Volunteers are an important part in the effort to restore habitat and survey wildlife within Three Rivers Parks. Whether you want to volunteer one time or become an ongoing volunteer, we have a variety of seasonal and year-round opportunities for you support our natural resources.

Habitat Management

Use your time to support improved habitat throughout our parks.

Opportunities for groups or individuals

These opportunities happen every year as part of our public programming.

Collect prairie seeds

Help increase the amount and diversity of seed planted in the nearly 2,000 acres of restored prairie managed by Three Rivers Park District by collecting seeds.

Prairie seed collection events are held August through October. Training is provided at the start of each session. 

Registration is required. To join us, choose a collection date or dates, and register online.

What to expect at the event

What you'll be doing

• You will collect seed by hand.
• Training is provided at the start of each session.

The type of location and environment

• Volunteers work in sunny open areas, walk through tall grass on uneven terrain.
• Collection sites are located in remote areas of our parks. After you have parked and joined the group, you will be guided out to the collection site. Be sure to arrive on time or early to the designated meeting location.
• Water and restroom facilities may not be located nearby.
• Be aware that poison ivy, ticks, mosquitos or wasps may be found in some areas of our parks. Use bug spray or treated clothing, learn to identify and avoid poison ivy, and always check clothing and body for ticks after returning indoors.

How to prepare for the event

To protect yourself from the sun, insects, scratchy plants and other environmental factors, we recommend the following.

What to wear

• Sturdy, closed-toed shoes
• Clothes you can get a little dirty
• Long pants
• Long sleeves
• Hat
• Sunglasses

What to bring

• Sun protection
• Bug protection
• Garden or work gloves
• Small garden clippers
• Five paper grocery bags with handles
• Water and a snack

Who can participate

The minimum age for participation is 12. Youth aged 12–16 must be accompanied by an adult (one adult per eight youth).

Groups of 10 or more may inquire about arranging a special collection date by contacting Angela Grill, wildlife biologist, by email at Angela.Grill@ThreeRiversParks.org. Groups containing minors will need to provide the volunteer permission form for minors in advance. 

Remove invasive plants

Help keep our parks safe from harmful plants by joining us to remove invasive species.

Invasive species removal programs are held in spring and fall. Training is provided at the start of each session. 

Registration is required. To join us, choose the event date or dates, and register online.

What to expect at the event

What you'll be doing

• You will hand pull or use hand tools to remove invasive plants.
• Training is provided at the start of each session.

The type of location and environment

• Volunteers work in wooded areas with uneven terrain.
• Habitat restoration sites may be located in remote areas of our parks, often off trail. After you have parked and joined the group, you will be guided out to the restoration site. Be sure to arrive on time or early to the designated meeting location.
• Water and restroom facilities may not be located nearby.
• Be aware that poison ivy, ticks, mosquitos or wasps may be found in some areas of our parks. Use bug spray or treated clothing, learn to identify and avoid poison ivy, and always check clothing and body for ticks after returning indoors.

How to prepare for the event

To protect yourself from insects and plants, and other environmental factors, we recommend the following.

What to wear

• Sturdy, closed toed shoes
• Clothes you can get a little dirty
• Long pants
• Long sleeves

What to bring

• Sun protection
• Bug protection
• Garden or work gloves
• Water and a snack

Who can participate

The minimum age for participation is 10. Youth aged 10–16 must be accompanied by an adult (one adult per eight youth). 

Groups of 10 or more may inquire about arranging a special collection date by contacting Meg Duhr, invasive species supervisor, by email at Meg.Duhr@ThreeRiversParks.org. Groups containing minors will need to provide the volunteer permission form for minors in advance. 

Individual opportunities

Survey for invasive species

Use your plant identification and map navigation skills to survey park land for new invasive plant species so we can monitor and remove them to keep our forests healthy.

Monitor wetlands

Help us by monitoring our wetlands over an entire calendar year. This opportunity requires a minimum of monthly monitoring, up to a maximum of weekly monitoring during periods of waterfowl migration.

Nurture plants

Have a green thumb? Help us maintain the beauty in our parks by nurturing plants at the District Nursery in Crow-Hassan Park Reserve — which will support habitat restoration throughout the park district — or help keep Noerenberg Memorial Gardens beautiful by planting and weeding.

Wildlife managment

Turn on your observation skills and use them to gather information.

Monitor wildlife

Use your observational skills on the trails and in the parks, day or night, in projects that monitor a variety of species. Data captured will help track populations over time and space within Three Rivers Parks and in many cases will connect to data collected state- or nationwide.

