Become a Parks "VIP"
The Broward County Parks and Recreation Division needs YOU. We welcome and encourage students, parents, retirees, environmentalists, pet lovers and avid gardeners to share their time and talents with us.
There are a variety of volunteer opportunities at each park site. We can also accommodate a variety of schedules and times.
Please call the park of your choice directly or stop by the park office to complete a volunteer application. For volunteers under 18 years old, parental signatures are required. Please bring a photo ID to the park when you sign up.
Check the
list of parks to find the best location for you. For additional information, please contact our
Volunteer Coordinator at 954-357-8708.
More County Volunteer Opportunities
In 2010 the Broward County Parks and Recreation Division launched its revamped volunteer initiative: the VIP Program, short for “Volunteers Improving Parks.” For many years the Division has depended heavily on its volunteers to augment and enhance park staff. And in these lean times, it just makes sense to use volunteers to extend our limited workforce through a more centralized and coordinated effort.
In a park system as large and diverse as Broward County’s, volunteer opportunities are virtually limitless, regardless of the volunteer’s background, experience, interests, and availability. We need volunteers for maintenance assistance and general cleanup – picking up litter, painting, weeding, minor planting, etc. We need volunteers who can contribute to security by keeping an eye out for potential vandalism and maintenance issues. We need volunteers who can answer phones and assist at park offices. In short, we need people with ideas, initiative, motivation, and an eagerness to chip in and help with whatever needs doing.
The VIP Program provides excellent opportunities not just for individuals but also for neighborhood organizations as well as businesses to become directly involved in maintaining and improving our parks, landscaped areas, greenways, and recreational facilities to help build community spirit and a sense of civic pride and responsibility. Park staff are always available to offer training, supervision, and any other resources necessary for both individuals and groups willing to contribute.
Our Mission
To increase community involvement with Broward County Parks by providing a variety of volunteer opportunities for individuals, corporations, and organizations in order to assist in the beautification, maintenance, and programming of the County’s park system.
Here’s How It Works
The first step is to find a project that’s in line with your talents and interests and the amount of time you’re willing to commit.
To find out the forms that will be necessary to complete and contact information:
Campground Host Program
Responsible for security, safety, and customer service of registered campers within campground area past park closing hours. Duties include but are not limited to patrolling park and its campgrounds, maintaining patrol log, enforcing rules and regulations, and primary contact for camper's questions and concerns. In exchange for the above services, the volunteer will be permitted to reside in the campgrounds at a discounted rate. The park will provide the volunteer with a designated site determined by Park Management. Volunteer must provide their own camping equipment. Looking for a volunteer who will reside in park's campgrounds for an extended period of time. Position currently available at Easterlin Park (May 2024). Call 954-357-5193 for more information.
The Benefits of Volunteerism
Judging from the feedback we get from our volunteers, they get a great deal of satisfaction from a job well done. Here are a few examples of the things you can accomplish with only a few hours a week of volunteer service:
- Acquire skills and gain experience that can be applied in a variety of jobs and careers.
- Assist in organizing and staffing special events that help the community.
- Increase public awareness of the importance of South Florida’s remaining natural areas.
- Improve the environment by clearing natural areas of trash and invasive plants.
- Instill sportsmanship, leadership, and team building in young people.
- Meet the education system’s requirement for community service hours.
The Track Record for Volunteers at Broward County Parks
As one of Broward County’s largest agencies, the Parks and Recreation Division is especially dependent on the contributions of its volunteers. While more than 700 Parks employees may report to work on an average day, that workforce may be supplemented by as many as 200 volunteers, especially on weekends.
Fiscal Year 2023
|
Volunteers
|
Volunteer Hours
|
|
171
|
10,012
|
Friends Groups and Longtime Volunteers
Anne Kolb,
Fern Forest, Long Key, and Secret Woods nature centers and Deerfield Island, T.Y. (Topeekeegee Yugnee) Park, and Tradewinds Park also have their own volunteer
friends groups. Additional friends groups that have been established over the past few years are:
- Florida Master Gardeners of Broward County
To learn more about each friends group, please visit our
Friends Group Web page.
Thanks to all our volunteer groups - for more information on individual groups and their contributions, visit our Community & Corporate Partnerships page.
Individuals with disabilities requiring accommodations in order to participate in programs, services, and activities must contact the Special Populations Section at
954-357-8170 or TTY
954-537-2844 at least five business days prior to the scheduled meeting or event.
