VOLUNTEER PROGRAM
Stark Parks Wants YOU as a Volunteer
There are many opportunities for volunteers of all ages at the Stark County Parks. Whether you're interested in hiking, bicycling, gardening, fishing, helping at special events, working with school children or the elderly, clearing and maintaining trails, conducting historical research, or supporting our wildlife rehabilitation program, fun awaits you as a Stark Parks volunteer. Flexibility is a key component of our volunteer program, with short-term and long-term opportunities available during weekdays and weekends. If you live near one of our parks, we will find a project to keep you close to home, or experience other parks and facilities throughout Stark County.
Volunteers under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
Following are volunteer opportunities available for which we need your help:
TRAILBLAZERS:
Combine your love of the outdoors through hiking, biking, or horseback riding. Trailblazers provide information and assistance to trail visitors along the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath trail, Olde Muskingum Trail, Hoover Park Trail, Sippo Valley Trail, and Whitacre-Greer Equestrian Park. Stark Parks provides 24 hours of training in park and canal history, CPR and First Aid, bicycle repair, and park regulations. Applications for Trailblazers are accepted throughout the year, with training in February and March. Trailblazers are expected to provide at least 32 hours of service a year beginning in April.
FELEAP:
Meet and greet park patrons while portraying the park's official mascot "FeLeap." Volunteers will portray FeLeap during park district events, parades or events sponsored by other organizations where appearance of FeLeap is requested. FeLeap does not talk, he gives hugs, high-fives and handshakes to the young and old while distributing park information.
WILDLIFE REHABILITATION/PROGRAM ANIMAL ASSISTANT:
Assist staff with feeding, watering, and cleaning cages for park program animals and rehab animals. Help care for injured or abandoned animals or have a chance to interact with the program animals by enrichment activities such as walking, sunning, or handling most animals. Volunteers are required to attend a series of special volunteer enrichment programs provided by Stark Parks.
SPECIAL EVENTS ASSISTANT:
Like being in large crowds and working with all ages? Volunteers will assist park district staff in an array of different duties for special events in a variety of park locations throughout Stark County. Duties include but not limited to concessions, fishing assistance, photography, information distribution, game and craft assistance, assisting at running races, booth coverage.
EDUCATION PROGRAM ASSISTANT:
Volunteers will assist the Education staff with curriculum based programs at schools and other locations. Assistance will include distributing materials, reading stories, showcasing the learning materials used in the program, and the possibility of leading programs or nature hikes as skills develop or when comfort with curriculum content is established. Volunteers are required to be comfortable speaking to any size audience, and past teaching experience preferable.
INFORMATION DESK:
Assist park staff with administrative duties at the main office off of Perry Drive or the Education department at its two locations off Genoa NW or the Exploration Gateway off 12th Street. Duties will include answering telephone calls, organizing department materials, filing, and various other clerical duties. Volunteers are required to have computer skills and be familiar with Microsoft Office.
PONTOON DRIVERS:
Captain a park pontoon boat and provide a brief history of the lake to riders on either Walborn Reservoir in Alliance or Sippo Lake Park in Perry Township. Volunteers are required to complete and pass the Ohio Boaters Education Course and CPR/First Aid Certification, both offered by the park district.
CONSERVATIONIST:
Support the park in its efforts to maintain beautiful, safe, clean parks for recreation by the public. Duties are but not limited to, park clean up recycling, gardening, and invasive species removal.
DOCENT:
Docents are trained volunteers that conduct guided tours and programs through the Congressman Ralph Regula Canalway Center at Sippo Lake. Participants will learn the stories that helped shape Stark County and transition it from a wilderness frontier to a major stop on the Ohio & Erie Canal, an important industrial area, and the environment that we live with.
To become a volunteer, please complete the Volunteer Application and the Authorization Form and return to the Stark Parks Volunteer Coordinator at
Stark County Park District, 5712 12th St NW, Canton, Ohio 44708. Fax 330-409-8990. For information or for questions call 330-477-3552.