Opportunities From: Tennessee State Parks

We invite you to join our preservation effort at the park to restore the Bradford Cemetery grounds.  The project aims to stop the decay of historical gravestones and restore dignity to the final resting places of early community members. 

By clearing overgrowth, removing debris, trimming vegetation, and preserving the headstones, we can ensure these final resting places are dignified and not forgotten. 

This restoration effort will help future generations learn about their heritage and understand the lives of those who came before us. A key part of this initiative involves installing new signage to share the stories and heritage of those buried here and remembered by future generations.  Your assistance will help ensure this important piece of local history is sustained for years to come. 

Let's honor our community's history together!

Join us once a month to help out in various ways around the park. Each month we will be having a different opportunity so be sure to check back for updates. All volunteer days will meet at the Multi Sport Facility unless stated otherwise. Please be sure to wear the proper clothing for the project of the month and always bring water.

January 19th - Invasive plant removal. Meet at the Wilhoite Mill Trailhead to tackle some invasive plants.

On Wednesday, December 10th from 1:00-3:00PM EST, Roan Mountain State Park is looking for 10 volunteers to help spread pine straw across our freshly seeded 1.25-acre pollinator fields along Highway 143.  This workday event will involve lifting baled pine straw and spreading it out across the two fields.  Straw bales will be on site along the edges of the field.  

This work day event will have volunteers working alongside park staff and members of Patchwork Meadows, a professional native landscaping business out of Black Mountain, NC.  We will be meeting and working at the Roan Mountain State Park Picnic Shelter #1 located directly north of the Miller Farmstead road on Highway 143.  

Weather can be unpredictable this time of year, so we recommend dressing in layers and bringing rain gear.  Be sure to pack a water bottle as well.  The park will provide work gloves for volunteers on site.  If you have any questions about this work event, feel free to contact park ranger Philip Hylen at (423)361-3185 or at Philip.Hylen@tn.gov.

Remove sticks and downfall limbs from trail, picnic area, and inside fort. Collect and dispose of litter from trail and park grounds. 

Join park staff in the battle against invasive plant species at Seven Islands State Birding Park. We'll be cutting and removing invasive plant species, including privet, honeysuckle, wintercreeper, and multiflora rose. Some cutting tools and work gloves will be available for volunteers to use, but volunteers are encouraged to bring their own cutting tools if they have some, such as pruning shears, loppers, and hand saws. Volunteers should bring bottled water to drink while working. 

Volunteers should plan on meeting Ranger Stephanie in the main parking lot off of Kelly Lane at 9:00am and receive instructions on where the group will be working. If you have any questions regarding this volunteer day please contact Ranger Stephanie at stephanie.mueller@tn.gov or call/text 865-333-8270.

Interested in learning to work with birds of prey?  Join Roan Mountain State Park for a series of volunteer workdays with Park Ranger Phil Hylen and our park owls: Shiloh and Sunshine.  Volunteers will help the park to clean owl cages, complete minor aviary maintenance, and assist with the care of the owls (obtaining weights, checking housing conditions, and learning their stories to educate the public).  Each shift will begin by meeting Ranger Phil at the Park Headquarters building to sign in and brief for the shift.  While 3 volunteers will help to clean, a handler will be present to work with the owls directly and train cleaners on skillsets necessary to work directly with the owls.      

Shifts vary on time and the maximum number of volunteers.  We will be trying to conduct two volunteer days per week to allow for more enrichment time with the owls and volunteers.  

Are you interested in recreating with purpose? Do you seek adventure and new experiences? If so, working with the Rock Island team to explore and understand Rock Island State Park may be the perfect avenue for giving back & learning new skills!

We are interested in your passion, hobby, educational aspirations, or outdoor pursuits. What do you love about TN State Parks? Are you a lover of geology, botany, birds, salamanders, trails, fishing, hiking, or maybe you long to just be in wild places. Whatever motivates you, we need your drive to help us monitor the health of the species, assemblages, and processes that exist within Rock Island State Park.

