Over 300 volunteers enjoyed great weather, the traveling animal show,a behind the scenes experience, and fun at the Zoo on June 15th!The 2013 picnic has been scheduled for Friday, June 14th at the Zoo,so save the date!

Cleveland Metroparks Volunteer Services 4101 Fulton Parkway Cleveland, OH 44144 216-635-3258 hal@clevelandmetroparks.com

Fall/Winter 2012

Don’t miss another night at the zoo!UPCOMING EVENTS

AND OPPORTUNITIES

What’s Next for Cleveland Metroparks Volunteer Services?Over the next five years, Volunteer Services is expected to grow substantially, expand itsreach into the community and offer new opportunities in which volunteers may share theirskills and experience! This “vision” for Volunteer Services includes, but is not limited to,the following:

• Active citizen science volunteer corps• Active trail volunteer corps (Trail Monitors, trail maintenance, Adopt a Trail)• Corporate volunteer engagement• Youth program• Family volunteer opportunities

As these and other opportunities are being developed and implemented your input andsupport as it relates to these new opportunities is appreciated. If you feel there is a potentialnew or expanded volunteer activity that you would like to see considered, please feel free toshare your suggestions! I hope that all current volunteers will view this expansion for what itis, an exciting and positive opportunity for the Park District and members of the communityto continue their work together for the betterment and continuation of Cleveland Metroparks!

Heather TriplettManager of Volunteer Services

New Volunteer DatabaseBy the end of this year,Volunteer Services will rollout a new volunteer database!This has significantimpact internally as to how on-site coordinatorsandVolunteer Services staff track and report yourtime contribution, trainings, recognition,contact,and other information.

For new volunteers,a new online application willbe available which will feed information into thedatabase upon acceptance intoVolunteer Services.

For current volunteers,you will finally be able toaccess your volunteer record from any computer(with an email address and password).Byaccessing your record,you will be able to viewyour hour entries and total volunteer hours. Inaddition,you will have the ability to update yourcontact information, including email addressesand phone numbers!

The new volunteer database is a web-based,hosted program which ensures security of yourinformation as well as ease of access from anycomputer.

Information about the new volunteer databasewill be sent to all current volunteers by the endof the year!

SEPTEMBER 8 Monarch MagicNORTH CHAGRIN RESERVATION

SEPTEMBER 16 Cedar Valley Settlers Celebration& Music FestivalROCKY RIVER RESERVATION

SEPTEMBER 16 Emerald Necklace RallyOHIO & ERIE CANAL RESERVATION

SEPTEMBER 22 Ledges to Lake Adventure RaceHINCKLEY RESERVATION

SEPTEMBER 30 FallFest: 18th Century FestivalBRECKSVILLE RESERVATION

OCTOBER Fall Hayrides & Square DancingSATURDAYS & SUNDAYS MILL STREAM RUN RESERVATION

OCTOBER 6 Ranger Open HouseROCKY RIVER RESERVATION — RANGER HEADQUARTERS

OCTOBER 13 Outdoor OdysseyOHIO & ERIE CANAL RESERVATION

OCTOBER North Chagrin Nature13 & 14 Photography Weekend

NORTH CHAGRIN RESERVATION

NOVEMBER “Reflections of Nature”10 & 11 Quilt Show

ROCKY RIVER RESERVATION

NOVEMBER 25 First Day of TobogganingMILL STREAM RUN RESERVATION

DECEMBER 8 & 9 Reflections of Nature Craft ShowROCKY RIVER RESERVATION

Please contact Heather at 216-635-3258if you are interested in assisting at orattending any of these events.

Volunteers enjoy the2012 picnic at the Zoo!

VolunteerMary Kiczek assists with inventory duringher shift at the new EarthWords Nature Shop at HinckleyLake Boathouse and Store.

Volunteers Roger andDee Loos greet visitorsand answer questions aspart of their shift as Na-ture Education Building(NEB) volunteers.

EarthWordsNature Shops

North Chagrin Nature Center

NATURETRACKS/ECO EXPLORERSThe NatureTracks and Eco Explorers Outreachprograms have been busy this year travellingaround Cuyahoga County providing educationalprograms for school and senior groups, festivalsand special events.Eco Explorers has offeredmultiple teacher workshops with assistance fromvolunteers.Our volunteers also assist regularly inassembling teacher kits while providing the bestvisitor experience during special events likeBugCity andTouchATruck. If you are interestedin volunteering for NatureTracks or Eco Explorersactivities,please call 216-341-1707.

YOUTH OUTDOORSYouth Outdoors (YO) provides opportunitiesfor urban youth to experience nature and gainvaluable life skills through outdoor adventurerecreation.Activities include hiking, exploringstreams, biking, fishing, canoeing, kayaking,horseback riding, camping, rock climbing,cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, natureexploration and community service. Childrenages 8–18 years become involved in YouthOutdoors through adventure clubs based at

City of Cleveland recreation centers and otherurban organizations.

