Volunteer with Parks

Special Events

Help bring our community events to life! Volunteers support seasonal favorites like Zombie Scramble and Harvest Fest in the fall, Egg Hunt and Earth Day in the spring, and Glow in the Park in the summer. Opportunities include setup, activities, registration, and more. Whether you’re giving back or just want to be part of the fun, we’d love to have you join us!

Opportunities include setup, activities, registration, and more. Whether you’re giving back or just want to be part of the fun, we’d love to have you join us!

Adopt a Park

To enhance the quality, usability, and lovability of our parks, the City of Evanston is seeking volunteer groups to assist with litter pickup, preservation, and maintenance of our parks.

All community members are welcome to participate in this program. Participants often include volunteers from civic organizations, social clubs, neighborhood associations, individual families, faith organizations, school groups or work groups.

Read more about the Adopt a Park Program including a list of adoptable parks.

Outdoor Stewardship

Volunteers are needed seasonally to help with regular maintenance and special projects in our demonstration vegetable garden as well as in the garden areas around the Ecology Center. Maintenance may include but is not limited to weeding, spreading wood chips, planting, and harvesting. Workdays in the Farmette demonstration garden will be held monthly.

Additional outdoor opportunities include workdays at additional garden sites around town and connecting with local stewardship groups.

Coaching for Youth Sports

Parent/guardian volunteer coaches are needed for all City of Evanston sports leagues. All coaches serve in a volunteer capacity and do not receive compensation. Coaches will choose their practice day/time based on what works for their schedule and can make schedule requests for games to help accommodate their schedule. The City will book the facilities needed with D65, coaches will just need to request their practice time through their school principal. D65 will provide equipment for practices; the City will provide all equipment needed for the games. All coaches will be required to complete a free fingerprint background check. Instructions on how to complete the background check will be emailed out to coaches prior to the season starting. Coaches will be given a coach deck to help guide practices. Coaches may indicate they are willing to volunteer to coach when registering their child for a league or by emailing eeicholz@cityofevanston.org.

Thank you to all our coaches who help make the leagues a success!

Program Support

Volunteers are actively involved in helping our staff to fulfill programming needs. Program Support volunteers help on a wide variety of tasks from craft projects and props for children’s programs to summer camp supply preparation.

Downtown Evanston Farmers' Market

The City of Evanston is looking for volunteers to help keep the Farmers' Market running smoothly and welcoming for all visitors. Volunteers support a variety of roles. These include Set Up/Clean Up to help prepare and pack up the market, Greeters/Traffic Control to direct visitors and share information, and Spud Club (Kids Activity Club) to lead fun, hands-on activities for children.

Individuals and groups of all kinds are encouraged to get involved, including community organizations, families, students, and local groups. Help create a friendly and enjoyable market experience for everyone.

Scout Services

Ecology Center staff work with Scouts as they pursue the Eagle Scout achievement and the Girl Scout Gold Award. Staff will meet with scouts to discuss how their project interests may align with Ecology Center opportunities.

Email Lnusekabel@cityofevanston.org for more information.