Park Steward Training: Spring 2023
Are you passionate about your Olmsted Parks and looking for a way to give back?
BECOME A PARK STEWARD!
Olmsted Parks Conservancy Park Stewards serve as official ambassadors and play an integral role in helping our organization enhance, restore and protect our 17 Olmsted Parks and 6 Parkways. With duties ranging from helping to remove invasive plants in designated park areas, leading volunteer groups, or managing a booth at community events, there’s an opportunity for every interest and skillset. On average, our Park Stewards volunteer four hours monthly.
Through our Park Steward training program, you’ll attend a series of virtual lectures and hikes to learn more about Park History, Horticultural Techniques, Plant Identification, and Woodlands Management, all while meeting amazing new people and getting the opportunity to exercise ownership over these greenspaces you care about.
Spring 2023 Program Begins March 1
Spring 2023 Park Steward training will be held on Zoom on Wednesday evenings starting March 1 from 6:00 – 7:30pm. Park Stewards receive access to the following training lectures:
- Wednesday, March 1: Olmsted Parks Conservancy Overview and Park History
Learn about the mission of Olmsted Parks Conservancy, the history of the Olmsted Parks in Louisville, basic landscape design tenets, and successful projects completed by the Conservancy over the past three decades. - Wednesday, March 8: Plant Identification and IPM Techniques
Learn about plant taxonomy, top invasive plant threats in our parks, and methods for controlling problematic exotic species. - Wednesday, March 15 Horticultural Techniques and Open Spaces Management
Learn about best practices in tree planting, structural pruning, mulching, staking, and irrigation. Also maintaining and managing park assets in smaller parks. - Wednesday, March 22: Volunteer Management and Community Engagement
Learn about how to help lead volunteer groups, educational walks and special events. Also, how to be an ideal ambassador for the Conservancy and our “Friends” groups. - Wednesday, March 29: Interpretive hikes and in-park training, which follow the lecture series, will be scheduled based on group availability and local and state guidance on COVID-19 precautions.
Once you are registered for the training, you will receive an email with Zoom details for the virtual lectures. Questions on the program can be directed to Matt Spalding, Director of Stewardship at matt.spalding@olmstedparks.org.
TO BECOME AN OFFICIAL PARK STEWARD OF OLMSTED PARKS CONSERVANCY, VOLUNTEERS MUST:
- Enroll in the Park Steward training program and pay the one-time fee. If the fee is a financial hardship, please contact Matt Spalding at matt.spalding@olmstedparks.org..
- Attend four virtual lectures (details above)
- Attend at least one interpretive hike / in-park training session
- Volunteer for 12 hours