I spend a significant amount of time exploring and playing in the outdoors. One day you may see me…read morecanoeing and fly fishing our local rivers, or, if you're damn lucky, you might notice me hiking through a park, identifying the flora and fauna of our area. To even the casual observer, it shouldn't be a surprise that I am dedicated to protecting and preserving our natural resources. This commitment extends to local organizations doing important environmental advocacy work. Greenacres Water Quality Project, a program of the Greenacres Foundation, is a prime example of coupling professional expertise with community involvement. Though the project participates in outreach events around Cincinnati, I am most intimately involved with Saturday Morning Snapshot. What is Saturday Morning Snapshot? I'm glad you asked. Basically it's a group of dedicated volunteers who take water samples from the Little Miami River and its tributaries on the second Saturday of each month from March through November. These water samples -- sometimes totaling more than 80 -- are taken to the Greenacres Water Lab for testing. Here is the special part. At the lab, "citizen" volunteers perform all the tests, many of whom don't have professional backgrounds in science or lab work. I am part of this category. But nobody really cares. Every volunteer is trained by the Greenacres Water Quality director who runs the River Lab and answers volunteer questions. And let me tell you, the director is a first class lady. She loves her job and her volunteers. The best of both worlds, really. Oh, and she gives you lunch. A damn good lunch if I can gush a bit. Now these cats testing for bacteria, phosphates, nitrates, turbidity and other barometers of water quality -- they are some of the most down to earth and good natured people you will ever meet. I'll be the first to admit that water testing can be a tedious and sometimes boring process, but with an eclectic and interesting group of people to chat and collaborate with, the prospect of measuring nitrates and phosphates doesn't seem so bad. The very idea of expanding my pool of knowledge while helping to monitor and protect our water supply is extremely motivating. Because in the final analysis, if we don't have a clean environment to live, what the hell do we really have?

This foundation does great things for families who are affected by cancer. This weekend they were…read morethe sponsor for The Candy Race 5k and jelly tot dash at Sawyer Point. They also have many other events throughout the year. It is all for a great cause!

This is an amazing non-profit foundation that does amazing work to help children and families…read morestruggling with young cancer and bone marrow transplant patients. They work in partnership with Children's Hospital and do amazing work with children and their families, including siblings! I'm truely in awe of all the great work they are doing and how much they are growing.

This place is Awesome. I've gone here both as a guest to get services and a volunteer in the food…read morepantry. There are SO many services offered here, from rent assistance to auto repair and they even have free tax prep once a year. If you ever need job coaching they have that too and free child care while your here shopping in their open door food pantry that operates Wednesday thru Saturday - Call for specific hours of operation. From time to time they offer a free health clinic with student nurses to check you out and get you better and they offer so many resources to the community. You could say this place is a one stop shop for all sorts of assistance and that's why I say this place is Awesome!!!...

This place is fantastic. I've gone here both as a guest to get services and a volunteer to help the…read moreplace keep running. There are SO many services offered here, to begin listing them almost seems like a futile pursuit! I went for job coaching and help with my resume. I have done this twice now, and both times, it has set me up in such a good position that I have gotten a job very shortly after my visit there! The atmosphere of the place is very relaxing, there is a cool little waterfall in the open area, and all of the classrooms and the prayer chapel are all very comfortable. That's a good thing if you find yourself in a position to need help. I would recommend anyone who needs just a little help to stop by here. You will be greeted warmly and will get to sit down with an assessor who will help you figure out what services you need. I'm thankful that I was able to get the help I needed and now that I am able to help others!

Nothing but love for this amazing place that is helping teachers out all over the Cincinnati area…read more It's organized, it has variety of products and new items throughout the months. Easy process to get started and understand the lay of the land. They even have pick up so you can do your shopping on line. The volunteers and people running the place are very kind and helpful. This place is great, will share with all teachers that don't already know about it!

Awesome resource for teachers. Free supplies donated by local business and individuals. May is…read moreP&G month as well as 5/3 Bank. Very nice that Los businesses support such a value charity. With school districts cutting funding (ask your kids teachers how much they really spend out of pocket. You'll be amazed) this is a welcomed supplier of needed materials. Thanks!

This place is such a gem. It has something here for everyone…read more The trails are beautiful and range from easy to more moderate, so whether you want a relaxing walk or a bit of a challenge, you can find it here. It is one of those places that reminds you not to underestimate Ohio's natural beauty. There are hiking challenges too you can sign up for prizes. There is a really cute nature themed playground that is perfect for kids. This place also makes an amazing venue for events. You can rent spaces for parties or weddings, which is my dream venue. The welcome center is one of my favorite parts. They have live animals that are very well cared for, including rehabilitated raptors, which is so cool to see up close. There is also a large gift shop, a cozy lounging area, and coffee from Coffee Emporium available to buy. It is a great place to relax and take everything in, especially if you enjoy birdwatching. They also host seasonal events, and their Christmas lights event is one of my favorites. It really brings the whole place to life in a special way. The staff here are consistently kind, welcoming, and genuinely happy to talk with you. They are always willing to answer questions and make the experience even better. Overall, this is such a peaceful, educational, and well maintained place. Definitely somewhere you can keep coming back to and still enjoy every time.

We enjoy going to Cincinnati Nature Center's "Light in the Forest" every holiday season. Getting…read moreoutside and taking a walk on a chilly evening is a nice departure from all the indoor events we go to this season of the year. It's a well-lit, easy one mile walk through the woods. There are stops along the way: several bonfires, a gift shop, live music, interactive light displays, and a historic home you can walk through. It's $20 per adult and $8 per child, with a small savings for members. We'd love to go back during the summer months, perhaps for another one of their many events.

RAPTOR Inc. (Regional Association for the Protection and Treatment Of Raptors,) is a rehabilitation…read moreand education center specializing in birds of prey. Over the years, over 300 birds have been rehabilitated by the group. The few birds who have not been able to be rehabilitated have lived out their years at RAPTOR. Those birds serve as emissaries in their education programs. Open to the public the last Sunday of each month (March-November) from 1pm to 4pm. Donations are greatly appreciated. Volunteers educate visitors about birds of prey, all while explaining why each bird is living it's life at RAPTOR. My children really enjoyed seeing the bald eagle, owls and halks. Hands on educational activities were available for the kids. Dissecting and deciphering what was found in owl pellets, and seeing bird talons, and wings up close. There were even replicas of various raptor eggs. A banner allows guests to compare their own wingspan and hand size to various birds of prey. Our visit lasted about 1 hour. Do not forget to checkout the gift shop. While everything else was located outside, the gift shop is located up the stairs, and inside. Your purchase of logo and other goods helps forward the work that they do.

From the owner: Non-profit organization dedicated to bird of prey conservation. We are a raptor rehabilitation and…read moreeducation center.

I've been going to Mathew 25 ministries for the past 10 years and they continue to grow while…read morekeeping their mission the same. It is the best place to volunteer sporadically and they have a lot of open availability. This year I wanted to do something for my birthday, giving back to the community and I was able to organize an event for my friends to get together and do. It was amazing. We hung candy on Christmas trees for A-Kid-Again. And they were nice enough to throw in a tour of the grounds as well, which made it even more special.

Very happy with donation of food lost my job this will really help me thank you so much!!read more