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 green spaces you care about.
Training sessions include:
Tuesday, March 3 | 6:00 – 7:30 PM: Olmsted Parks Conservancy Overview & 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.
Tuesday, March 10 | 6:00 – 7:30 PM: Plant Identification and IPM Techniques
Learn about plant taxonomy, top invasive plant threats in our parks, and methods for controlling problematic exotic species.
Tuesday, March 17 | 6:00 – 7:30 PM: 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.
Tuesday, March 24 | 6:00 – 7:30 PM: 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.
Interpretive hikes and in-park training, which follow the lecture series, will be scheduled based on group availability
Registration is $60 which covers the lecture series, volunteer materials, and a one-year Olmsted Parks Conservancy membership. If the fee is a financial hardship, please contact Matt Spalding at matt.spalding@olmstedparks.org.
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