Specifically, we hope to employ volunteers to conduct bird surveys during their time in the park and visit designated survey locations in the park. We need volunteers to help conduct floristic surveys using scientific sampling techniques. Gaining a more complete picture of the plants that live in the park and their response to management efforts is critical! We will show you the skills to map, identify, and monitor the spread of invasive plant species and will guide you through how your activities can benefit the long-term stewardship of your wild places.

Discover scientific exploration at your doorstep while having fun and helping to protect wild places for the future!

Are you passionate about trails? Do you daydream about your next hike? Do you want to give back to the day hiking and thru-hiking community?

If you answered yes to any of these questions then we would love to have you join us in the design, creation, and maintenance of the trail systems at Rock Island State Park! Join our passionate staff in creating a legacy of hiking access!

This volunteer position will help us meet ongoing needs for trail work park wide. The Trailblazer brings their experiences and perspectives to design and care of trails. The Trailblazer leads the way for other volunteers, is someone who has a steward's heart, and is a lover of wild places. Do you have hiking friends who would like to help? Are you already organizing excursions for your hiking squad? Help us clear trails of obstacles, establish tread-paths, map future routes, and blaze the trail for others to follow. 

Does this sound like you?

Want to know more and talk to a Ranger? Click Respond and leave a message with your contact information. Thank you for your volunteerism!

Reducing the incidence of invasive plants in wild places allows time and space for the flourishing of a diverse biotic community. The exclusion of rare, endemic, or specialist species in an ecologically globalized world is common.

However, uncommon and extremely valuable are the ecological stewards who can help alleviate this pressure and provide time for ecological adaptation. Do you live in a "world of wounds" so eloquently described by the father of Conservation Biology, Aldo Leopold? Do you want to help keep all the parts on the landscape and be the intelligent tinkerer, the steward, that wild places demand of us?

Join the Rock Island State Park team in the establishment of our first ever ongoing volunteer based Invasive Species Strike Team. Your actions will have a direct impact on the success of endemic, rare, and threatened species in the park. Your volunteerism matters! Your actions can have an impact for generations!

The strike team will use hand tools, mechanical tools, and herbicide to target and remove the identified invasive plants in Rock Island State Park. Previous experience is not required; training and guidance will be given. 

The strike team is designed with you in mind and built around the team's interest and schedule. Learn practical skills for wildlife habitat improvement, learn plant identification, apply ecological principles in real time with satisfying feedback. The strike team can be a group you are already a part of. Are you a wildlife student with a group of classmates looking for a curriculum vitae boost? Do you have a group of friends who love wild places and want to give back?

If this sounds like you and you want to learn more, click respond and leave a message with your contact information. Thanks for your volunteerism!

Are you a student looking to complete Tennessee Promise Volunteer Hours? If so stop by the Big Ridge Park Office to learn how you can serve your community at Big Ridge State Park! 

On December 13th, at 8 AM join park staff and volunteer as we look to add a fence around an old homestead on the park. Please meet at the equestrian center as we go in on the horse trails to access the area. Volunteers are encouraged to bring water, snacks, gloves, and any tool: shovels, loppers, post hole diggers, to help us out.

Gardening, weeding, branch removal. 

It's that time of year again, the 2026 Cummins Falls Marathon will be on February 28th 2026. We will need lots of help the day before the races, the day of the races and the day after. Volunteer tasks may include helping with food prep and serving food to runners, manning aid stations along the route and helping set up and take down before and after the event. Volunteers will recieve a free T-shirt. We will need help from 2pm-4:30pm on the 27th , from 6:30am - 3pm on the 28th (race day) and anytime from 8am-4:30pm the day after the race on March 1st.  If you are interested in volunteering, please e-mail Ranger Lauren at lauren.fagin@tn.gov 

Need volunteer hours? Want to lend a helping hand? Cummins Falls State Parks welcomes volunteers year round for various miscellaneous tasks. There is always trash that needs picked up, invasives that need eradicated, trails that need maintained and projects going on at the park. We welcome volunteers anytime during our park hours from 8am - 4:30pm every day, whether you lend a hand for 30 minutes or 7.5 hours, we encourage you to come out! If you are interested in volunteering at Cummins Falls, please e-mail Park Ranger Lauren at lauren.fagin@tn.gov

For volunteers at Rocky Fork that do not fall under other volunteer opportunities. 

