🌿 Volunteer with your kids

🎄 Light Up Longview

The Light Up Longview committee is setting up the village's Christmas lights in the campground and around the village, and invites all villagers to help. A hot lunch is served as a thank-you. Meet at the Longview campground cookhouse.

• Organizer: Light Up Longview committee (Village of Longview)
• Ages: Families welcome; kids with a parent.
• When: Sunday, October 18, 2026, 10 AM to 2 PM.

Last checked: Oct 14, 2026

🐎 Millarville Racing & Agricultural Society volunteers

Help with setup, admissions, parking, hospitality and vendor help at the Christmas Market, Farmers' Market, Canada Day Races and the Priddis & Millarville Fair. Free to volunteer, and volunteers get free admission to the society's events. Contact the office through the volunteer page.

• Organizer: Millarville Racing & Agricultural Society
• Ages: Volunteers range "from students to seniors." No minimum age given, check with organizer.
• When: Christmas Market Nov 5 to 8 and Nov 12 to 15, 2026. The Summer Market runs Saturdays in summer and the Fair is in August.

Millarville volunteer page · Christmas Market dates

Last checked: Oct 14, 2026

🏘️ Town of Diamond Valley volunteer interest form

Black Diamond and Turner Valley families can fill in a free volunteer interest form for town events (summer and winter), parks and recreation and community groups. The town gets in touch when a good fit comes up.

• Organizer: Town of Diamond Valley
• Ages: Check with organizer.
• When: Year-round sign-up.

Diamond Valley volunteering page · Volunteer interest form

Last checked: Oct 14, 2026

🛣️ Alberta Highway Cleanup

A yearly roadside litter pickup on provincial highways, including around Longview, Turner Valley and Black Diamond. Families can't sign up on their own; they join through a participating non-profit group, such as Junior Forest Wardens. Everyone must complete safety training first. Groups earn money for their organization.

• Organizer: Alberta Transportation and Economic Corridors (through registered non-profit groups)
• Ages: 9 and older. 1 adult for every 2 kids under 14, and 1 adult for every 5 kids aged 14 to 18.
• When: First or second Saturday in May each year (2026 was May 2).

Alberta Highway Cleanup page

Last checked: Oct 14, 2026

🌱 Okotoks Community Clean Up and Tree Planting

A spring cleanup of the Sheep River valley plus tree planting. There's a cleanup BINGO card with prizes and a free volunteer BBQ. Tree planters bring shovels, gloves, closed-toe shoes and eye protection.

• Organizer: Town of Okotoks (with Parks & Recreation)
• Ages: Open to individuals and families. No minimum age given, check with organizer.
• When: Every spring. The 2026 event was Saturday, May 9; the 2027 date isn't posted yet.

Town of Okotoks event page

Last checked: Oct 14, 2026

🗑️ Okotoks Litter-Free Community cleanup kits

Pick up a free kit (gloves, bags and a rec coupon) and do a family litter pick in a park or along a pathway whenever it suits you. Register your cleanup and the town collects the bags. Stay back from busy roads and never pick up needles or glass.

• Organizer: Town of Okotoks
• Ages: Check with organizer.
• When: Year-round.

Town of Okotoks Litter-Free page

Last checked: Oct 14, 2026

🏞️ Calgary Pathway and River Cleanup

A citywide cleanup of pathways and riverbanks that has run every year since 1967, and was started by a 12-year-old! Registration is required.

• Organizer: City of Calgary (Calgary Parks)
• Ages: 12 and older; 12 to 17-year-olds must come with a parent or guardian. Not for kids under 12.
• When: Every year in early May (2026 was May 1 to 3). Registration opens early in the year.

City of Calgary registration page

Last checked: Oct 14, 2026

🐦 Sheep River Christmas Bird Count

A one-day winter bird census around Okotoks, Turner Valley and Black Diamond. Walk a route with a team, or count birds at your backyard feeder. All skill levels welcome, from the youngest birder up.

• Organizer: Local count circle, Christmas Bird Count (Birds Canada)
• Ages: Check with organizer.
• When: Count season is December 14, 2026 to January 5, 2027. The 2026 circle date isn't posted yet (last year's was Dec 28).

Birds Canada Christmas Bird Count · Alberta circle list

Last checked: Oct 14, 2026

🦅 High River Christmas Bird Count

The same friendly winter bird census for the High River circle. Great for curious kids with binoculars.

• Organizer: Local count circle, Christmas Bird Count (Birds Canada)
• Ages: Check with organizer.
• When: Count season is December 14, 2026 to January 5, 2027. The 2026 date isn't posted yet (last year's was Dec 16).

Alberta circle list

Last checked: Oct 14, 2026

🥾 Friends of Kananaskis Country: Volunteer Trail Care

Trail care days on Kananaskis trails, from litter pickup to clearing deadfall. Set up a volunteer profile first to get the list of upcoming days. Trail work can be physical, so ask whether a day suits kids.

• Organizer: Friends of Kananaskis Country, with Alberta Parks
• Ages: Check with organizer.
• When: Days are posted through the season by email and on their calendar.

Friends of Kananaskis Country volunteer page · Alberta Parks volunteering

Last checked: Oct 14, 2026

🌲 Junior Forest Wardens (Kananaskis projects)

An outdoor club for young people and their families. The local club helps with projects in Kananaskis, like removing buffaloberry shrubs.

• Organizer: Junior Forest Wardens, Bragg Creek club (listed by Alberta Parks)
• Ages: Ages 6 to 18 and their families.
• When: Check with organizer.

Alberta Parks volunteering page

Last checked: Oct 14, 2026

🦌 Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area volunteers

Help care for the land, support nature education programs and welcome visitors at this conservation area west of Okotoks. A volunteer application form is required.

• Organizer: Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area
• Ages: Check with organizer.
• When: Year-round.

Cross Conservation volunteer page

Last checked: Oct 14, 2026