Volunteers Make A Difference!
Want to give back? Volunteer! Opportunities to volunteer with the St. Charles Park District are almost unlimited.
Help out at a one-day special event or assist on an ongoing basis. Volunteer opportunities are available for individuals,
neighbors, families, students, co-workers…everyone! Whether you like the indoors or the outdoors, we need you!
Choose the type of volunteering that most interests you! Click below...
| Recreation Opportunities |
| Park Projects |
| Give Nature A Hand |
| Down On The Farm |
| Sponsor A Park Program |
| St. Charles Park Foundation |
Recreation Opportunties
To volunteer for any of the following projects or to learn more about volunteer opportinities, please contact Volunteer Coordinator Lara Piner at 630-513-4330.
Project |
Preseason Pool Cleanup | |
Facility |
Swanson Pool & Otter Cove Aquatic Park | |
Volunteers Needed |
Geared for Large Groups or a Company | |
Equipment Used |
Supplied Cleaning Tools | |
Timeline |
May 1 - 15 |
Members of the St. Charles East High School baseball team volunteered their time to help the District get ready for the summer season by waxing the interactive water features at Swanson Pool. |
 |
Project |
Adult Activity Center Volunteers for Computer Teaching, assembling monthly newsletters and being a Club Leader | |
Facility |
Pottawatomie Community Center | |
Volunteers Needed |
Flexible | |
Equipment Used |
Computers | |
Timeline |
Anytime - All Year Long |
Project |
Easter Egg Hunt | |
Park |
Pottawatomie Park | |
Volunteers Needed |
5 | |
Equipment Used |
Friendly Faces with Smiles | |
Timeline |
Day of Event or Prior Preparation |
Park Projects
To volunteer for any of the following projects or to learn more about volunteer opportinities, please contact Volunteer Coordinator Lara Piner at 630-513-4330.
Project |
Fox River Sweep | |
Park |
Ferson Creek | |
Volunteers Needed |
Flexible | |
Equipment Used |
Gloves & Waders (if you have any) | |
Timeline |
April - Earth Day Event |
Project |
Event Volunteers | |
Park |
Hickory Knolls Discovery Center and Pottawatomie Community Center | |
Volunteers Needed |
Flexible | |
Equipment Used |
Friendly Faces with Smiles | |
Timeline |
Day of Event or Prior Preparation |
Project |
Invasive Species Removal | |
Park |
Delnor Woods Park, Ferson Creek Fen Nature Preserve, Hickory Knolls Natural Area or Otter Creek Bend Wetland Park | |
Volunteers Needed |
Flexible | |
Equipment Used |
Gloves & Garbage Bags (if you have any) | |
Timeline |
Refer to the Work Day Schedule |
Project |
Pulling Garlic Mustard | |
Park |
Various Park Sites | |
Volunteers Needed |
Flexible | |
Equipment Used |
Gloves & Garbage Bags (if you have any) | |
Timeline |
Refer to the Work Day Schedule |
Project |
Park Clean Up: Clearing Debris, Picking Up Branches, Sprucing Up Areas around Benches and Picnic Tables | |
Park |
Various Parks | |
Volunteers Needed |
Flexible | |
Equipment Used |
Supplied Cleaning Tools, Brooms, Shovles & Garbage Bags (if you have any) | |
Timeline |
Anytime - All Year Long |
Project |
Seeding, Planting and Turf Improvements | |
Park |
Mt. St. Mary Park | |
Volunteers Needed |
10 - 20 | |
Equipment Used |
Supplied Tools, Rakes, Shovels, Cutting Tools, Gloves, Wheelbarrows (if you have any) | |
Timeline |
Anytime - All Year Long |
Project |
Painting Benches or Picnic Tables | |
Park |
Various Parks | |
Volunteers Needed |
Flexible | |
Equipment Used |
Supplied Tools | |
Timeline |
Anytime - All Year Long |
Project |
Estblishment of Trail System | |
Park |
Persimmon Woods | |
Volunteers Needed |
8 - 15 | |
Equipment Used |
Supplied Tools, Rakes, Shovels, Cutting Tools, Gloves, Wheelbarrows (if you have any) | |
Timeline |
Anytime - All Year Long |
Project |
Prepping and Staining Gazebos near Ball Diamonds | |
Park |
East Side Sports Complex | |
Volunteers Needed |
Flexible | |
Equipment Used |
Supplied Tools | |
Timeline |
Early Spring |
Project |
Pier Overlook Repair & Upkeep | |
Park |
Ferson Creek Fen Nature Preserve | |
Volunteers Needed |
3 - 5 | |
Equipment Used |
Supplied Tools | |
Timeline |
Spring/Summer |
Give Nature A Hand
Preservation and restoration work is ongoing at these sites. The Park District seeks and encourages citizen volunteers in this work. Contact Natural Areas Manager Denis Kania at 630-513-4367 for more information or to check for cancellations due to inclement weather.
Work Day Schedule
Hickory Knolls Natural Area
1st Saturday, 9am-12pm - Campton Hills Road, west of Peck Road
Norris Woods Nature Preserve
2nd Saturday, 9am-12pm - On 3rd Avenue, behind Bethlehem Lutheran Church
Ferson Creek Fen Nature Preserve
3rd Saturday, 9am-12pm - On Route 31, north of St. Charles
Persimmon Woods
4th Saturday, 9am-12pm - Keim Trail in Hunt Club subdivision
- Learn about Ecological Restoration
- Physical Activity for People of all Ages
- Brush cutting
- Weeding
- Trash clean-up
- Controlled burnings (Spring/Fall)
- Seed collecting & dispersal
- Plant propagation
- Quality Time Enjoyed Outdoors with Family & Friends
- A Chance to Share Your Love of the Land with Others
- A Feeling of Satisfaction When You Make a Difference
Why do natural areas need your help?
Local natural areas are subject to many threats, both human and biological. One of the most damaging is the invasion by nonnative weeds and shrubs, which crowd and shade out native plants. Off-road vehicles, overuse, vandalism, poaching of rare plants, and dumping of yard waste also contribute to the decline of our natural areas. You can help identify these problems in the park district’s sites and work together with other volunteers and park district staff to help restore and preserve these special places.
- Improved water quality
- Flood control
- Native plant and wildlife habitat
- Endangered species habitat enhancement & creation
- Increased public education opportunities
- Improved passive recreation opportunities
Down On The Farm
Like the idea of spending time in the country, gathering with like-minded people for a worthy cause, and hanging out with farm animals all in the same day? Pitch in with chores, work in a garden and assist in simple building projects. Meet at 5N726 Crane Road on the second Saturday of the month from 9am to noon. For more information, call 630-513-4370.
Sponsor A Park Program
What-iffers wander through their favorite neighborhood parks thinking,
“What if someone added a flowerbed on that corner?”
“What if someone organized a weekly litter patrol?”
“What if there was a way for me to help care for my park?”
Through this innovative program, “what if” becomes “look what we’ve done.” Thousands of citizens and hundreds of community groups have used this program to aid District staff in caring for green spaces. Volunteers not only help restore the beauty of their surroundings, but they plan and implement projects that guarantee today’s children will have a place to bring their own children in the future.
Individuals, groups, businesses and service organizations can help the Park District by underwriting the yearly maintenance cost of a park.
Sponsors serve as “guardians” by providing information on vandalism and safety concerns. Sponsorship is intended to provide ongoing financial assistance, thus resulting in actual cost savings to the community. For more information, call 630-513-4344.
The Park Board thanks the Dellora A. and Lester J. Norris Foundation for its support of Baker Memorial Park.