Join park staff in the battle against invasive plant species at Seven Islands State Birding Park. We'll be cutting and removing invasive plant species, including privet, honeysuckle, wintercreeper, and multiflora rose. Some cutting tools and work gloves will be available for volunteers to use, but volunteers are encouraged to bring their own cutting tools if they have some, such as pruning shears, loppers, and hand saws. Volunteers should bring bottled water to drink while working. 

Volunteers should plan on meeting Ranger Stephanie in the main parking lot off of Kelly Lane at 9:00am and receive instructions on where the group will be working. If you have any questions regarding this volunteer day please contact Ranger Stephanie at stephanie.mueller@tn.gov or call/text 865-333-8270.

5am-3pm at lodge 

On December 13th, 2025, Montgomery Bell State Park will host our 11th Annual Bell Ringer trail run. This opportunity welcomes registered runners to run up to 50K on our park's trails. This opportunity would not be possible without the participation of volunteers like you!  We are looking for volunteers to assist with the event. Volunteers will meet park staff at the Lodge at Montgomery Bell (1000 Hotel Ave) where you will be assigned a volunteer task. Example of volunteer tasks are helping with rider check in, manning the race start and finish line, or other various tasks that the Friends of Montgomery Bell volunteer group needs help with.

Join T. O. Fuller Park staff prepping trees on Thursday, March 19, 2026 for distribution on Friday, March 20, 2026, 9 am-5 pm and Saturday, March 21, 2026, 9 am-noon.

When signing up to volunteer, please put date and time available to volunteer in notes. Volunteers may work multiple shifts. Water will be provided.

Thursday, March 19, 2026 11am-3pm—Two volunteers needed to prep trees (wrap roots in paper, put identifier tags on trees, and group for pick up)

Friday, March 20, 2026 Shift One: 9am-1pm—Three volunteers needed to give out trees Shift Two: 1-5pm—Three volunteers needed to give out trees

Saturday, March 21, 2026 8:30am-12:30pm—Two volunteers needed to give out trees

Do you have a specific reason you need to volunteer? Is work, school, or something else entirely telling you that you need to log some hours somewhere? Are you simply bored and want to be both not bored AND productive? Do not fear, we have just the opportunities for you! Just give us a call (901-543-7581) or email Ranger Wheatley (clarence.wheatley@tn.gov) and we can create a volunteer opportunity that most interests you! We have opportunities involving trash pick-up, invasive plant removal, general cleaning services, gardening, program set-up, painting, trail work, animal care and much more!

Love Burgess Falls? Hate seeing trash? Need volunteer hours?

Then come lend a hand cleaning up the park for our monthly trail trash pick up days!

These volunteer days start at 9 am on the first Sunday of every month and end at Noon.

Meet Ranger Connor at our lower parking lot to get your gloves, garbage bags, and trash grabbers!

The park's native flower beds are looking great!  To stay looking good, we need your help.  We are looking for volunteers to help maintain our beautiful gardens.  Work will include cutting back last year's growth, trimming plants, blowing fall leaves out, pulling the ever present dreaded weeds and general TLC.

This is a great opportunity to earn volunteer hours for TN Naturalist certification, scholarships, school, or scouting badges!  Please wear appropriate clothing and closed toe shoes; if you have work gloves and hand pruners feel free to bring them, all other tools will be provided.

Our Reading Ranger Story Trail panels are beloved by our youngest visitors. To help them last for many more seasons volunteers wash them and report any damage from falling branches or overzealous readers. Meet at the Visitor Center to collect supplies for a leisurely afternoon on the shaded, paved half mile loop.

