| PROGRAM |
DIVISION |
CONTACT/DESCRIPTION |
| Boating Volunteers |
Watercraft |
Contact Rob Lucas or 614-265-6504 for application procedures. Dedicated group of volunteers contributing to boating safety. Assist staff in providing services to boaters in river and water rescue, sailing and canoeing courses, general boating safety programs, and enforcement support. Applications year-round. |
| Canal Program |
Water |
Contact Hung Thai, 614/265-6714
Civic and community organizations help protect and improve Ohio's historic canals. Volunteers work with the division's maintenance personnel clearing brush and picking up litter/debris from the banks of the Ohio & Erie Canal between Barberton and Akron in Summit County, and on the Miami & Erie Canal in west-central Ohio from Ft. Loramie to Delphos. |
| Field Work |
Nat. Areas |
Contact Dee Hammel, 614-265-6377
Researching and monitoring rare and endangered plants and animals, surveying aquatic ecosystems, conducting public interpretive programs, and field operations such as trail maintenance.
|
| Hunter Education Course |
Wildlife |
Contact Division of Wildlife, 1-800-WILDLIFE
All first-time hunters in Ohio must attend a hunter education class. An average of 22,000 students are trained each year by a large volunteer corps. Instructors must successfully complete a hunter education course and attend a three-day hunter education instructor academy. |
| Instructors for Ohio Boating Education Course |
Watercraft |
Contact Doug Golding or 614-265-6652, or see the application online. Volunteers needed to teach the eight-hour Ohio Boating Education Course. Must be 21 years of age or older. Applications accepted year-round. |
| Seed Collection |
Forestry |
Contact Tom Berger, 614-265-6706
Annual collection of tree seeds to be used for seedling production at state forest nurseries. |
| Smokey Bear/Ohio State Fair |
Forestry |
Contact Division of Forestry, 614-265-6694
Volunteers act as "voice" of the 14-1/2 foot talking bear during the Ohio State Fair in Columbus; other volunteers greet and interact with children. |
| Soil and Water Conservation Districts |
Soil |
Contact your local SWCD office. SWCDs use volunteers at the local level for such programs as Green Thumb, tree packing, surveying, office work, computer data entry, education, and other projects. |
| State Forests |
Forestry |
Contact Division of Forestry, 614-265-6694
Individuals, families, and groups assist with hiking and bridle-trail maintenance and improvement, litter clean-ups, tree plantings, and presenting environmental education programs. Opportunities are available at the 20 state forests throughout Ohio. |
| Stream Quality Monitoring |
Nat. Areas |
Contact 614-265-6460. Over 5,000 volunteers participate in sampling water quality and health of scenic rivers. Provides environmental education. Samples collected forwarded to Ohio EPA. |
| Volunteers In Parks |
Parks |
Contact Jim Henahan, 614-265-6549. Started in 1982 to offer increased public service opportunities to visitors; some 3000 VIPs provide a variety of services such as interpretive programs, campground support, trail maintenance, litter pickup, etc. Options: Individuals, Groups, Campground Hosts, Green Teens, Junior VIPs, Adopt-A-Trail. Offered to people with special skills or a specific age group while retaining the flexibility to meet the unique needs of each park and volunteer. Volunteers, whether individuals or groups, can get involved in the several programs. |