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.
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Thank you to everyone who volunteered in 2024. We had 18 projects!
Join the Volunteer Email List
Complete the form and check the volunteer box. We will send a monthly email with upcoming volunteer opportunities.​
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2025 Events
Looking towards 2026. If you have any ideas for projects, please let me know. Email​
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September - October, BioBlitz at Bulls Run Arboretum using iNaturalist to add to their Spring 2024 data.
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September - October, only when they are ripe. Collect milkweed seed pods and drop in the green and yellow tote at the Butler SWCD office. 1802 Princeton Road, Hamilton, OH 45011. Find out more on our pollinator page.
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September 20, 9 am - 12 noon. Clean Sweep of the Great Miami River.
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October 29, 5 - 7 pm, Invasive removal at Dudley Woods in Liberty Township
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November, Invasive removal in Oxford
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December 17, 5 - 7pm, winter meetup making wildlife feeders.
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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.
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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.
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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:
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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.
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Age Range
Many of our events are family friendly, however those under the age of 16 must have an adult with them.
Newsletters
BioBlitz
When: Anytime in Sept and Oct. ​
Where: Bull's Run Arboretum and Nature Sanctuary, 3909 Rosedale Rd, Middletown, OH 45042
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What: Use the free app iNaturalist on your phone and capture pictures or sounds of the life in the sanctuary.
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Why: A part of conserving the sanctuary is knowing what is actually living there. Are there invasive plants that we don't know about that need to be removed, are there amazing creatures that we had no idea called this area home.
Who: Anyone
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What to bring: Your phone or an actual camera. If you use a camera you will have to post on our project website.
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Find out more:
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Questions: Contact Lynn White at lynn.white@bcohio.gov
Invasive Plant Removal
In late Fall and early Spring, many of our volutneer events involve helping natural areas remove invsaive plants. Most often thisis honeysuckle, but we also tackle garlic mustard (later int he Spring), callery pear, multiflora rose, american bittersweet, and more.
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It often feels like we are fighting a loosing battle, until we head back to locations such as Dudley Woods. For the last few years, we have spent a few hours for one morning and have made vast improvements. Now, you can see the creek from the shelter and this was unimaginable when we started out.
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Our method changes depending upon the location. In some places we cut and drop the honeysuckle where it falls, in others we haul the honeysuckle into a pile and it is chipped.
Storm Drain Labeling
When: Anytime the roads are dry
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Where: West Chester, Liberty, Fairfield, St Clair, Madison, and Lemon Townships if they have storm drains.
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What: Use a wire brush to clean the next to the drain, then use glue to add a "No Polluting" decal.
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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
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Questions: Contact Lynn White at whitelr@butlercountyohio.org
River Cleanups
We hold several river cleanups each year including:
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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.