If you have a little more time you can check on our Little Free Library located near the bathhouse on Woodchuck Hollow. We periodically straighten the books to be sure it is in good order for our camping community. Do you know someone with carpentry skills? We'd love to add another Little Free Library near the Raccoon Creek day-use area so please have them contact us at 615-452-3706.

Fishing line recycling containers have been installed at each boat dock. The monofilament is collected from recycling bins and cleaned of hooks, leaders, weights, and trash. It is then shipped to the Berkley Pure Fishing company in Iowa. Berkley melts the line down into raw plastic pellets that can be made into other plastic products including tackle boxes, spools for line, fish habitats, and toys. Meet at the back porch of the Visitor Center to receive collection instructions. You will walk or drive to collect the line from the recycling containers and bring it back to the Visitor Center to process the contents as we work to preserve our shoreline, protect wildlife and prevent damage to boat propellers.

Volunteer who is assisting in hospitality and maintenance functions in the campground and other park operations, and facilitates the recreational experience of the state park visitors. Duties may include but are not limited to: Camper orientation & information, light maintenance, reporting inappropriate activities or potential maintenance hazards, park programming and collection of fees and sales. Host agrees to exercise hospitality towards campers and are visible representatives of the state park during their frequent interactions with the public. Host is required to volunteer for a minimum of 20 hours per week for no more than 9 consecutive months.

Responding to this opportunity indicates an interest in volunteering in this role at the park. An application and review process will still need to be done. Acceptance into the host position is based on availability and compatibility. All adults residing at the site are subject to a background check. 

Please reach out to Michelle Neil directly for more information (731) 253-8003

Are you a History Lover and love to share your knowledge or would you like to learn more about nature, farm life, gardening, or history specifically around the 1930-40s? We would love to invite some enthusiasts to become Sadie Ford Farm Attendants.

The primary job to just to be available to visitors to answer questions and give tours of the farmhouse while the Farm is open. Don't worry about knowing everything, we have a frequently asked answers all ready for you, in case you need some help. We will also love to train you to better assist the public on all things history, farm life, gardening, and nature. 

We are looking for novice historians, college bound scholars, TNP students past and present needing volunteer hours, or any who would just love to volunteer their time and enjoy history, gardening, and nature with people. 

Bonus if you love animals, especially chickens and wild children.

Additional duties would be tours of the property, basic cleaning, gardening, and some animal care.  

Must apply and be interviewed before volunteering. 

On December 13th, 2025 Montgomery Bell State Park will host our 11th Annual Bell Ringer trail run. This opportunity welcomes registered runners to run up to 50K on our park's trails. This opportunity would not be possible without the participation of volunteers like you!

 We are looking for volunteers to hike up to 4 miles on park trails and pick up flags on the 14th of December.

Volunteers will meet park staff at the Visitor Center (1020 Jackson Hill Rd, Burns TN, 37029) where you will receive a map that highlights the section of trail they will hike and pick up pink route marking flags. 

Volunteers will start at 9AM and finish their section of trail by 1PM.

On December 13th, 2025 Montgomery Bell State Park will host our 11th Annual Bell Ringer trail run. This opportunity welcomes registered runners to run up to 50K on our park's trails. This opportunity would not be possible without the participation of volunteers like you! 

We are looking for a group to adopt an aid station, this will consist of cheering on runners, refilling the snack supply, and ensuring runners are staying hydrated. Volunteers will meet park staff at the Lodge at Montgomery Bell (1000 Hotel Ave, Burns TN, 37029), at 7:00AM, where they will be led to their aid station. Volunteers will be expected to remain at their designated aid station until the last person passes through, no later than 4:30PM. 

Supplies will be provided, but volunteers are encouraged to bring bells to cheer on runners as they pass by!