Adult volunteers are an essential part of YouthOutdoors, providing assistance on outings andencouraging youth success.Volunteers are alsovital for the annual May fishing derbies and theOutdoor Odyssey special event (to be heldon October 13, 2012 at Ohio & Erie CanalReservation) which reaches out to youth andfamilies that may not be aware of all therecreational opportunities available withinCleveland Metroparks.

Committed YO volunteers also have theopportunity to participate in a variety oftraining activities which enhance their skillsand leadership abilities, making them moreeffective on YO programs.

YO welcomes volunteers who have apassion for helping youth discover natureand developing skills that last a lifetime.For more information about volunteeringwith YO clubs and events, contact Greg atYouth Outdoors, 216-206-1010 orgmy@clevelandmetroparks.com.

Have you visited our native gardens around the nature center and Nature Education Building?Well, maybe you haven’t, but many special guests have ... we call them “weeds” and “weedwhackers” are what we need. If you would like to join our gardening team, please call thenature center. Other areas that need volunteer assistance are hosting the Nature EducationBuilding and live animal care (including: owls, flying squirrels, fish, amphibians and reptiles).If you like retail and love meeting

new friendly folks, please considervolunteering at one of our fourshops. Each shop is unique and veryspecific to its location, which presentsdifferent volunteer opportunities ateach store. Hinckley Lake Boathouseand Store offers volunteers a chanceto help boaters and fishermen followtheir passion. Volunteers at oursmaller shop at CanalWay Centercan also help welcome visitors tothe building, as well as help withbike rentals. If you volunteer at theshops in Rocky River and NorthChagrin Nature Centers, you canchoose to be a part of many of thespecial events offered at the centers.

No matter where you choose to offeryour time and talent, all EarthWordsvolunteers are able to interact withcustomers, ring up sales, work withnew products, maintain a clean shop,control inventory, help at our uniqueevents ... AND get a 15% discount!!

Come join us!!

featured volunteer opportunity

featured volunteer opportunity

Park Manager HighlightEach of Cleveland Metroparks 16 reservations have a park manager who plans, develops, directs, and manages a comprehensivenatural-resource-based park reservation with respect to each reservation’s physical facility inventory. Each manager works toenhance services, facilitates collaboration among community organizations, and supports agencies and stewardship partners.The park manager is typically the main contact for community service groups who register to complete a done-in-a-day projectwith Cleveland Metroparks. In 2011, over 1,000 individuals as part of community service groups contributed 6,000 hours toreservation-based projects.

In recognition of their efforts and to introduce you to Cleveland Metroparks park managers, some of these individuals will behighlighted in this and future newsletter issues. I hope you enjoy learning more about the park managers who were each askedto share the following responses:

1. How long and in what capacity (capacities) have you worked for Cleveland Metroparks?2. What do you enjoy most about working with volunteers?3. Share a personal note about yourself.

Shamar YoungSouth Chagrin Reservation

In 2008, Shamar Youngcame to ClevelandMetroparks as a managertrainee. Initially stationedat South ChagrinReservation, Shamar

then continued his trainee days atBrookside Reservation. In June 2009,Shamar was named park manager atBrookside then moved back to SouthChagrin, his current location, in March2010 as park manager.

On September 8, 2012, Shamarassisted with the coordination of ourlargest done-in-a-day project yet. With500 individuals in attendance, Shamarand his colleagues planned activities toengage this group to assist with manyactivities throughout South ChagrinReservation! Shamar enjoys workingwith groups, as he states, “I enjoy theirenthusiasm. Volunteers want to do thework. They are engaged because of thesense of pride and opportunity to giveback to the community, or in our casethe parks that they enjoy.”

On a personal note, Shamar shares,“I enjoy spending time with my sonsAaron and Isaiah, and all sorts ofoutdoor recreational activities. I havethree dogs and several fish tanks, andI also love riding my motorcycle on theparkway and “back roads” throughoutthe area.”

Gary BaranBradley Woods & Huntington Reservations

Gary Baran has beenworking with ClevelandMetroparks for almost13 years! For the pastfive years, Gary has beenpark manager at Bradley

Woods and Huntington Reservations.Prior to that time, he was park managerat Ohio & Erie Canal Reservation.

Gary states, “I enjoy the enthusiasmthat volunteer groups bring to thetasks we ask them to do. For example,the KeyBank group has really takenownership of the annual planting bedclean-up project in front of the LakeErie Nature and Science Center (LENSC)at Huntington Reservation. All of thevolunteers from KeyBank work in anoffice, so they really seem to enjoybeing outdoors for a day, have a funtime together, and are very proud ofthe finished product.”

Away from work, Gary states, “I am mostproud of my marriage of 36 years to mywife, Polly. We have two great kids wholive nearby, and are doing very well intheir respective occupations. We arealso looking forward to the birth ofour first grandchild in October.”

