Volunteer opportunities

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Share your time and make a difference in your community.

photo of amphibian egg mass monitors at Clear Creek Natural Area

Volunteers wade through a pond at Clear Creek Natural Area near Carver to survey amphibian egg masses in February 2015.

Amphibian egg mass monitors wade through a pond at Clear Creek Natural Area.

Metro's Native Plant Center offers three different volunteer programs that all support regional restoration efforts.

Metro can accommodate large groups of volunteers, including community and corporate groups, team-building activities, and hands-on service learning for schools or scouts.

Metro can accommodate large groups of volunteers, including community and corporate groups, team-building activities, and hands-on service learning for schools and scouts.

Volunteer grounds assistants help take care of Metro's historic cemeteries and regional parks.

Volunteer grounds assistant help take care of Metro's historic cemeteries and regional parks.

When you join the ranks of Metro volunteers, you meet intriguing people, explore some of the region’s most scenic destinations and gain many new skills. You become part of the community of people who make a difference — the very people who help make the Portland region a great place to live. Plus, it’s fun and easy.

Opportunities range from one-time volunteer events to seasonal and ongoing programs.

Find the perfect opportunity for you, your family or a group. Learn about the next steps, ask questions and sign up. Or use the below calendar to find an opportunity based on your preferred dates.

Get started

Parks and nature opportunities

Getting started

Find out how to get started as a Metro volunteer.
Group volunteer opportunities

Metro can work with your organization to tailor projects for groups of any size, age, purpose or ability.
Amphibian survey

Pull on chest waders, grab a spoon, and search for frog and salamander egg masses as you help regional restoration efforts.
Native Plant Center

Support regional restoration projects by caring for rare native plant materials at Metro’s Native Plant Center in Tualatin. Four different opportunities are available.
Trail count volunteer

Want to help gather valuable information about how people use trails? The data gathered will guide planning and development of the region's trail system and help support requests for funding.
Eagle Scout and Gold Award projects

Earn your badge by working on a project at a Metro site.

Additional opportunities

Calendar

Current volunteers

Contact

Volunteer stories

Sellwood neighbors rally round community center

By Samantha Kar
Oct. 10, 2019 5:37 p.m.

Facing an end to city funding, Southeast Portland residents take over operation.
Salmon Homecoming grows with Indigenous traditions over the years

By Cristle Jose
Oct. 4, 2019 4:30 p.m.

Two years ago, Indigenous community members helped re-envision Salmon Homecoming to incorporate their cultural traditions into a popular event that, for decades, had been framed around western concepts of nature education. Now the two-day event includes Indigenous storytelling, tea preparation, drumming, a Salmon Bake, and native plant walks introducing people to Indigenous perspectives on plants, animals and water.
Best of summer

July 12, 2019 1:02 p.m.

Parks and Nature staff members share their favorite summer destinations.
Metro Central enhancement grant applications due Sept. 13

June 17, 2019 3:44 p.m.

Metro has almost $300,000 available for community enhancement grants to build vibrant communities, protect clean air and water, maintain healthy ecosystems and improve regional equity in Northwest Portland neighborhoods.
Metro awards $800k for Nature in Neighborhood grants

By Cristle Jose
June 10, 2019 2:23 p.m.

Metro’s Nature in Neighborhoods go to programs that support community partnerships to improve water quality, fish and wildlife habitat, and economic and environmental equity.
Partners combine efforts to tackle invasive weeds along Clackamas River

By Cristina Rojas
March 26, 2019 2:03 p.m.

An initiative now in its third year aims to coordinate efforts between federal, state, regional, and local partners and private landowners in managing invasive species and preventing the introduction or spread of new species across the 600,700-acre Clackamas River Basin.
Housing bond oversight committee appointed by Metro Council

Jan. 31, 2019 3:32 p.m.

The committee of 13 community members will focus on accountability and transparency in delivering housing for 12,000 people in the greater Portland area.
From trash to treasure – seeding change at St. Johns Prairie

By Elayna Yussen
Dec. 31, 2018 2:10 p.m.

Metro is transforming the landscape at St. Johns Landfill through a multi-year habitat restoration effort. Atop the closed landfill, a beautiful prairie is emerging – alive with native plants and wildflowers, rare birds and other wildlife.
Parks and Nature 2018: Continued investments protect clean water, healthy habitat, connect people to nature close to home

Nov. 6, 2018 3:09 p.m.

Metro is starting to explore the possibility of referring a third bond measure to voters, perhaps in 2019, that could support continued investments in protecting land, improving parks and natural areas and supporting community projects.
Parks and Nature 2018: Access to nature

Nov. 6, 2018 3:07 p.m.

Metro councilors in January unanimously approved the Willamette Falls Riverwalk master plan, the long-term vision that will guide development and public access at the former Blue Heron paper mill site in downtown Oregon City. Construction at Killin Wetlands Nature Park allowed the new park to open in September 2018. And places like Newell Creek Canyon, East Council Creek and Gabbert Butte are taking shape, too.