Our State Parks are beautiful and unique places that should be enjoyed by everyone. Unfortunately, trash and litter always seem to make its way into the parks as well and sometimes there just is not enough time in a day to clean it all up. We need your help to keep the park beautiful and in return, you will earn volunteer service hours and a feeling of accomplishment

. This is an ongoing opportunity for community members and those who need volunteer hours to assist with clean-up duties throughout the park in areas with high levels of debris and/or litter. Trash bags and gloves will be provided to you by the park. Sturdy, closed toes shoes and a bottle of water are required for this opportunity. All minors must be accompanied by an adult.  Please contact the site supervisor to schedule your visit. Each participant must sign a liability waiver before volunteering to receive credit.

Join Red Clay staff in lighting lanterns for Christmas at Red Clay's lantern-lit tour!

Volunteers are tasked with placing the prepared lanterns along the paved trail (0.3 mi) and lighting them with grill lighters.

This opportunity will take place on Sunday, December 14th, 2024 starting at 3:45 PM. Volunteers can expect to spend approximately 1.5 hours on this task. Volunteers will be granted free entry to any tour time of their choice for the Christmas at Red Clay program on Sunday, December 14th, 2025.

Join Red Clay staff in decorating the farmhouse for Christmas at Red Clay!

Volunteers are tasked with decorating the farmhouse with the available supplies and gathering pine branches, needles, and pinecones to supplement decoration.

This opportunity will take place on Friday, December 12th at 2:00 PM. Volunteers will meet the rangers at the Visitor Center to get started.

Volunteers will be granted free entry to any tour time of their choice for the Christmas at Red Clay program on Sunday, December 14th, 2025.

Join Red Clay staff in preparing the lanterns for Christmas at Red Clay's lantern-lit tour! Volunteers are tasked with placing wooden blocks and tea light candles into paper bags to prepare them for lighting.

This opportunity will take place within the Visitor Center starting at 2:00 PM on December 13th, 2025. Expect to spend approximately 1.5 hours on this project. Volunteers will be granted free entry to any tour time of their choice for the Christmas at Red Clay program on Sunday, December 14th, 2025.

Love Burgess Falls? Need volunteer hours?

Then come lend a hand helping park staff make Burgess Falls the best it can be!

The first Wednesday of each month, Burgess Falls will host a volunteer workday.

Projects will range from trash removal and tree debris removal to invasive species removal and trail maintenance projects. 

Arrive at our park office, 8487 Burgess Falls Rd, at 9am for sign in and briefing on the project/tasks to be accomplished for the day.

Gloves and tools will be provided by the park.

Participants must be at least 14 years or older to participate.

Please wear closed toed shoes, long pants, and appropriate clothing for the weather.

If inclement weather, the event will be rescheduled for the next Wednesday of the month. 

Are you interested in helping us with Living History demonstrations and re-enactments? Register for this opportunity if you'd like to participate as a living historian at any of these upcoming events, including: 

Other hours and opportunities are available. We appreciate your dedication to our cause!

RMSP is looking for volunteers interested in hiking and trail building to assist our park with maintaining and improving park trails.  Trail maintenance can be done in a general fashion or by adopting a trail to monitor and maintain on a regular basis.  Maintenance duties include lopping overgrowth, leaf blowing, blazing trails, assisting park rangers with trail structures, and utilizing Avenza Maps to mark any issues found while inspecting trails.  

To register as a trail volunteer, please contact Ranger Marco Rodriguez at Marco.Rodriguez@tn.gov to schedule a time!

Various tasks at Sgt. Alvin C. York State Historic Park

Sabine Hill Social Society is a group of dedicated individuals who focus on helping Sycamore Shoals with educational events and social activities, early 19th century period clothing assistance, and helping with representing the Federalist period of time in America. 

Bledsoe Creek State Park added a pollinator garden in 2019 with the support of Friends of Bledsoe Creek State Park and a grant from the Iris Fund. With careful selection of native perennials and self seeding annuals this area has flourished. Located adjacent to the Visitor Center, it serves as a wildlife habitat, educational tool and visual interest for passersby. In every season there are tasks we can use volunteer assistance with to maintain the pollinator garden! In the spring we apply mulch and soil amendments if needed. During the summer and fall we'll be weeding and ensuring the plant markers are visible. In the winter we will put the garden to bed being careful to maintain a habitat for pollinators to overwinter. This is a family-friendly opportunity appropriate for all ages!