Rob AngiocchiBedford & West Creek Reservations

Rob Angiocchi startedhis career with ClevelandMetroparks as a seasonalemployee in 1992.Since that time, Robhas worked in a variety

of positions including Natural ResourcesSpecialist, Handyperson, Technician, andManagement Trainee. He has been in hiscurrent role of park manager for almost10 years! Currently Rob oversees themanagement of Bedford and West CreekReservations.

When asked what he enjoys most aboutworking with volunteers, Rob replies, “Ienjoy working with individuals or groupsin the reservations allowing them to“give back” to the parks that they enjoyso much. They can truly feel a sense ofpride and ownership for the contributionsthey provide. I can definitely relate, asit is the same reason that I chose thisprofession. The volunteers also provideus with tremendous service and workthat we simply would not be able toaccomplish without their help.”

Aside from his professional life, Robstates, “I am a passionate anglerand camper, enjoying these outdooractivities with my lovely wife Christineand daughters Faith and Katie.”

The Volunteer Vista section provides an opportunity to get to know fellow Cleveland Metroparks volunteers. On-sitevolunteer coordinators submit suggestions for which volunteer to highlight. From those suggestions, volunteernames are selected at random.

HOW DID YOU GET INVOLVED WITH CLEVELAND METROPARKS?Tom recalls exactly how he found out aboutvolunteering with Cleveland Metroparks! In October2008, Tom was on his Sunday morning bike ridefrom Cleveland Heights to North Chagrin, which hehas been doing for 20 years! During his ride, Tommentions, “I saw Trail Monitors ride by so I asked themabout the program. I knew I wanted to get involved.”Although Tom was unable to get involved immediately,he finally started with the Trail Monitor program in2010! Tom also got involved with the Ash Tree Surveyin 2011. As a registered consulting arborist andgeneral manager with Forest City Tree Protection Co.,it was a natural fit for Tom to assist with the Ash TreeSurvey and an opportunity to utilize his experienceand skills.

MOST MEMORABLE VOLUNTEER MOMENTSOf the different activities that Tom has assistedwith, his most memorable moments come from thegratitude that visitors express while he is out on thetrails. Whether is it Trail Monitoring, assisting with theAsh Tree Survey or helping with deer telemetry, thereis usually someone on the trail who thanks Tom for hisservice! Tom also mentions, “Besides the regularvolunteer activities, I had an opportunity to assist witha Tour de Necklace bike program. It was great to helpwith a different activity and use my biking skills andknowledge of the parks in a different way.”

WHY DO YOU VOLUNTEER?Tom has always been involved as a volunteer insome capacity. Tom mentions, “My parents used tovolunteer with church. My father helped fixed things.I followed that volunteer example.” During his late

TOM MUGRIDGE

teen years, Tom managed little league teams. For thepast 27 years Tom has been a member of HillcrestRotary Club! During that time, he has held allpositions within the organization and is the currentchair of their Taste of Hillcrest fundraiser, a positionwhich he has held for eight years. He also donatestime through his company.

In addition to volunteering, Tom enjoys biking andtraveling. He has visited all 50 states! Tom hasenjoyed visiting most of those locations with hiswife, Pat, of 35 years!

COMMENTS FROM NATURAL RESOURCES AND TRAIL MONITORSTAFFIn recognition of Tom’s volunteer contribution, NaturalResources Manager of Field Research, Terry Robison,Plant and Restoration Ecologist, Constance Hausman,and Wildlife Research Coordinator, Sara Kennedy,state, “Tom has been a stellar and reliable volunteerfor the spotlighting, telemetry and ash mappingprojects. He is dependable and brings with him aknowledge of the outdoors that he's gained from hispersonal experiences and business. Accuracy of thedata collected for these projects is of the utmostimportance, and we know we can trust the data Tomprovides us. Tom has also been available on shortnotice to cover for cancellations by others.” In addition,Tom Laskowski, Trail Monitor East Region Coordinator,shares, “Tom has been monitoring the eastern parkssince 2010. During those 2 years he is one of thetrail monitors that consistently provides suggestions,pertinent maintenance concerns and ideas to keepthe parks in their best possible condition. I amcertainly grateful to him for being on our team.”

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Volunteer Vista

Cleveland MetroparksVolunteer TomMugridge

FAVORITE VOLUNTEER ACTIVITY:

Tom enjoys all the activities that he participatesin at Cleveland Metroparks. However, if he has tochoose a favorite, Trail Monitoring would top thelist. Tom states, “It is fun to meet new monitoringpartners and nice visitors. Visitors often thankyou for being out on the trails. It is also nice todevelop new friendships while hiking or bikingwith different Trail Monitor partners.”

VOLUNTEER SITE/PROGRAM:

Natural ResourcesTrail Monitor