Volunteer opportunities

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Share your time and make a difference in your community.

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'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, attend a Volunteering 101 session, ask questions and sign up. Or use the below calendar to find an opportunity based on your preferred dates.

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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

Did you mean: volunteering

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.
Parks and Nature 2018: Nature education and volunteering

Nov. 6, 2018 3:05 p.m.

Nature education programs and volunteer events offer community members opportunities to connect with nature. These types of hands-on activities can provide people with deeper and more enriching experiences.
Parks and Nature 2018: Community investments

Nov. 6, 2018 3:04 p.m.

Community investments fuel a variety of projects: restoration, nature education, outdoor experiences, land acquisition, capital improvements, visitor amenities and more. Altogether over the last 25 years, the public – through Metro – has invested more than $90 million to support a broad range of community nature projects across the region, helping to preserve land, restore habitat, expand access and more.
Parks and Nature 2018: Diversity, equity and inclusion

Nov. 6, 2018 3:03 p.m.

Over the past year, the Parks and Nature Department created its Racial Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan. The action plan comprises more than 80 actions – some multi-year, department-wide undertakings, others short-term, discrete tasks – that work toward Metro’s racial equity goals.