Chickasaw State Park invites volunteers to take part in an ongoing conservation effort to remove invasive plant species from our pollinator fields. These fields are essential habitat for native bees, butterflies, and other pollinators that help maintain the health and diversity of our local ecosystems.

This is a flexible, open volunteer opportunity available throughout the season. Individuals, families, school groups, scout troops, and service organizations are all welcome. No prior experience is necessary - park staff will provide tools, gloves, and guidance.

We always need help from our visitors to help keep our trails clear from debris and trash.  Make sure to have a volunteer form filed out before you can submit hours.  Thank you!

Do you need volunteer hours or just want to support park trails?

Activities can include :

Picking up litter, leaf blowing, invasive plant removal, trail upkeep, and light maintenance tasks!

Stop by the office or email Ranger Marhya at Marhya.Faulk@tn.gov to set up a shift!

Join us every Sunday at the Sadie Ford Heritage Farm to help us keep this special place beautiful. We rely heavily on volunteers to help the farm and the gardens. 

Every Sunday be prepared to help with the gardens, weeding, watering, composting, and even harvesting. You can also keep what you harvest. Help take care of our chickens and their coop, maintain our 1 mile loop trail. and assist keeping the exhibits and farmhouse tidy and neat. We also have various projects including creating a new wood working shop, grist mill, and interpretive center inside the barn, all of which require volunteer help. 

We love our Farm and we want you to love it too!

Please wear clothes to get dirty in, sunscreen, and bug spray. Please bring water. Park will provide gloves and tools. If you have gardening tools and kneepads, bring them. 

There are no public or ADA restrooms. We do have two portable restrooms available.  You can go to the main park for restroom facilities. 

Through Friends of the Parks at South Cumberland & Savage Gulf, volunteer must have completed two shadow sessions and passed the online Trail Friends quiz, and wear their Trail Friends gear during their shifts. Trail Friends greet and answer a range of visitor questions, encourage safety on the trails including proper footwear, water supply, dogs on leashes. Trail Friends are encouraged to get visitor feedback regarding any potential trail safety issues (downed trees across trail, mud slicks, etc), campground conditions, etc. Safety issues and emergencies are to be reported in post-shift survey and to Trail Friends Coordinator.

Through Friends of the Parks at South Cumberland & Savage Gulf, volunteer must have completed two shadow sessions and passed the online Trail Friends quiz, and wear their Trail Friends gear during their shifts. Trail Friends greet and answer a range of visitor questions, encourage safety on the trails including proper footwear, water supply, dogs on leashes. Trail Friends are encouraged to get visitor feedback regarding any potential trail safety issues (downed trees across trail, mud slicks, etc), campground conditions, etc. Safety issues and emergencies are to be reported in post-shift survey and to Trail Friends Coordinator.

Through Friends of the Parks at South Cumberland & Savage Gulf, volunteer must have completed two shadow sessions and passed the online Trail Friends quiz, and wear their Trail Friends gear during their shifts. Trail Friends greet and answer a range of visitor questions, encourage safety on the trails including proper footwear, water supply, dogs on leashes. Trail Friends are encouraged to get visitor feedback regarding any potential trail safety issues (downed trees across trail, mud slicks, etc), campground conditions, etc. Safety issues and emergencies are to be reported in post-shift survey and to Trail Friends Coordinator.

Through Friends of the Parks at South Cumberland & Savage Gulf, volunteer must have completed two shadow sessions and passed the online Trail Friends quiz, and wear their Trail Friends gear during their shifts. Trail Friends greet and answer a range of visitor questions, encourage safety on the trails including proper footwear, water supply, dogs on leashes. Trail Friends are encouraged to get visitor feedback regarding any potential trail safety issues (downed trees across trail, mud slicks, etc), campground conditions, etc. Safety issues and emergencies are to be reported in post-shift survey and to Trail Friends Coordinator.