Examples of animals we survey include frogs, toads, turtles, fur-bearing mammals and a variety of birds, like bluebirds, osprey, purple martins and songbirds.

Community science

Contribute to community science projects at our educational sites by surveying for dragonflies or monarch larvae, tallying birds at bird feeders, collecting water quality data, or gathering phenological data by following the seasons and noticing "firsts," like the first snow.

Educational opportunities

Through hands-on experiences, our educational sites teach visitors about the natural world while providing opportunities for outdoor recreation across Three Rivers. Use your people skills to assist with educating park guests of all ages on topics like art, farming, history, folk skills and nature. Our education sites include: Baker Outdoor Learning Center, Eastman Nature Center, Gale Woods Farm, Lowry Nature Center, Mississippi Gateway Regional Park, Richardson Nature Center and Silverwood Park.

Recreational opportunities

More interested in sharing your talents in recreation? Help our Outdoor Recreation School to engage park guests in activities like hiking, paddling, fishing, adapted recreation, and more. Prior experience and training is required for most opportunities.

Our golf facilities offer various programs at specific locations. Volunteers play a crucial role in supporting these initiatives by assisting with maintenance, lessons and camps

Ongoing Care of Our Parks and Trails

Our adoption programs provide ongoing opportunities to create thriving forests, keep the gardens and landscape areas in Three Rivers looking beautiful, and maintain our incredible regional trails. These opportunities allow you to focus your time on a specific part of a park or trail, with a group or on your own, for a longer period of time. 

Each program requires a two-year commitment and at least two scheduled events each year between April and October. Commitment requirements vary depending on program.

Our adoption programs are great for groups and occasionally are suitable for individual volunteers.

Adopt-A-Woodlot program

Help keep our forests healthy by suppressing and removing invasive plant species — such as buckthorn, garlic mustard and exotic honeysuckle — by adopting a woodlot.

To apply, review the instruction sheet and submit your completed application form to the Volunteer Office at Volunteer@ThreeRiversParks.org.

Adopt-A-Garden program

Help keep the gardens and landscape areas around Three Rivers looking beautiful, by weeding and cleaning up important areas at the parks. 

To apply, review the instruction sheet and available gardens and submit your completed application form to the Volunteer Office at Volunteer@ThreeRiversParks.org.

Adopt-A-Trail program

Help maintain our beautiful regional trail system, by cleaning up a designated section of a trail, including the trail itself, the trail shoulder, ditch and the taller vegetation beyond the trail.

To apply, review the instruction sheet and available trail sections and then submit your completed application form to the Volunteer Office at Volunteer@ThreeRiversParks.org.

Engage with Three Rivers guests outside of standard education programing by supporting a Try It event, providing helpful information to trail users, aiding in medical incidences on the alpine slopes, and more.

Events

Engage with the public and support their participation at our events! Help by keeping racers hydrated at a race aid station, greeting and answering guest questions, or supporting event-specific activities like bike decorating, kicksledding or tending a bonfire.

Outreach

Share your passion for our parks at events that help introduce people to Three Rivers' parks, trails and activities. Help by providing booth visitors with information about our amenities, and with booth setup or take-down.

Park ambassadors and park patrol

Help park guests at any of our park locations while enjoying the parks and trails by bike, foot, skates, horse, cross-country skis or snowshoes.

We have two levels of commitment:

Park ambassador

Welcome park guests and answer their questions while educating on park rules and trail etiquette.

Park patrol

Park patrol provides the same services as park ambassadors, with the addition of offering basic-level, first-aid care. 

A one-year commitment is requested; required annual trainings are offered in fall and spring.

Alpine patrol

Help guests on the slopes at Hyland Hills Ski Area or Winter Recreation Area at Elm Creek Park Reserve! 

A minimum of 65 hours is required each season. Requires intermediate to advanced alpine ski or snowboard skills; first-aid trainings are provided prior to the season.

Further information about Park Patrol and various required trainings can be found on the volunteer resources and trainings webpage.

There are many opportunities to help support the organization behind-the-scenes, including:

• Capturing moments in the park with your camera as one of our volunteer photographers
• Contributing to our blog with your writing skills
• Helping out with equipment maintenance
• Gathering data as a research assistant or a geographic information system (GIS) data collector
• Providing animal care at nature centers
• Processing fiber from sheep at Gale Woods Farm

Training provided for some opportunities; others require previous experience.

Three Rivers has opportunities designed specifically for teens. From caring for animals to helping with day camps to learning about art and nature, these options will help you gain leadership skills, life skills and job skills. Check out all of the teen volunteer opportunities.