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 2021. We had 16 projects with 216 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.
Join the Volunteer Email List
Complete the form and check the volunteer box. We will send a monthly email with upcoming volunteer opportunities.
2023 Events
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Wednesday, March 8 (this was rescheduled from Mar 4 due to flooding)Harvest willow stakes for restoration projects, Ellis Lake Wetland, West Chester
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Saturday, March 25
Cleanup along the canal and bird sanctuary, Hamilton -
Saturday, April 1
Package tree seedlings, Hamilton -
Saturday, April 22
Cleanup along the Mill Creek, @ Ellis Lake Wetland, West Chester -
Saturday, April 29
Habitat Restoration- invasive garlic mustard removal @ Ruder Preserve, Oxford -
May- anytime
BioBlitz @ Riverside Natural Area all month long -
Thursday, June 22
Stream Habitat Volunteer Training @ Dudley Woods, Liberty Twp -
Thursday, June 29
Stream Ecology Volunteer Training @ Indian Creek Preserve, Reily -
Wednesday, July 12
Rain Garden Cleanup @ Hopewell ECS, West Chester -
Wednesday, August 9
Rain Garden Cleanup @ Butler SWCD -
Saturday, September 16
Clean Sweep of the Great Miami River @ multiple locations -
September & October
Collecting milkweed seed pods - when seed pods are ripe -
Saturday, October 28
Habitat Restoration- honeysuckle removal @ Dudley Woods, Liberty Twp -
Saturday, November 4
Habitat Restoration- honeysuckle removal @ Riverside Natural Area, Hamilton -
Saturday, November 18
Habitat Restoration- honeysuckle removal @ Hueston Woods State Park -
Thursday, December 7
Create Wildlife Friendly Holiday Decorations @ Butler SWCD, Hamilton
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
Canal and Bird Sanctuary Cleanup
Saturday, March 25 from 9 am - 12 noon
North End Recreation Building, 700 Joe Nuxhall Blvd, Hamilton, OH 45011
Join us to clean up the banks of the canal, the bird sanctuary, and LJ Smith Park in the North End neighborhood of Hamilton,
We will have gloves, grabbers, bags and more.
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..