Through Friends of the Parks at South Cumberland & Savage Gulf, volunteer must have completed two shadow sessions and passed the online Trail Friends quiz, and wear their Trail Friends gear during their shifts. Trail Friends greet and answer a range of visitor questions, encourage safety on the trails including proper footwear, water supply, dogs on leashes. Trail Friends are encouraged to get visitor feedback regarding any potential trail safety issues (downed trees across trail, mud slicks, etc), campground conditions, etc. Safety issues and emergencies are to be reported in post-shift survey and to Trail Friends Coordinator.

Are you a nature lover and love to share your knowledge or would you like to learn more about nature? We would love to invite some enthusiasts to become Nature Center Attendants.

The primary job to just to be available to the visitors to answer questions while the Nature Center is open. Don't worry about knowing everything, we have a frequently asked answers all ready for you, in case you need some help. We will also love to train you to better assist the public on all things nature. 

We are looking for novice naturalists, college bound scholars, TNP students past and present needing volunteer hours, or any who would just love to volunteer their time and enjoy nature with people. 

Bonus if you love animals, especially snakes and wild children.

Additional duties would be  tours of the nature center, basic cleaning, gardening, and some animal care.  

Must apply and be interviewed before volunteering. 

Join Our Invasive Plant Removal Volunteer Program!

Help protect native ecosystems and restore the natural beauty of our local habitats by joining our Invasive Plant Removal Volunteer Program! This hands-on conservation effort focuses on removing invasive plant species that threaten the health and diversity of our environment.

What We’ll Be Removing:

Privet (Ligustrum spp.)

Japanese Stiltgrass (Microstegium vimineum)

Johnson Grass (Sorghum halepense)

Multiflora Rose (Rosa multiflora)

Honeysuckle (Lonicera spp.)

These non-native species outcompete native plants, degrade wildlife habitat, and disrupt natural ecological processes. Your help will make a real difference in preserving the local environment for future generations!

What to Expect:

Training and tools will be provided

Light to moderate physical activity

Opportunities to learn about native and invasive plant species

Invasive Species are threatening our worlds biodiversity!

Join Big Ridge State Park in our efforts to thin out invasives that threaten our ecosystem! Meet Park Staff at the Park Office between 9am to 4:30pm and a Park Ranger will assist you with where to find and eliminate invasives species in our area.

If you do not know how to identify invasive species we especially encourage you to come out so we can teach you!

With the help from our Community we can really make a difference!

Volunteer to help clearing and maintaining trails throughout our new trails on Camp Hazlewood. Please e-mail the coordinator Brandon Baker at Brandon.Baker@tn.gov to set up a date and time to volunteer.

Volunteer Campground Host: Volunteer who is assisting in hospitality and maintenance functions in the campground and other park operations, and facilitates the recreational experience of the state park visitors. Duties may include but are not limited to: Camper orientation & information, Light maintenance, reporting inappropriate activities or potential maintenance hazards, park programming and collection of fees and sales. Host agrees to exercise hospitality towards campers and are visible representatives of the state park during their frequent interactions with the public. Host is required to volunteer for a minimum of 20 hours per week for no more than 9 consecutive months. 

Volunteer to help on the Park and provide much needed help while earning hours needed to complete required community service required for Tennessee Promise eligibility status.

Service hours can be completed over multiple volunteer days.

Contact the park office for more information on current park needs 731-641-4465

Indian Mountain State Park is known by its visitors as a beautifully maintained park. It takes a lot to keep the park pristine for present visitors, much less improve it for future ones. Volunteer assistance is always appreciated here at Indian Mountain, so we offer a variety of opportunities year-round. Volunteers are always welcome and can help with general maintenance, picking up trash, invasive plant removal, gardening, and so much more! If you have something you would like to do at the park with specifically, let us know and we will see if we can make it happen! Whether you are assisting for one hour or eight, your contributions would make a difference here at Indian Mountain!

Please contact the Ranger on duty at 423-566-5861 in advance during business hours to coordinate scheduling.

Need some volunteer hours? Just want to be a great steward? We appreciate your help no matter what!

