Throughout the year, volunteer opportunities are available for individuals and groups at Raven Run Nature Sanctuary, McConnell Springs Park, Hisle Farm Park and other parks throughout Lexington. Our most in-depth opportunity for volunteers is the Natural Areas Stewardship Program (NASP). Through a series of six training sessions, participants are trained in the areas of environmental education, interpretation, outdoor safety, land management and other skills. This program is cohort-based and meets at McConnell Springs Park and Raven Run Nature Sanctuary weekly.
If you are interested in becoming an advocate for natural spaces, engaging with your community, and spending more time outside, NASP may be a perfect fit for you! Contact Anna Wiker, Park Naturalist at Raven Run Nature Sanctuary, for more information or to get your name on the list for the next cohort of NASP participants.
Other volunteer opportunities in Natural Areas
McConnell Springs Park
McConnell Springs Park holds a regular volunteer day called Weekend Workout on the third Saturday of each month at 10am. The tasks performed during Weekend Workout will vary depending on the season and needs of the park, all tools and other supplies will be available to participants. A new reoccurring volunteer opportunity, the Honeysuckle Hunt, is an ongoing effort to remove invasive bush honeysuckle from different areas of the park to help improve the native habitat of the property. This event will be held every other Friday at 1pm throughout 2023 and will use different removal techniques depending on season and location of the plants. Other volunteer tasks are available throughout the year and will be posted as needed.
Raven Run Nature Sanctuary
Raven Run Nature Sanctuary holds volunteer mornings on the first Saturday of most months from 10 a.m. until noon, focusing on whatever project is the highest priority depending on the season. Each year for several weeks in the early spring, we host the Great Garlic Mustard Removal, a self-directed volunteer effort to remove invasive garlic mustard from the park; dates for this year’s GGMR can be found by visiting our events page. Special volunteer efforts like cemetery cleanup and repair and habitat restoration occur throughout the year and will also be listed on our events page as scheduled.
Other opportunities
Don’t see what you are looking for? Contact Jennifer Sanchez, Natural Areas Superintendent, to discuss tailored opportunities within natural areas for yourself or your group at jsanchez@lexingtonky.gov.