Volunteer Opportunities for All Ages

Friends of Parks
Spring and fall clean up days.  Volunteers to assist park staff in general clean-up, beautification, dock construction and other park enhancement programs.

Golf
Starters - Lyon Oaks
Seasonal (April 1 - November 15). 8 - 16 hours per week
Welcome guests at starting area, inform and educate them about the courses rules, policies and practices, assure an orderly flow of play in accordance with scheduled tee times and coordinate with rangers to maintain proper pace of play. The starter will promote hospitality and good will to all patrons. Must have two years of previous volunteer experience. 

Rangers - Lyon Oaks
Assure that players maintain a proper pace of play, coordinate with starters to maintain that pace of play, inform, educate guests about the course rules, policies and practices, and assist in answering questions and needs.  Promotes hospitality and good will with all patrons, Appearance should be neat and personality upbeat and friendly.

Cart Attendant - Works with the golf carts and guests.  The duties include staging, cleaning and storing golf carts, maintaining a clean working environment, assisting customers with golf carts and performing other duties as needed. Promotes hospitality and good will with all patrons. Not available at Lyon Oaks.

Phones/Pro Shop - Glen Oaks, Red Oaks, Springfield Oaks and White Lake Oaks - Assist in answering phones and scheduling tee times.

Counselor in Training
This program provides students ages 14-17 with leadership and team training, direct experience working with children, and the opportunity to accumulate volunteer hours. It is also an excellent way to get your foot in the door for a great summer job! C.I.T.'s work with mentor counselors to learn how to plan and lead camp activities.

Nature Centers - Lyon Oaks & Lewis Wint at Independence Oaks

Assist with Interpretive Family Programs and Seasonal Special Events - Weekends

Assist with captive animal care - Year round

• Help staff with cleaning, feeding and general maintenance of the centers' captive cold-blooded animals. 

Sensory garden and water garden care -  (May through September)  Lewis Wint Only

• Planting, weeding and general maintenance of the Nature Center's gardens and landscape beds.

Exhibit preparation -  Year-round

• Develop and fabricate exhibit materials for the Centers' exhibit rooms. 

Natural Resource Stewardship Program

Invasive Plant Control – All Parks
Year-round opportunities to help park staff clear invasive plants from park natural areas in an effort to restore wildlife habitat.

• garlic mustard
• buckthorn
• honeysuckle
• autumn olive
• bittersweet

Faunal Surveys:

• Birds - migration and breeding bird surveys
• Butterflies - annual survey day
• Frogs - Temperature-specific nights in April, May and June

Nest Box Monitoring - bluebirds, wood ducks, bats

• Construction of boxes according to approved plan
• Erection/Installation during winter in approved locations
• Monitoring boxes to determine use/success
• Maintenance of boxes

Water Quality Monitoring - Spring & Fall

Assist park staff in monitoring the water quality of park rivers and lakes

• macroinvertebrate surveys
• water chemistry analysis

Photo Monitoring - All parks

Year-round opportunities to assist in documenting ecological restoration efforts, seasonal changes in park natural areas, park flora and fauna, and stewardship and interpretive events.

BMX

• Track maintenance – spring work bee in April.
• Assist in the weekly operation of BMX by providing technical assistance at practices and races. Duties include: bike inspection, registration, scoring, staging, corner marshalling and concessions.

Adaptive Recreation 

• Assist in hosting events for individuals with disabilities.
• Knowledge of disabilities helpful, but not necessary.
• Special events/socials for individuals with disabilities

• Teaching and adapting sports skills for individual with physical disabilities
• Mighty Oaks Adaptive Sports Team - assist weekly with coaching athletes in preparing for competition.
• Wheelchair Sports - assist weekly recreational wheelchair basketball/hockey program

Senior - Master Programs 

• Assist in Bounce Volleyball, Softball, Tennis and Basketball.  Score keeping, drills and clinics weekly depending on season

Campground Recreation - Memorial Day to Labor Day

• Assist with activities for campers at Addison and Groveland Oaks. Activities:  arts & crafts, DJ Dances, face painting, games, etc. Theme weekends include carnival, comedy fun day and blues bash

Special Events 
One day special events. Assist in implementing, assisting, set up and clean up of events.

Dog Park  - Lyon Oaks & Orion Oaks

• Assist in one-day special events
• Annual clean up days

Administrative Assistance

Available at most park locations. Duties vary at each site. 

• Prepare craft materials
• Preparing materials for special events
• Still photography     
• Assist with mailings

Trails

• Assist in construction of hiking, biking or equestrian trails
• Assist in trail clean up and maintenance
• Assist in construction and maintenance of mountain bike trails with the Michigan Mountain Biking Association
• Assist with special trail-related events

Nordic Ski Patrol
Provide the eyes and ears for the park on the trails during the ski season and ensure skier’s safety. Must be able to cross country ski and have outdoor emergency care course along with CPR. Available at Independence Oaks.

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