This page is dedicated to listing the various volunteering opportunities available in Central Ohio to get involved and make a contribution towards protecting and conserving the environment. In addition to information about becoming a “long-term” volunteer with organizations such as Metro Parks, ODNR, etc., the page also lists “Call for Volunteers” announcements for any small and “short-term” projects, as short as a single day-project. If you wish to receive direct notification about these announcements and other opportunities, please email Rajat Saksena(saksena.6@osu.edu).
To learn about Citizen Science, read the January 2019 issue of the Project Nature newsletter.
Announcements
Scioto River Cleanup
Sunday, March 15, 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM, The boat ramp on the corner of Home Road and Riverside Drive
A Scioto River Clean-up organized by a Buckeye Valley H.S. Student: Register here
Tree Planting and Cleanup Event – Earth Day Celebration
Saturday, April 4, 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM, Delaware State Park
The Olentangy Watershed Alliance, the Delaware State Park, Keep Delaware County Beautiful, the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, and the City of Delaware Public Utilities Department are partnering to hold a tree planting and clean-up event for the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day! Volunteers will receive a light lunch immediately following the program, compliments of the Delaware State Park. Supplies will be provided, but volunteers are welcome to bring their own shovels and gardening gloves if preferred. Close-toed shoes are required. Participants under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Register here.
Any questions regarding the program can be directed to Caroline Cicerchi at ccicerchi@delawareohio.net
City of Delaware’s Blue Limestone Park Stream Clean-up
Wednesday, April 15, 4:30 PM – 5:30 PM Blue Limestone Park
Join the city of Delaware for a cleanup of the Blue Limestone Park stream. To register, email Caroline Cicerchi at ccicerchi@delawareohio.net
City of Delaware’s Earth Day Tree Planting
Wednesday, April 22, 4:30 PM – 5:30 PM Blue Limestone Park
Come help reforest what will be a new city park in Delaware! The City of Delaware Public Utilities and Parks and Natural Resources Departments are partnering to hold a tree planting event on April 22 from 4:30-5:30 pm. The property does not have an address yet, but is located directly across from the Flats on Houk Apartments (1000 Solomon Square, Delaware, OH 43015). It is on the west side of S. Houk Rd. and south side of Boulder Drive. Parking is available off of Boulder Drive and the adjacent streets. Supplies will be provided but volunteers are encouraged to bring their own garden gloves and shovels if available. The event is open to all. Close-toed shoes must be worn by participants, and anyone under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Questions can be directed to Caroline Cicerchi at ccicerchi@delawareohio.net.
Dandelion Detectives (3rd-7th graders)
The Gardiner Lab at The Ohio State University has launched Dandelion Detectives, a youth-focused citizen science program aimed at measuring the distribution of weeds in US lawns and their value for insects. Inviting school age kids (targeting 3-7th graders) to monitor and collect data about the richness of blooming weeds (or lack thereof) found in their yard. At the end of the project, students will receive a “Student Scientist” certificate and will have access to all of the data collected by the project team!
Lights Out Buckeyes
Join OSU Ornithology Club in collision monitoring to look for injured migrating birds as a result of collision with a building. Volunteers and club members take a walk around buildings early at dawn to search for any fallen birds. Injured birds are taken to the Ohio Wildlife Center and the deceased ones to the OSU Museum of Biological Diversity. To join or for more information, email osubirds@gmail.com. To learn about the hazards these migrating birds face due to the lights in tall buildings at night, read the April issue of Project Nature newsletter.
Other Opportunities
Metro Parks
Opportunities include butterfly survey, bluebird monitoring, vernal pool survey, Project FeederWatch and more.
Chadwick Arboretum
Get involved with lots of restoration projects right on campus!
Ohio Department of Natural Resources – Scenic Rivers Program
Become a Stream Quality Monitor
Ohio Dragonfly Survey
Photograph a dragonfly (or a damselfly), upload on iNaturalist with the date and location information and contribute to the survey
The Nature Conservancy
Volunteer and get involved with a variety of projects
Columbus Audubon Society
Get involved with a variety of citizen science project for birds