15 - 10 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
(S) Cuyahoga Area of Concern: Meeting and Mayfield Golf Course Stream Restoration Tour
July 13 9 - 10:30 a.m. meeting followed by 60 min tour
(E) Sturgeon Fest
September 19
Abbreviations you will find in Volgistics:
- WVP- Watershed Volunteer Program
- NR- Natural Resources
- IP- Independent/Special Projects
- E- Education
- M- Monitoring
- R- Restoration
- S- Supplemental (continuing education and partner organization events)
Have further questions about events or registering? Please contact WVP staff at [email protected].