Conservation Volunteering Near Me

COUNT RMH Housewarmer Volunteering (Ronald McDonald House)

Some trained COUNT volunteers work together once a month at RMH (http://www.rmhc-centralohio.org/volunteer.php) as Housewarmers (usually on the 1st Sunday from 1 – 5 PM). Some schedule other shifts at their convenience. You may try this out with less fuss by following a "Fast track" or go through the normal process. Fast track • Arrange a time to shadow a COUNT volunteer. Call Dave Nohle at 614-268-9558 (cell). • Show up and try it out. • Complete application, etc. later. Normal process • Complete an online application (http://rmhc-centralohio.org/volunteer/). • Attend orientation in advance. • At orientation you will complete forms agreeing to keep family/patient info private and allowing a background check and tour the facility. • Complete one training shift. Daily shifts are: morning 9 AM - 1 PM, afternoon 1 - 5 PM and evening 5 - 9 PM. • Schedule shifts online using the on the RMH scheduling system (http://www.volgistics.com/ex/portal.dll/?FROM=32895). The Ronald McDonald House (RMH) provides housing and meals for families with sick children. The Columbus RMH is the largest in the world with 137 rooms. COUNT has been volunteering there since May 2014. Housewarmers work with RMH guests to provide a home-like environment - greet, assist with family needs, answer phones, give tours, assist with checkin/checkout, prepare guest rooms after checkout, clean facility, laundry, restock supplies and staff the front desk. RMH Housewarmers volunteer at least one four-hour shift a month. All Housewarmers must complete an application and agree to a background check before they can be full fledged volunteers.

Unity of Columbus Resource Group for the Homeless – Volunteers Needed

The Unity of Columbus Resource Group for the Homeless is seeking compassionate volunteers who would like to help serve and uplift members of our homeless community. This group is dedicated to sharing kindness, resources, and support with individuals who may be experiencing difficult circumstances. Anyone with a heart for service is welcome to join us as we work together to make a positive difference in the lives of others. Community members are also invited to contribute by bringing helpful items for those in need. Donations of items can be contributed at the meeting and will be distributed to assist members of the homeless community. Please consider joining us and sharing this opportunity with friends, family, or associates who may also wish to help. Learn more about Unity of Columbus at www.unityofcolumbus.org or call (614) 267-4959. Together we can extend compassion, dignity, and support to our community. 💛

Open Barn Day in October at Sunrise Sanctuary!

Open Barn Days are group tours where we open the Sanctuary to the public, allowing you to visit and get to know the animals on a personal level. Admission prices are Adult (18+) Admission $10, Youth (4-17) Admission $5, and Children 3 and under are free. All funds raised go directly toward caring for the approximately 140 precious souls that call Sunrise home. We are a volunteer run vegan Sanctuary and the funds raised are crucial to providing vet care, feed, and housing. We do limit attendance at these events to help ensure a safe and enjoyable interaction with the animal family. Because of this, we do require that tickets be purchased in advance. To register **[CLICK HERE](ttps://sunrisesanctuary.app.neoncrm.com/forms/october-24th-2026-open-barn-day-registration?event=1268&&fbclid=IwY2xjawTvSHNwZG9mBWV4dG4DYWVtAjEwAGJyaWQRMUxuQmhlRlN2UHE0ekJZMXJzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEe817YdpMPZUi-GSo-Umi614z2YtUeAx0FFgaKHpJ9Am4fwytuunSUttr4Bkk_aem_TVvJg5YEN5Fw6z6PHnGutw)** After registering we will send you info on what to expect on our Barn Days. Looking forward to meeting everyone! For more information on Sunrise Sanctuary **[CLICK HERE](https://www.sunrisesanctuary.org)**

