Volunteer with Parks

A variety of volunteer opportunities are available through the Parks & Recreation and Conservation & Environmental Lands Management departments. Choose the volunteer application that best fits your interests in the “How To” section below.

Please note: At this time, there is no availability for court-ordered volunteer hours with Conservation & Environmental Lands Management.

Eligibility

Applicants must be at least 16 years old to volunteer or be a member of a pre-approved group such as scouting or 4-H organizations. Volunteers must provide their own transportation.

Guidance

Volunteers are always needed in these areas:

• Adopt-A-Spot: Commitment to maintain a park or roadway. Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful manages volunteers for this program.
• Conservation: Assist with habitat restoration, trail blazing, removal of invasive species,  and site clean-ups.
• Parks: Opportunities include park maintenance, beautification, interpretive programs, and special projects.
• Recreation: Work with children in out-of-school-time programs, teen programs, senior activities, preschool-age tiny tots, and more.
• Special Events: Help with coastal and river clean-up, family fun days, bike and road races, Scout projects, and the annual
• Therapeutic Recreation: Volunteer for out-of-school-time programs, the Special Olympics, and the Bakas Equestrian Center

Volunteer roles

Conservation & Environmental Lands Management Opportunities

• Administrative Assistants- Assist office staff with collecting funds and registering patrons for park services such as camping, canoeing, and kayaking. Volunteers also help with general office tasks such as answering phones, filing paperwork, and other duties as needed.
• Campground/Park Hosts - Stay in a designated camp site for an agreed-upon duration to help answer guests’ questions and address issues, as well as assist in the ranger booth, cleaning restrooms, litter removal, maintaining the area, trash removal, and other duties as needed.
• Docents- Provide park visitors with tours, lectures, and general information within the parks' nature centers and museums, such as Lettuce Lake Park and Upper Tampa Bay Park.
• Gardeners- Assist with maintaining native gardens and other landscapes in the parks.
• Grounds Volunteer - Help maintain sites with mowing, trimming, landscaping, and general maintenance of grounds. Experience with equipment preferred. Needed at Veterans Memorial Park.
• Group Workdays- Social groups, clubs, and companies can plan a workday at a conservation park to come and clean litter, remove invasive plants, or help complete other tasks in the park. Group Workdays must be applied for at least 30 days prior to the event.
• Interpretive Program Guides- Guide participants in scheduled interpretive programs and tours. Experience in leading hikes and knowledge of local flora and fauna needed.
• Invasive Plant Removal Guides - Provide guidance in invasive plant identification, proper handling, and removal techniques.
• Nature Center Assistant - Assist ranger staff in the Nature Center at Upper Tampa Bay Park by helping with the care of animals, assisting guests, and helping with interpretive tours when needed. Experience with animal care, reptiles and/or aquariums highly preferred.
• Ranger Assistants- Assist Park Rangers with general duties such as minor maintenance and repairs, painting, park beautification, launching canoes, as well as closing and opening parks.
• TrailCATS - TrailCATS are a special group who help blaze, maintain, and inspect trails in our conservation sites. They have a variety of volunteer roles to appeal to a broad range of individuals.
• Veterans Museum Docent - Provide visitors with tours, lectures, and general information at the museum at Veterans Memorial Park & Museum

Parks & Recreation Opportunities

• Coach/Assistant Coach - Teach young athletes specific skills in athletic leagues and programs.

How to volunteer at parks

1. Choose a park you want to volunteer at, or the area for your Eagle Scout project
2. Submit the appropriate application:
   • Conservation Park Camp Host
   • Conservation Park Volunteer
   • Conservation Park Group Volunteer
   • Eagle Scout Project
   • Find more information about TrailCATS and their application here

   • Important Note: At this time there are no available Park or Camp Host positions for Fall/Winter 24-25. Applications can be submitted but will only be considered for Spring/Summer 2025.

How to volunteer for coaching

For information about coaching, please contact one of the following sites directly:

Apollo Beach Recreation Center

• (813) 671-7635
• Email the Apollo Beach Rec Center

Brandon Recreation Center

• (813) 635-8179
• Email the Brandon Rec Center

Emanuel P. Johnson Recreation Center

• (813) 671-7700
• Email the Emanuel P. Johnson Rec Center

Gardenville Recreation Center

• (813) 672-1120
• Email the Gardenville Rec Center

Jackson Springs Recreation Center

• (813) 554-5004
• Email the Jackson Springs Rec Center

Miller Park & Life Center

• (813) 744-5978
• Email the Miller Park & Life Center

Northdale Recreation Center

• (813) 264-8956
• Email the Northdale Rec Center

Roy Haynes Recreation Center

• (813) 903-3480
• Email the Roy Haynes Rec Center

Ruskin Recreation Center

• (813) 672-7881
• Email the Ruskin Rec Center

Westchase Recreation Center

• (813) 964-2948
• Email the Westchase Rec Center

More info

If you need more information or have questions email volunteer@hcfl.gov or call either of the following departments:

• Conservation & Environmental Lands Management - (813) 672-7876
• Parks & Recreation - (813) 744-5595