Volunteer:
Butler Environmental Stewardship Team
Be one of the BEST and join Butler Soil and Water for Volunteer Stewardship Saturdays. Throughout the coming months, we plan to remove honeysuckle, label storm drains, clean up a stream, and collect stream biology samples. We have volunteer events that are suitable for all ages, and can sign volunteer paperwork for students.
Thank you to everyone who volunteered in 2023. We had 16 projects with 275 volunteers completing almost 600 hours of service!
Sign Up as to Volunteer
Sign up to volunteer for one or more opportunities. If you have any issues, contact Lynn directly.
If interested in an event, you can sign-up to volunteer through multiple platforms:
Volunteer Waiver
We always have copies of our waiver at events, however we also have it available here. If you are under 18, and plan to attend without your parent or guardian, you will need to please print this form and have it signed by them.
Age Range
Many of our events are family friendly, however those under the age of 16 must have an adult with them.
Join the Volunteer Email List
Complete the form and check the volunteer box. We will send a monthly email with upcoming volunteer opportunities.
2024 Events
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Saturday, April 6 from 9 am - 12 noon in Hamilton
Tree seedling packaging. This event will have limited numbers. -
Saturday, April 20 from 9 am - 12 noon in West Chester
Cleanup along the canal and bike trail through Ellis Lake Wetlands and Gilmore Ponds. -
May, all month
BioBlitz at Bulls Run Nature Sanctuary and Arboretum in Middletown -
Thursday, June 20: from 6 - 8 pm at Dudley Woods Park in Liberty Twp
Stream habitat volunteer training. Learn how to use a key to assess fish habitat. -
Thursday, June 27: from 6 - 8 pm at Dudley Woods Park in Liberty Twp
Stream biology volunteer training. Learn how to study stream bugs, then head out on you own time -
Wednesday, July 17, from 6 - 8 pm in West Chester
Weeding a garden at Hopewell Early Childhood School -
Wednesday, August 14, from 9 - 11 am in Hamilton
Weeding a rain garden and composting area at Butler SWCD -
Saturday, September 21 from 9 am - 12 noon. Various locations.
Clean Sweep of the Great Miami River -
Saturday, October 26, from 9 am - 12 noon in Liberty Twp
Invasive removal at Dudley Woods Park. -
Thursday, December 7, 6 - 8 pm in Hamilton
Create Wildlife Friendly Holiday Decorations at Butler SWCD
Anytime Events
Storm Drain Labeling
..... in West Chester, Liberty, and Fairfield Townships. Pickup supplies from our office, then head out anytime the weather is dry to label drains in your neighborhood. You can spend as much or as little time on this project. To receive supplies, please contact us at 513-887-3720 or by email.
Thanks for your interest in volunteering with us. If you have any questions about any of these projects, please contact us at 513-887-3720 or by email.
Newsletters
Going Batty!
In February, we will build some bat boxes. We are looking for people that are handy with tools, although the wood is being pre-cut by another volunteer prior to the event. Due to the cost of materials, we will only be making about 8 boxes, and so will be seeking a small group of volunteers.
Prior to the box building, we are hosting an awesome speaker who will share information on native Ohio bats, benefits of bats, threats to bats, and how to attract them to your property. If you cannot volunteer to build the boxes, we hope that you can join us for the speaker.
Ellis Lake Wetlands Cleanup
Saturday, April 20
This is an important birding corridor where we see bald eagles, great horned owls, yellow crowned night heron, and more. Some of the trash has been dropped by bikers and walkers, but more of it is entering the wetlands from roadways and storm drains. This will be our 4th year at Ellis and our second at Gilmore.
What to bring:
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Old clothes
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Rubber boots are recommended if you want to get to the areas with the most trash. If you don't have any, you can still clean up along the trail.
Storm Drain Labeling
When: Anytime the roads are dry
Where: West Chester, Liberty, Fairfield, St Clair, Madison, and Lemon Townships if they have storm drains.
What: Use a wire brush to clean the next to the drain, then use glue to add a "No Polluting" decal.
Why: In Butler County, storm drains simply empty into the nearest creek or pond. Often this rain water picks up pollutants along the way such as motor oil, pet waste, litter, and takes it on the same journey to the creek.
Who: Any age
Questions: Contact Lynn White at whitelr@butlercountyohio.org
River Cleanups
We hold several river cleanups each year including:
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Great Miami River (September)
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Mill Creek (early October)
We would love if you join us for one of these cleanups, however we have the supplies if there is a river or creek near you that you would be interested in cleaning up at any time of the year..
Storm Drain Labeling
In Butler County, storm drains simply empty into the nearest creek or pond. Often this rain water picks up pollutants along the way such as motor oil, pet waste, litter, and takes it on the same journey to the creek. Sometimes people even put used oil and paint straight down the storm drain thinking it will be cleaned. We work with the Butler County Storm Water District to provide you all of the supplies that you need to label your neighborhood. You can label as large or as small an area that you choose. You can go out anytime the weather is just right (not extremely hot or cold).
Butler County Stream Team
Stream Team volunteers help to monitor the water quality in our local streams and rivers. We have monitors that study the biology of the creek (looking for baby dragonflies, donsonfly larvae and more). We also have volunteers who collect sample for testing the chemistry of the water, and last but not least we even have volunteers that run this chemical testing in our lab in Oxford. Find out more about Stream Team.
Earth Team Volunteers
Earth Team is a volunteer program ran by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). When you sign up as an Earth Team Volunteer, you are on your way to becoming a caretaker of natural resources in your community. When you volunteer you may assist with improving wildlife habitat, providing conservation education to adults and students, community outreach and many more interesting opportunities.
Please contact our NRCS staff to find out more..