COUNT monthly event: Kitchen service at Van Buren Center's shelter

Come assist Van Buren Shelter (https://ymcacolumbus.org/locations/vanburen) staff in serving dinners and cleaning up on the 2nd Tuesday of each month. Dinner for the women is 5-6 pm and for the families is 6:15-7:15 pm. There is ample free parking available in the shelter's lot. The recommended area to park is in green in the image above. There will be a new entrance for the time being. We are asking all volunteers to enter through the Donation Dock door, the orange mark on the image above. This door is located between the Single Adults and Family Shelter. You will see 2 large garage doors with a large green trash compactor in the center. Please head to the closest garage door to the building wall, with a ramp leading up. There, you will see a door with a sign stating instructions on how to enter the building. Please ring the doorbell, and a staff member will come and escort you into the building. If a staff member takes longer than 5 minutes, please call the front desk at 614-689-2020. This is a new process for us, and we do not want to keep you waiting! We appreciate your patience as we navigate this temporary change. The shelter needs a volunteer count the day before the event so sign-up ends Monday at 4:50 PM. Afterwards some of us go to the Omnipresent Atheists Weekly Meetup in progress to have a bit to eat or drink (http://www.meetup.com/omnipresentatheists/). Volunteers must be 14 or older. Since we will be working around families, the YMCA does not permit volunteering by individuals with convictions for violent or sexual crimes. The YMCA reserves the right to run background checks on volunteers. For questions, comment on this page or contact: Andrew, awhit12@yahoo.com, (614)937-5802 (cell). Please let Andrew know if you volunteer anytime other than our COUNT events so that he can count your hours toward our service record.

Hike Blendon Woods

Let's meet at the Nature Center parking lot to hike some miles. We'll string together trails to try to get to 4 miles and can always walk the road if anyone is interested in additional miles. I usually walk a 19-20ish minute mile; faster paces are always welcome. Optional lunch following at Harry Buffalo in Westerville at 6150 Souith Sunbury Rd, Westerville.

Hiking at Sharon Woods

Meet at the Maple Grove picnic area for a 4 mile hike at 18 min/mile pace.

Hike Blendon Woods, 17-20ish pace

Let's try Blendon Woods. We can meet at the Nature Center and then decide which trail to take. Will walk until we get in 4 miles. If there is any interest we can grab lunch after.

Blendonwood Ravine Day Hike, 10:30 am

Dog Walk at Franklin Park Conservatory

Dog Walk - come enjoy the beautiful grounds at Franklin Park Conservatory with or without your dog! We’ll meet on the path near the entrance. Paths are paved and nicely maintained but sunny! The loop I take is approx. 2mi around. There are plenty of shortcuts back if that’s too far or we can take it twice if the dogs are up to it. Please keep all dogs leashed as per park rules, thanks!

Simply Living Film Series presents: BOMBSHELL

🎬💥 Simply Living Film Series + Special Guest Panel! Join Us for BOMBSHELL! History doesn't just shape our past—it shapes the conversations we're having today! Join Simply Living's Film Series at Gateway Film Center for a special screening of BOMBSHELL, a compelling documentary exploring how the story of the atomic bomb was presented to the public—and the courageous journalists who challenged official narratives and worked to uncover the human cost, even as government censorship limited what could be reported. From local conversations to national headlines and global events, the film raises questions that resonate today: Who shapes the stories we hear? Whose voices are missing? And why does independent journalism matter in a world of competing narratives? ✨ Stay for a special panel discussion featuring director Ben Loeterman, producer Gaia de Simoni, and historian Felecia Ross, moderated by Spencer Hunt, Director of Student Media for The Lantern at Ohio State. Come for the film, stay for the conversation, and discover how lessons from history can deepen our understanding of today's world. 📍 Gateway Film Center \| Columbus\, OH 📅 October 26 \| 6:30–8:30 PM \(Doors open at 6:15 PM\) 🎟️ Tickets $10 (purchase at Gateway link below) https://gatewayfilmcenter.org/movies/bombshell/ Bring a friend, bring your curiosity, and join the conversation! #SimplyLiving #BOMBSHELL #GatewayFilmCenter #ColumbusEvents #IndependentJournalism

October Queer Birding

Join WQC for our monthly Queer Birding! No gear or experience necessary.

Free yoga