Volunteer with Parks and Recreation

Help bring fun to our Adaptive Recreation programs for individuals with disabilities! 

Volunteers support participants alongside trained staff in a variety of programs including softball, pickleball, kickball, archery, crafts, dances and more, while helping create a fun, welcoming and encouraging environment for everyone. 

Learn more about current program offerings on our Adaptive Recreation web page.

To apply for volunteer opportunities, visit our Adaptive Recreation Volunteer Page. 

• Returning volunteers can sign in using the same name and email address used previously to browse and sign up for available shifts.
• New volunteers will be asked to create an account and complete a volunteer application before signing up for shifts. 
  • Additional steps such as a background check and interview may be required depending on the volunteer role.

If you have questions or need additional information about adaptive programs, please email parksrec@bloomingtonmn.gov. 

If you have questions or need help with registering to volunteer, please email volunteer@bloomingtonmn.gov. 

The City of Bloomington's Adopt-A-Park program is a fun, educational and worthwhile way for you to beautify your local neighborhood park or favorite trail. 

Adopt-A-Park Bloomington provides you, your family, group or organization with the opportunity to make our parks even more safe and beautiful than they already are!

You can volunteer to clean up and beautify a park or a stretch of trail, help plant and maintain park gardens, keep our parks litter-free, and remove invasive species with the guidance and support of  Recreation and Park Maintenance staff.

For full details, visit blm.mn/adopt-a-park.

The Farmer’s Market gives volunteers an opportunity to experience the local food system, learn about the Minnesota growing season, and develop a relationship with the Bloomington community. This is an ideal opportunity for community members who are passionate about the farmers market, want to be more active in their community, or are interested in learning more about event planning and logistics.

• Set Up 7 - 8 am: Help set up market tables, chairs,directional signs and information booth.
• Event Support 9 am - 12 pm:  - Assist with daily market activities. Conduct attendance counts for 10 minutes every hour.
• Take Down 1 - 2 pm:  - Help take down market directional signs and information booth. Light clean-up duties like wiping down tables and sorting trash bins as assigned.

To apply, fill out a volunteer application. 

Looking for a group volunteer project? Want to help beautify outdoor spaces in Bloomington? Parks Maintenance and Parks and Recreation have opportunities for you! Projects include park clean-ups, park adoption, buckthorn removal, and other park enhancements. 

To apply, fill out a volunteer application or if you have questions or need additional information, contact: 

Parks and Recreation Department
952-563-8877 | MN Relay 711 | volunteer@BloomingtonMN.gov

Historic Gideon and Agnes Pond House, located in Pond Dakota Mission Park, 401 E. 104th Street, offers tours where visitors can learn about Gideon and Agnes Pond and the Dakota people among whom they lived as missionaries during the mid-nineteenth century. Guests at Pond House experience life in early Bloomington at monthly hands-on history programs and lectures. More info can be found on the Pond House web page. 

To apply for volunteer opportunities at Pond House, fill out a volunteer application.  

Bloomington Parks and Recreation offers a variety of special events throughout the year that often require the assistance of volunteers. 

To apply, fill out a volunteer application. If you are current volunteer with Parks and Recreation, please contact Parks and Recreation at 952-563-8877 or volunteer@BloomingtonMN.gov to participate.

Bloomington Parks and Recreation offers an excellent opportunity for teens 13+ or entering 8th grade in the fall to get involved and make a difference in their community by volunteering within a variety of summer youth programs. Summer Teen volunteers assist with activities under the guidance of experience staff and gain valuable leadership skills. Volunteers are selected through an application and interview process. Volunteers serve in a minimum two-week session in their selected program. Volunteers are able to select to volunteer in more than one program. In the summer, teens can apply to volunteer in the following programs:

Summer Adventure Playground Volunteers

• Volunteer shift times: Monday - Friday, 8:45 a.m. - 4 p.m.
• Program Dates: June 15 - August 7, 2026 (No programming July 1 - 5);
  • Volunteers are assigned to two-week sessions.
• Location(s): Various park locations throughout Bloomington
• Information: Help facilitate opportunities to play and lead playground participants (in grades 1 - 7) in games, sports, arts and crafts, and making new friendships. Program includes occasional field trips.

Camp Kota JC Volunteers

• Volunteer shift times: Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 3:15 p.m. + Thursday evening program
• Two Sessions Available:
  • Session 1: July 6 - 17, 2026
  • Session 2: July 20 - 31, 2026
• Location: East Bush Lake Park
• Information: Help campers learn basic outdoor skills while meeting new friends, singing crazy songs and having tons of fun.

Application 

• Fill out a Volunteer Application. Please be sure to answer all required questions and indicate all program(s) and session(s) of interest.  Please note email addresses ending ISD271.org typically do not accept emails from outside the school district.  Please use an alternate email address on your application.
  • January–April interview focus will be for paid position applications.
  • April and May are reserved for volunteer applications. Due to the volume of applications, volunteer candidates will be contacted during the April–May timeframe. Limited numbers of volunteers are allotted for each program week to ensure a high-quality, safe and well-supported experience for participants and staff.
• Deadline to apply – May 15, 2026. Applicants will be contacted via email with next steps after this date. 

Volunteer as an usher and experience great performances at Bloomington Center for the Arts in person.

Thank you for considering ushering and other volunteer opportunities with Bloomington Parks and Recreation.