Groups & Service Projects

Cleveland Metroparks welcomes groups of all sizes, from corporations and religious organizations to youth and school groups. Typical projects include beach clean-ups, painting, grounds maintenance, trail work, special events and more.

COVID-19 Policies and Procedures
**Please note that during the current COVID-19 pandemic, we are not allowing groups larger than 10 people at a time.**
The following protocols must be adhered to in regards to COVID-19 when volunteering with Cleveland Metroparks:

• Volunteers are asked not to participate if they are feeling unwell or running a fever.
• Masks will be required if the volunteer project does not allow participants to space themselves at least 6' apart.
• ​It is recommended that whenever possible volunteers should bring their own work gloves and other supplies to avoid cross-contamination. 

Our greatest need falls between April and October, but opportunities may arise on the off-season as well, weather permitting.

• Please complete the Group Project Request Form at least 3-4 weeks prior to your preferred project date.
• If your group is larger than 25 people, please allow at least 6 weeks advance notice. We will respond to your request within 2 weeks.
• We cannot organize a project for groups smaller than 5 people. If you have a small group, please consider our Community Service Days (below) instead.

Staffing is limited on the weekends in the fall. For the best chance at scheduling a group volunteer project, please consider scheduling on a weekday.

Project Request Form

Cleveland Metroparks provides drop-in service opportunities for community members aged 16 years and older. If a volunteer is under the age of 16, they must be accompanied by an adult parent or guardian.

These events generally last 2-3 hours and are the perfect opportunity to spend some time giving back or fulfilling a service hour requirement. If you would like to donate 15 service hours or less, please sign up for one of our service days below by clicking on the appropriate event registration link.

Please fill out the appropriate registration form for each participant. *Registration available for events 60 days in the future only.*

Huntington Beach Cleanup
Saturdays | July & August | 7am-9am
Huntington Reservation
Work involves picking up litter and debris from the beach.
Adult Registration
Youth Registration (Youth under age 16 must be accompanied by an adult parent or guardian who is also registered for the event)
**If you are already a Cleveland Metroparks volunteer, please sign up for a shift through your Volgistics account.**

Trails Work Days
Thursdays & Saturdays | July | 9am-12pm & 1-4pm
North Chagrin or Bedford Reservations
Work involves trimming brush on trails, restoration, or trails mainenance.
Adult Registration
Youth Registration (16 & older only with parental/guardian permission)
**If you are already a Cleveland Metroparks volunteer, please sign up for a shift through your Volgistics account.**

Cleveland Metroparks provides select service learning opportunities for high school and college students which combine learning objectives with community service.

High School Senior Projects

Cleveland Metroparks provides select senior project opportunities for high school students. Potential senior project position descriptions are listed below.

Position Descriptions:

• Brecksville Nature Center
• CanalWay Center
• Rocky River Nature Center
• Watershed Stewardship Center

*Please read through descriptions and requirements thoroughly before applying.*

The application period for spring 2020 is now closed. Please check back in spring of 2021.
___________

Outdoor Experiences Service Learning Intern

The Outdoor Experiences Service Learning Intern will gain experience as a Naturalist, assisting in the planning, developing and implementation of innovative education and or outdoor recreation programs emphasizing the natural, historical and cultural aspects of Cleveland Metroparks in support of the mission of conservation, education and outdoor recreation.

Position Descriptions:

• Outdoor Experience Service Learning Intern (College Student)
• Outdoor Experience Service Learning Intern (High School Student)

Positions Available:

The application period for 2019-2020 school year is now closed. Please check back in fall of 2020.
___________

Natural Resources Service Learning Intern

The Natural Resources Service Learning Intern will gain experience implementing proper land management and monitoring practices while working closely with Natural Resources Division staff to manage and maintain meadows, forests, waterways, and wildlife. Interns in this high school senior (age 18 or over)/undergraduate degree-level positioncomplete and assist with a variety of professional assignments to assess, plan/design, protect, restore, sustainably develop, monitor and manage land and water resources. Interns must be able to work a full 8 hour day per week. Read the full service learning position description and requirements below.

Position Description:

• Natural Resources Service Learning Intern

Positions Available:

• Brecksville Nature Center - Brecksville Reservation
• CanalWay Center - Ohio & Erie Canal Reservation
• Rocky River Nature Center - Rocky River Reservation
• Watershed Stewardship Center - West Creek Reservation

Cleveland Metroparks welcomes scout troops to come and volunteer. Our greatest need falls between April and October, but opportunities may arise on the off-season as well, weather permitting. Typical projects include beach clean-ups, painting, grounds maintenance, trail work, special events and more.

Most scout groups should complete a Group Project Request Form at least 3-4 weeks prior to your preferred project date.

If your group is larger than 25 people, please allow at least 6 weeks advance notice. We will respond to your request within 2 weeks. We cannot organize a project for groups smaller than 5 people. If you have a small group, please consider our Community Service Days instead. 

Eagle Scout or Girl Scout Award candidates should complete an Scout Project Request Form at least 3 months prior to their project due date. These projects require additional planning (see below) and will need more advanced notice. We will respond to your request within 2 weeks.

Eagle Scout & Girl Scout Gold Award Projects

Thank you for your interest in conducting your Eagle Scout or Gold Award project with Cleveland Metroparks. Please read through all of the following instructions and expectations before requesting a project.

1. Submit the Scout Project Request Form at least 3 months prior to the expected project completion date.
2. Once the Scout Project Request Form is received, we will send the scout the contact information of the appropriate Cleveland Metroparks staff member to connect with based on the project idea, location, or other factors. It is the responsibility of the scout to reach out to this staff contact in a timely fashion.

3. The Cleveland Metroparks staff contact will schedule a mandatory in-person meeting with the scout.

   • If the scout already has a project in mind, they must provide a draft version of the Eagle Scout Work Book Project Proposal or the Girl Scout Gold Award Project Proposal at this meeting to be reviewed with Cleveland Metroparks staff. This meeting is to discuss the project specifics. Cleveland Metroparks staff may refuse project ideas if they are not a good fit with park priorities, but they will offer alternative project ideas whenever possible.
   • If the scout does not have a project in mind, this meeting will serve as an opportunity to discuss potential project(s) identified by Cleveland Metroparks staff. This will require a second in-person meeting to present the Eagle Scout Work Book Project Proposal or the Girl Scout Gold Award Project Proposal once completed.

4. If the project is approved by Cleveland Metroparks staff, the scout will work with the staff contact to implement the project, schedule work days and generally keep the staff contact updated on the progress of the project.

   • Work days on Cleveland Metroparks property must be scheduled with at least 72 hours advance notice through the staff contact.
   • All volunteers must complete a waiver prior to conducting any work on Cleveland Metroparks property.

5. Upon completion of the project, the scout will schedule an in-person walkthrough/inspection with the staff contact to ensure the project was completed as outlined and submit copies of the Eagle Scout Service Project Report or Girl Scout Gold Award Final Report.