Welcome to Greenspace Guardians, a 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 series will teach you how. Our goal is to train the next generation of stewards to restore and protect our region’s public greenspaces. Sign up for the interest list or keep reading for all the details.
Greenspaces come in many shapes and sizes. From a neighborhood pocket park to your local forest preserve, all of our greenspaces are important. They provide crucial ecosystem services, give people a place to recreate and offer a place for us to connect with nature. However, managing these spaces is a challenge. Greenspace Guardians focuses on giving people the resources and know-how to jumpstart greenspace projects in their community and ensure those projects are maintained. The goal is to provide support to local governments, nonprofits and neighborhood groups in managing public greenspace for the benefit of the broader community.
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 interested in developing the skills needed to assist with or lead restoration efforts and maintain greenspaces over time. 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 and advocates committed to the long-term protection 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 projects over time. You’ll spend time in the classroom as well as in the field, where you’ll hear from greenspace professionals 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. We will help participants connect with local organizations that align with their personal interests, skill sets and schedules. You’ll also be encouraged to put your skills to work by completing a capstone project. We’ll guide you through each step of the process and help connect you to other resources to ensure you are successful.
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 $300, 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 February 2026. They’re also expected to attend four in-field sessions in April and May. Finally, they are expected to complete or be in the process of completing a capstone project by the fall of 2026. 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, February 26, 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 southwest 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, March 5, 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, March 12, 6-8pm: Exploring & Managing Urban Greenspaces. In this class, we’ll explore what an urban greenspace is and how such spaces are managed. CGC staff and local partners will provide examples of different kinds of urban greenspaces throughout the region. We will look at how those projects came together, how the community is engaged in the space, and what it takes to upkeep those spaces over time.
Thursday, March 19, 6-8pm: Community Engagement & Greenspace Activation. Greenspaces provide so many benefits to residents, including ecosystem benefits, places to recreate and a space to connect with nature. While the mere existence of a greenspace is beneficial, those benefits can be amplified when the local community is actively engaged in the space. In this class, we will consider ways to engage people in local greenspaces and the opportunities and challenges this type of engagement presents.
Thursday, March 26, 6-8pm: Capstone Project Brainstorming. All participants must complete a capstone project as part of the CGC’s Greenspace Guardians Certification. During this session, we will brainstorm capstone project ideas and bounce ideas of fellow participants. We will work together in groups to flesh out ideas and look for opportunities to collaborate with one another.
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The dates, times and topics of field sessions are subject to change. You will be notified during the first classroom session of any changes to the field sessions.
April 4, 10am-2pm: Site Assessment & Planning
April 18, 10am-2pm: Getting Projects Started
May 9, 10am-2pm: Long Term Maintenance & Upkeep
May 30, 10am-2pm: Greenspace Activation & Volunteer Management
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The Greenspace Guardians Capstone Project is an opportunity to take what you learn in classroom and field sessions and apply it to a real-world conservation project in your community. Projects can include a wide variety of activities ranging from the installation of native gardens to organizing restoration activities, developing educational materials to leading citizen science efforts to advocating to decision makers. You’re encouraged to develop your own idea that fits your interests and works with your schedule.
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Participants who complete the listed requirements will earn their Greenspace Guardians Certificate during the graduation ceremony on Thursday, November 5 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
10 hours of classroom education
16 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 2026 Greenspace Guardians is now open! When you’re ready, you can apply here. Once you fill out the application form, we’ll be in touch starting in early November for next steps.
If you have questions, please reach out to Sam Settlemyre, our Conservation Program Manager: ssettlemyre@civicgardencenter.org