Groups & Service Projects

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

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 30 volunteers, please note that the group will likely need to be split into different locations or time frames.
• If your group is smaller than 5 people, please consider our Community Service Days (below) instead.

Most group volunteer projects are scheduled on weekday mornings, but we will do our best to accommodate weekends or afternoons for your group if necessary.

Group Project Request Form

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 into the future only.*

Rocky River Cleanup
Join the Cleveland Metroparks, Cuyahoga Soil and Water Conservation District and the Rocky River Watershed Council for their annual Rocky River clean-up.  Bring water, sunscreen, and gloves. Bags and trash pickers will be provided. After the clean-up relax and celebrate with a cookout to thank our volunteers (vegetarian options provided). Have a great time and help us clean-up the river in this tradition that has been going on for over 20 years!

Date & Time: June 3, 2023 from 9:00 am - 12:00 pm

Meeting location: Scenic Park Picnic Area at Emerald Necklace Marina, 1500 Cleveland Metro Park Dr. Lakewood, OH 44107
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Adult Sign Up
Youth Sign Up

Acacia Stream Cleanup
Help us remove litter from the stream restoration area at Acacia Reservation and participate in a community science project monitoring the composition and types of litter. The cleanup will occur off-trail in uneven and wet ground, long sleeves/long pants and waterproof shoes are recommended. We will provide gloves, trash bags, and trash pickers. 

Meeting location: Acacia Reservation parking lot off Cedar Rd. Meet at front kiosk.

Dates: 
Saturday, June 24, 8:00 am - 11:00 am
Saturday, July 22, 8:00 am - 11:00 am
Saturday, August 19, 8:00 am - 11:00 am
Saturday, September 23, 8:00 am - 11:00 am

Adult Sign Up
Youth Sign Up

Euclid Beach Cleanups
Sundays | 9 am - 11 am
Euclid Creek Reservation

Help us clean up Euclid Beach at Euclid Creek Reservation. Each Sunday morning you can join your fellow community members and help us keep Euclid Beach clean and free from litter. Supplies will be provided. 

Meeting location: Euclid Beach Concessions Stand

Adult Sign Up
Youth Sign Up

Huntington Beach Cleanups
Saturdays | 9 am - 11 am
Huntington Reservation

Help us clean up Huntington Beach at Huntington Reservation. Each Saturday morning you can join your fellow community members and help us keep Huntington Beach clean and free from litter. Supplies will be provided. 

Meeting location: The Noshery at Huntington Reservation

Adult Sign-Up
Youth Sign-Up

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)

Position Locations:

• Brecksville Nature Center (Location Full)
• CanalWay Center
• Rocky River Nature Center
• Watershed Stewardship Center (Location Full)
• North Chagrin Nature Center
• Mobile Outreach
• Nature Preschool
• Youth Outdoors
• Outdoor Recreation

Apply Here

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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 position complete 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

Apply Here

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.