More than 34,000 of you volunteered with us in 2018. Click on our
2018 Annual Report to learn more!
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There really are no words to express how incredibly grateful we all feel for the more than 30,000 volunteers that have worked side by side with us, over the past decade. We are so lucky to live in a community that takes pride in giving back. Thank you for supporting us! We hope you enjoy this look back through the years and how you've touched every part of our Department and our City.
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ADOPT-A-BLOCK
Spring Kick-Off
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Richard A. Clark
Municipal Service Center
1551 E MLK Jr Pkwy
April 1, 5:30-7:00 p.m.
Adopt-A-Block volunteers are needed at Glendale, Laurel Hill and Woodland Cemeteries to help pick up branches, trim bushes, clear decorations, monitor for vandalism, and provide general maintenance at our municipal cemeteries from April-October. Supplies and training provided. Join us to learn more during this spring kick-off. Light dinner provided.
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BALD EAGLE
Viewing Assistant
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Gray's Lake Park
April 2-June 25
Each Tuesday
11:00 a.m-1:00 p.m.
Our majestic national birds have returned to nest along the Raccoon River, for years. Assist naturalist Joel Van Roekel at Gray's Lake Park during this public program. Our education volunteers help with group management, visitors, binoculars and scopes.
*Background check required.
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Ewing Park Lilac Arboretum
5300 Indianola Avenue
Sunday, April 14
12:30-3:30 p.m.
Volunteers are needed to assist in an EGG-citing GPS scavenger hunt. Each program has a them but requires volunteer help hiding prizes, training customers to use the GPS, assisting roamers and with clean-up.
*Background check required.
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Mayor's Annual Ride & Run
Principal Park, 1 Line Drive
April 20, 8:00-10:00 a.m
Do you love trails? Help support the first ride of the season, the Mayor's Annual Ride and Run. Mayor Frank Cownie will kick-off the run and ride at Principal Park in downtown Des Moines.
Proceeds from the event will go towards the newest phase of the Des Moines River Trail. Volunteers are needed to help on the run route at Principal Park and Gray's Lake.
Ride for FREE after you are finished volunteering with the run.
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Clare and Miles Mills Rose Garden
4500 Grand Avenue
(Behind Art Center)
June-September
Saturdays, 9:00-10:00 a.m.
A huge thanks to Denny Kelly for creating a Yoga movement 10 years ago that has bloomed into something so beautiful and metro-wide.
Surrounded by giant old trees and our rose garden, Yoga will be nestled on a hilltop over Greenwood Park this summer. We need volunteer instructors to keep the good vibes for 300 guests each week. Help us provide free yoga to all and spread the yoga love!
*Background check required.
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Earth Day Trash Bash
Various Metro locations
Friday, April 19 & Saturday, April 20
Earth Day Trash Bash, Iowa's largest Earth Day volunteer event, is a collaborative project between the Cities & citizens of Des Moines, West Des Moines, Clive, Norwalk, Pleasant Hill, Johnston, Urbandale, Polk County Conservation, Polk Soil and Water Conservation District, West Side Chamber of Commerce, Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation, Ingersoll Business Committee, Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden and Water Works.
Last year, more than 1,900 registered volunteers removed litter, beautified public lands and cleared out invasive species. They removed over 81,000 pounds of trash, recyclables, tires, metal and brush, along with almost 34 pounds of cigarette butts, planted 200 trees, and recycled 3,400 plastic grocery bags.
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Science Center of Iowa
Saturday, April 20
10:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Love Monarchs? Help naturalist Joel Van Roekel at the Downtown Earth Day Tour's-City of Des Moines Parks and Recreation environmental education booth. Volunteers will help visitors plant tiny milkweed plugs in a pot to take home.
*Background check required.
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Father Daughter Dance volunteers for making a magical evening for many. We couldn't have done it without you!
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Fellowship Baptist volunteers and David Brady for helping at Bald Eagle Day.
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Pioneer Columbus Community Recreation Center Family Night volunteers for engaging kids in STEM fun!
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Laura Graham for helping our Naturalist, Joel Van Roekel, with our full-moon snowshoe hike.
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Thank you Mother Son volunteers for facilitating fun for almost 300 mothers and sons.
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Our 2018 Volunteer Group of the Year Bridges of Iowa for helping prepare us for spring and assembling our wheelbarrows.
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We encourage our volunteers to read our new plan, Live DSM, which creates a vision for our parks over the next 15-20 years. The goals include strengthening the sense of community for all residents, while promoting public and personal health, education, fun, learning, natural resources protection and economic vitality.
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