Volunteer in parks

Calgary parks provide us all with spaces to connect with nature, the community, and our history. We invite you to partner with us to take care of parks, green spaces, playgrounds, pathways, trees, and natural areas; conduct ecological research; or provide park users with information.

We encourage volunteers of all backgrounds, abilities and experience to contribute. A screening policy is in place for all potential volunteers. This may include police information checks. Once accepted, volunteers receive orientation, training, and other support.

A huge thank you to the thousands of Parks volunteers! Without you our parks would not be the wonderful, vibrant places they are​​​​​​​.

• Groups make short commitments to keep park spaces clean.
• Activities include the annual Pathway and River Cleanup and The Litter Cleanup (TLC) Kit.
• We are also designated as a Clean Shoreline Community. Our partnership with the Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup helps us engage more local volunteers to minimize our impact on the environment and keep it healthy.
• Registration for the 2021 Pathway and River Cleanup is now open!

See Pathway and River Cleanup for more information and to register.

Thanks to presenting sponsor, ConocoPhillips Canada, for their continued support of environmental initiatives that help keep our communities clean.

• In partnership with TD Friends of the Environment, we are excited to announce the revitalization of the Adopt-a-Park Program. This program provides opportunities for you, as a proud Calgarian, to volunteer as a steward in your local parks or greenspaces.
• Available opportunities include; shrub bed and playground cleanup, and grooming or litter cleanups.
• Registration for the Adopt-a-Park Program has now closed for the season.

• Volunteers greet park visitors and answer questions about resident plants and animals, as well as the cultural history of the area, and can direct visitors to other park resources and information.
• They may conduct ecological research to contribute data to an international ornithological resource network and engage with visitors to provide park users with opportunities to learn and develop bird sighting and identification skills.
• Minimum 6 3-hour shifts per year at Inglewood Bird Sanctuary, expanding to other parks in the future.
• Registration for Parks Stewards and Hosts has now closed for the season.

• Adopt-a-Rink is a winter volunteer program through which volunteers flood and maintain community pleasure skating rinks throughout Calgary
• The deadline for new rink proposals for the 2021/22 season is October 1, 2021 

• Looking for a group volunteer project for your company or organization? Not afraid to get dirty? Join the Parks Environmental Education team on a Green Initiative project
• Help us to restore habitat and beautify parks and green spaces in Calgary.  Opportunities include; tree and shrub planting, tree wiring, invasive species weed pulls, painting projects, and more
• These group projects are seasonal (May - October) and typically require a 3 - 4 hour commitment
• Email us to sign up