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, building, helping at park events, working with school children, clearing and maintaining trails, doing 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 or 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…if that is your preference.

Following are just a sampling of the volunteer opportunities available for which we need your help:

Trailblazers—Combine your love of the outdoors with your love of hiking, biking, history, or horseback riding. Become a Stark Parks Trailblazer. Trailblazers provide information and assistance to trail visitors along the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath trail, Hoover Park Trail, and Sippo Valley Trail. Stark Parks provides 24 hours of training in park and canal history, CPR and first aid, bicycle repairs, communication skills, and park regulations. While applications for Trailblazers are accepted year-round, the training takes place in April and May. Trailblazers are expected to provide at least 32 hours of service on the trails annually beginning April 1st., scheduled in 2-4 hour increments at the convenience of the volunteer. The Park District provides Trailblazers with distinctive T-shirts, ball caps, and jackets for use on the trail.

FeLeap Corps—Do you enjoy making children smile? Have you ever been a mascot for an organization or thought it would be fun? Then we hope you will consider joining our FeLeap Corps—volunteers who wear a frog costume and "become" FeLeap the frog, our park district mascot. As the "friendliest frog in town," FeLeap attends park and community events rides in many parades, thrilling youngsters and oldsters alike. This is a popular volunteer opportunity for teenagers, but adults also enjoy the chance to portray FeLeap.

Race Committees—The Friends of Stark Parks sponsor an August running race along the Ohio & Erie Canal. Volunteers are needed to help with water stops, food preparation, timing and registration.

Gardening Committee—If you enjoy or have skills in gardening or landscaping, our natural resources staff can use your help, especially during the weekdays. Occasional weekend projects also are planned. Projects include focal gardens, tree planting, removal of invasive species and planting of wildlife food plots.

Wildlife Rehabilitation—One of the missions of the Sanders Wildlife Rehabilitation Center on the western shore of Sippo Lake Park is the rehabilitation of injured wildlife. If you are trained or have experience with wildlife, our naturalist staff would welcome your help. Please call Jennifer Martin (330) 477-3552 to offer your assistance. All volunteers will be required to attend a series of special volunteer enrichment programs provided by Stark Parks.

Stewardship & Outdoor Surveys—Help the Park District do warm-weather surveys! Species of butterflies, frogs, toads, fish, birds and others need to be counted and documented to help better manage the park system. Survey supplies and training will be provided by the park district. This is a great opportunity for college students!

Trail Historians—Do you like to do historical research? Over the next few years, Stark Parks will be developing hundreds of miles of hiking and bicycling trails throughout the county. We will be erecting interpretive signs along the trails, outlining the trail’s history. If you would like to help us uncover that history, please call Jennifer Martin at (330) 477-3552.