If you’re looking for a fun, easy way to give back to nature and help the environment, participating in citizen science can be the perfect answer....
Anyone Can Be a Scientist with Citizen Science
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Conservation Leaders
Discover your influence, power, and voice in standing up for conservation.
Being a teen isn’t always easy, but it can be an exciting time as you explore and identify your own unique interests, form lasting friendships with like-minded people, explore potential careers, and gain a growing level of independence and confidence.
The Conservations Leaders program works to support older youth, ages 10 – 17, as they navigate these new obstacles. There are three unique ways that you can become engaged in the program and you can choose to just take part in one aspect or all three, depending on your interests!
Program Overview
Conservation Leader Programs
Conservation Leader programming fosters a deepened connection with nature and sparks curiosity as older youth grow their knowledge of the natural world through purposeful exploration of Dayton’s local ecology. With this comes a growing understanding that whatever we do to air, water, soil, and biodiversity we do to ourselves. A wide range of program topics are offered from Spring Wildflower Identification, Accessing Biodiversity, Amphibian Ecology, Wetland Exploration, Migrating Birds, Spider Identification, and much, much more!
Conservation Leader Programs are offered twice a month.
Volunteer Opportunities: Conservation in Action
Older youth who choose to become official MetroParks volunteers and complete the Conservation Leaders online volunteer training can take part in the Conservation in Action Volunteer Opportunities. Volunteers work alongside Five Rivers MetroParks’ skilled and dedicated Conservation Staff Members on a variety of active conservation projects aimed at improving biodiversity across the parks. By participating in these efforts older youth become a force of nature as they develop a sense of ownership and a deeper understanding of local environmental issues and the role they play.
The wide range of projects and staff that volunteers get to engage with allows older youth to explore potential future career interests and get a glimpse into the field of conservation as a career. Additionally, they can earn volunteer hours for things like service hours, scholarships, and college applications.
Some past Conservation in Action Volunteer opportunities have included things such as removing invasive amur honeysuckle, planting native plant plugs, garbage removal, prairie seed collecting, and more
Volunteer Opportunities: Conservation Kids Program Support
Older youth who choose to become official MetroParks volunteers and complete the Conservation Leaders online volunteer training can volunteer to assist and provide program support at our Conservation Kids programs. Conservation Kids programming is for youth ages 3-13 and provides children and families inspiration and knowledge to get outside, play in and explore nature.
With guidance for the lead staff member, older youth can take on a range of responsibilities at these programs based on their comfort level. This can include anything from engaging shy participants, explaining the Conservation Kids program to the participants as part of the introduction, and even presenting information to the group in a fun and engaging way. This not only nurtures program participants but also provides older youth with an opportunity to develop and strengthen their confidence and leadership skills.
