Welcome to Greenspace Guardians, a new certification from the Civic Garden Center (CGC)! If you’d like to learn how to play a leadership role in conservation projects on public lands, this training series will teach you how. Our goal is to train the next generation of conservation stewards to restore and protect our region’s public greenspaces. Sign up for the interest list or keep reading for all the details.
Public lands in Southwest Ohio are under constant threat from invasive species, which negatively impact an ecosystem’s overall health and ecosystem services. Local governments and other land-owning entities don’t have the funding or capacity to effectively restore and manage forested lands on their own. Instead, these institutions rely on the help of volunteers to build the additional capacity required to manage invasive species. And that’s where YOU come in!
What’s a Greenspace Guardian?
Greenspace Guardians are trained volunteers who are passionate about preserving local greenspaces for the benefit of people and the planet. Guardians are equipped with the knowledge necessary to conduct habitat restoration projects and work independently on public lands. Being a Guardian is not just about doing the work, though—it’s also about engaging and educating your community to build a coalition of volunteers committed to the long-term maintenance of a greenspace. As a Guardian, you’re empowered to address some of the greatest environmental threats of our time by taking action on the ground at a local level.
About the Greenspace Guardians Program
The Greenspace Guardian Certification equips volunteers like you with the skills and knowledge required to effectively assist with the restoration and long-term maintenance of public greenspaces. As a participant, you’ll learn about our region’s native ecosystems, how to identify plants, how to work with volunteers, management strategies for invasive plants and what it takes to maintain restoration projects over time. You’ll spend time in the classroom as well as on site visits to local restoration projects, where you’ll hear from habitat managers about different approaches and lessons learned.
Participants who complete the certification will have the skills needed to take on leadership roles with local organizations engaged in conservation efforts. These roles may include leading or co-leading volunteer events, recruiting and training new volunteers, or working independently on habitat restoration activities. Roles and responsibilities will vary depending on the site and the organization you are working with.
This program is not specifically designed for property owners engaged in conservation efforts. However, many of the topics covered could be applicable to this audience. If this is you, we welcome you to join us!
The cost for the certification program is $250, and scholarships will be available.
Achieving Certification
To earn the Greenspace Guardian Certification, participants are expected to attend each of the classes listed below, which will take place weekly starting in January 2025. They’re also expected to attend monthly in-field sessions taking place between April and October. Expand the sections below for more detail about each program component.
While missing one or two sessions is not ideal, we understand that Greenspace Guardians is a substantial commitment and will work with you to make up the material (within reason). If you will need to miss more than two sessions, please reach out before registering: ssettlemyre@civicgardencenter.org
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Thursday, January 30, 6-8pm: An Introduction to SW Ohio Ecosystems. In this class, you’ll learn to identify the key characteristics and types of ecosystems found in SW Ohio, review the historical and current human impacts on southwest Ohio ecosystems, and learn to describe the value healthy ecosystems have for sustainable communities.
Thursday, February 6, 6-8pm: The Process of Ecological Restoration. This class will help you understand the principles, goals, and timeline of ecological restoration; identify common strategies and techniques used in ecological restoration projects; and assess the challenges and limitations of ecological restoration efforts.
Thursday, February 13, 6-8pm: The Impact of Invasive Plants. During this class, you’ll learn to identify common invasive plant species in southwest Ohio and how they were introduced, understand the ecological and economic impacts of invasive plants, and explain the mechanisms through which invasive plants spread and dominate.
Thursday, February 20, 6-8pm: Basic Plant ID. This class will explore the key morphological features used to identify plants, how to use field guides and plant identification keys to accurately identify common plants in southwest Ohio (including apps in the field), and common issues in plant ID, especially for emerging invasives.
Thursday, February 27, 6-8pm: Assessing Your Site & Developing a Plan. In this class, we’ll review existing site plans from local projects, discuss the elements of a comprehensive site assessment, and explore how management plans are implemented in phases.
Thursday, March 6, 6-8pm: Stakeholder & Volunteer Engagement & Management. This class will explore how to develop strategies to effectively recruit, train, and retain stakeholders & volunteers; emphasize the importance of safety planning for volunteer events; and consider the importance of volunteer recognition and celebration.
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Saturday, April 12: Spring Ephemeral Identification. We’ll learn to identify spring ephemerals and understand their ecological role and understand how spring ephemerals can act as an indicator of forest health. Invasive species focus: lesser celandine and garlic mustard.
Saturday, May 17: Plant & Tree Identification. We’ll practice your plant and tree identification skills and learn how to communicate plant ID to volunteers. Invasive species focus: invasive vines.
Saturday, June 21: Trail Building & Maintenance. We’ll practice basic trail building and maintenance activities and learn about the importance of safe and accessible trails for public greenspaces. Invasive species focus: Japanese stilt grass and chaff flower.
Saturday, July 12: Invasive Species Monitoring & Long-Term Maintenance. We’ll explore the importance of management following restoration efforts and practice both invasive species identification and monitoring of seedlings. We’ll also utilize iNaturalist as a tool for long term site monitoring.
Saturday, August 16: Invasive Species Management Techniques & Tool Usage. We’ll dive into invasive species removal techniques, volunteer safety during restoration events, proper tool usage and best practices. Invasive species focus: woody shrubs.
Saturday, September 20: Volunteer Leadership. We’ll practice volunteer leadership skills during a restoration event, understand volunteer safety considerations, and discuss ways to provide a positive volunteer experience.
Saturday, October 18: Reestablishing Native Habitats. We’ll practice strategies for reintroducing native vegetation, explore best practices for planting and managing plantings, and learn about best practices for seed collection and processing.
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Participants who complete the listed requirements will earn their Greenspace Guardians Certificate during the graduation ceremony on Thursday, November 13 at the Civic Garden Center.
Benefits of the Greenspace Guardian Certification
The Greenspace Guardian Certification will introduce you to a variety of conservation organizations in the Southwest Ohio region and provide you with a pathway to get involved. Through the program, you’ll receive:
Connection to a community of fellow conservation advocates and volunteers
12 hours of classroom education
20 hours of hands-on experience in the field
Ongoing educational opportunities following your completion of the training
Exposure to regional conservation experts and professionals
Introductions to local conservation organizations and their work
Next Steps
Registration for the 2025 Greenspace Guardians training is closed. To hear about future program developments, you can sign up for the interest list:
If you have questions, please reach out to Sam Settlemyre, our Conservation Program Manager: ssettlemyre@civicgardencenter.org