Why Volunteer

1) To get outside, get a workout, and build your strength, flexibility, and sense of purpose!
2) To earn service hours. Younger kids can work alongside their guardians. Service hours can be validated by lead volunteer, Cathy Levy.

3) To have FUN! It’s quite fun to do meaningful work in this beautiful setting.
4) To improve our environment and combat climate change.

Hilliard’s woodland park, the SCIOTO RUN NATURE TRAIL, has been overrun by invasive species, specifically the honeysuckle bush and garlic mustard weed. Those species prevent natives, including wildflowers that support pollinators and importantly, TREES that are the powerhouse carbon-consumers from thriving. We’ve been working since the spring of 2018 and have cleared these invasive plants from most of this 11.5 acre park. Native species are returning and younger trees have space to get established! Pollinators like bees and butterflies can benefit from a diverse woodland that provides a year-round feast of flowering native plants. Please JOIN US to complete this massive undertaking and also continue removing new growth of the invasives that the birds plant in the cleared areas.

What We Do

You can choose! We cover these efforts:
1) Eliminate invasive species by destroying honeysuckle bushes and privet, or pulling garlic mustard weeds
2) Cut down vines that damage trees
3) Spread mulch on the trail
4) In the fall, spread native wildflower seeds
5) In the spring, plant seedlings and saplings of native trees and bushes.
6) Pick up litter

You (or your guardian) will sign this  WAIVER.

How to Join

**** NEW SCHEDULE **** -Pick any Monday, Thursday, or Saturday and come anytime between 4pm to 6pm. (We cancel for holidays, rainstorms, and when wind chills dip below 32 degrees.) Either meet Cathy at 3679 Scioto Run Blvd, or if your start time is later than 4pm, then call her at 614-506-8139 and she’ll come off the trail to meet you at 3679 Scioto Run Blvd and escort you to the worksite. Check out this schedule for any exceptions. You can also schedule a custom volunteer session.

Training will be provided on the spot, but if you want to learn more in advance, download the full Friends of the Trail How We Work PDF.