Current opportunities
Volunteers help RDCO affect positive change by maintaining trails, helping with special events, connecting park visitors to nature and building relationships and connections around the region. If you are interested in volunteering, you can apply online or email parks.volunteers@rdco.com.
Volunteer roles
Volunteer opportunities in Regional Parks contribute to the conservation and enhancement of local ecosystems. There are projects for a wide variety of skill levels, abilities and ages. Youth under 16 years old must be accompanied by a parent/guardian. Youth 17 and 18 years old must have a parent/guardian sign a waiver.
Volunteer role descriptions:
| Environmental steward |
| An Environmental Steward is interested in getting involved in the work that keeps our parks thriving and beautiful. They will participate in projects that affect positive environmental change and ensure a biodiverse environment within RDCO Regional Parks. Environmental Stewards will participate in various activities from removing weeds to surveying local birds and wildlife. They will have opportunities to participate in specific ecological projects throughout the year. Environmental Stewards believe that the wellness of nature starts close to home and they want parks to be beautiful and thriving for generations to come. |
| Park ambassador |
| A Park Ambassador volunteer wants to connect with like-minded people, keep the parks beautiful, stay active and interact with park visitors. They are excited to participate in the various programs Regional Parks has to offer and have a strong interest and/or knowledge of nature, biodiversity, education, engaging with different age groups and/or learning about the wildlife, plants, and life cycles of the parks. The Park Ambassador may be an avid hiker, biker, walker, or park user and feels a strong connection to the RDCO Regional Parks and the community they create. Park Ambassadors will help by connecting visitors to nature, assisting with trail hikes, cleaning up Regional Parks and beaches, and/or sharing educational resources about the wildlife in each park. |
| Park partners |
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Park partners are volunteer groups who want to come together and volunteer their time for a short-term project of their choosing. Typically, these volunteers come from local schools, businesses or organizations that have a strong connection to Regional Parks and want to keep the parks beautiful. Park partners may also want to engage their students or employees with Regional Parks to strengthen their connection to nature and instill a sense of environmental stewardship amongst their teams. If your group has an idea for clean-up, replanting, maintenance, surveying, community engagement, education and/or environmental projects please contact Park Volunteer Coordinator. |
| Special events volunteer |
| A Special Events volunteer is enthusiastic about socializing with others and having fun at various park events. They share energy, passion, and experience by assisting the Event Planner and Park Interpreters during special events held throughout the Regional Parks. A Special Events volunteer helps people in the community participate in a variety of park events, positively engage the public, and develop a fun atmosphere. Volunteer tasks vary according to the style, length, and focus of the event. Duties may include: guiding participants through a craft, leading participants in an activity or game, providing directions and information, responding to public inquiries about regional parks or the event, assisting with the set-up or take down of event equipment, serving at a food and beverage station, attending a display booth, and assisting visitors to participate in event activities. Additional training will be provided for event-specific tasks. |
"Friends of" groups
Some parks have non-profit groups of volunteers that work with parks staff on projects and activities in specific parks. Projects vary and could be long-term or on a one-time basis.
You can find information on these groups on the following pages: