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Volunteer
Washington County Parks welcomes campground hosts in the campgrounds at Lake Elmo Park Reserve and St. Croix Bluffs Regional Park. Campground hosts are volunteers who live in the campground, in their own camping unit, for a portion of the summer. In exchange for a free campsite, they are responsible for providing information to campers, registering campers in the spring and fall, cleaning restrooms as necessary (between staff cleanings), and other related tasks. These positions fill quickly and may not always be available. If you are interested in learning more about these positions, contact the Parks Division's Guest Services Supervisor at 651-430-8243 or email at: steven.hart@co.washington.mn.us
Are you looking to get outside and find a way to give back? Come out and volunteer monthly at Lake Elmo Park Reserve as a natural resource steward!
You will contribute to stewardship efforts throughout Lake Elmo Park Reserve by helping with undesirable species control, collecting prairie seed, planting trees and more. You will also learn about plants, animals, pollinators and the work we do to improve the park and our natural resources. The event will be led by a lead volunteer steward.
- Volunteer event is held once a month on the second Saturday of the month, from 9:30am-12:30pm. Please meet at the Eagle Point Lake Trailhead.
- Please RSVP to the event.
- April 13
- May 11
- June 8
- July 13
- August 10
- September 14
- October 12
- November 9
- December 14
Washington County can accommodate large volunteer groups. This is great for scout troops, company volunteer days, volunteer organizations and more.
If your company or organization is interested in a private group volunteer event for ~10+ people for seed collecting in September, October, fill out this form and send to the Park Division's Natural Resources Coordinator at dan.macswain@co.washington.mn.us.
Washington County Parks regularly receives requests for Eagle Scout/Silver Award volunteer projects, where a scout has identified a project to solve a problem/need in the parks. Below is a list of current potential projects, we also encourage scouts to present their own ideas:
- Construct wooden benches in the parks
- Natural resource activities (buckthorn removal, tree planting, prairie seed collecting)
- Trail improvements/repair
Please spend time in a county park or facility and think about the project, discuss the project with troop leaders and parents prior to submitting the Eagle Scout Project Description Form.
- Scout completes Eagle Scout Project Description Form and sends email to Dan.MacSwain@co.washington.mn.us. Response will be given within 30 business days.
- Natural Resource Coordinator reviews and recommends projects for selection to Parks Manager.
- Project meeting with the Natural Resource Coordinator, and (with Eagle Coach or other adult). Discuss project scope, required paperwork for volunteers, safety and project funding.
- Scout performs project.
- Scout reports work completed, number of volunteers and service hours to Natural Resource Coordinator.
- Natural Resource Coordinator signs project completion form for Eagle Scout.
Volunteer to help us collect information from park visitors at various places around the County. During specific 2-hour periods, volunteers count visitors and hand out visitor surveys. This data helps staff determine park use and visitor preferences. Volunteers are needed at nearly all parks, including the Hardwood Creek Trail in Hugo / Forest Lake. If you are interested in being a random survey volunteer, please contact the Park Division's Guest Services Supervisor at 651-430-8245 or email at Lori.Meyers@co.washington.mn.us.