Assist park staff in picking up litter, returning equipment to storage buildings and other general clean-up activity after large scale events. Volunteers should be able to lift up to 50 pounds and walk two miles of park roads and parking area perimeters. 

On February 22nd report to the gift shop booth on Raccoon Creek Road.

Purpose: The purpose of the opportunity is to create a monitoring system for our trails that can provide quick repairs and improve safety on the trail. It allows volunteers to provide important information to park rangers of trail issues, or safety risk on our trail that needs immediate attention. 

When: You can do this at your own leisure. No set time or trail for this. 

Where:  All trails

What to do: Hiking one or multiple trails and either reporting issues or fixing issues yourself. Examples of issues that you can fix are clearing debris of trail such as lose rocks, tree limbs or other items that may impede your hike and removing trash/litter from trail. Examples of issues that you would report would be, down trees over the trail, hazardous trees, bridges broken/not operating correctly, trail markers missing, and any hazards you think should be reported to a Ranger. (Trash pick up is better during the spring on trails next to lake. When spring rains bring the lake back up. Down trees are all year but more severe during winter and early spring)

After your hike please report your hours back on here this gives you credit and allows you another confirmation that the hours were completed if you need volunteer hours. It also allows state park to keep track of volunteer hours at our park and throughout the state. After you report your hours please email Justin.Vaughn@tn.gov about details of your hike. Be as detailed as you possible can about the issues you encountered, such as what trail you were on,  approximate location, size of trees, and how severe you think the issues is. You can even send photos of issues to this email if you want. All this informations makes park staff better prepared for the trail issues which saves time, money and makes for quicker fixes.

Experience: Basic hiking experience and trail knowledge

Questions: Contact Park Ranger Justin Vaughn

Our State Parks are beautiful and unique places that should be enjoyed by everyone. Unfortunately, trash and litter always seems to make its way into the parks as well and sometimes there just is not enough time in a day to clean it all up. We need your help to keep the park beautiful and in return, you will earn volunteer service hours and a feeling of accomplishment.

This is an ongoing opportunity for community members and those who need volunteer hours to assist with clean-up duties throughout the park in areas with high levels of debris and/or litter. Trash bags and gloves will be provided to you by the park. Sturdy, closed toes shoes are required for this opportunity. All minors must be accompanied by an adult. 

Please contact the site supervisor to schedule your visit. Each participant must sign a liability waiver before volunteering to receive credit. 

This is Ground Zero for Grounds Heroes! A pre-cursor to our Adopt-a-Trail program, this is an opportunity to get some trail clearing experience while helping out your friendly neighborhood TN State Park!

Our Discovery Loop is 4.5 miles of beautiful woodlands and wetlands, broken up into 6, color-coded sections that make planning trail maintenance much simpler. Our 2-mile Initiation Loop, created for us by the Trail Trippers, is a more difficult-to-hike trail that even has some reforestation opportunities.

Come out and help T.O. Fuller Rangers and Maintenance clear our trails of fallen limbs and trees, cut back encroaching foliage, and pick up any litter that may have accrued. We will usually target 2 sections of the Discovery Loop or half of the Initiation Loop in a given day. We will provide water, but please bring a refillable water bottle.

(p.s. Our next dates are September 14th and September 15th.)

Are you interested in volunteering at Pickwick Landing State Park?  Contact us today to schedule a volunteer time!

Email Interpretive Ranger Rachel Boothe to set up a time to volunteer at rachel.boothe@tn.gov

Join the Rocky Fork Staff to work on exotic-invasive plant removal.

The park will provide all the necessary tools, equipment, and materials needed for project. Be sure to pack water and snacks. Wear sturdy shoes or boots (Please no Open-Toed Sandals), bring work gloves if you have them, and wear clothes that can get dirty/wet. The park will have a few extra gloves on hand. We look forward to seeing you! TN Promise Students welcome!

Please register so we will be able to contact you in the event of volunteer day Cancellation due to inclement weather.

Difficulty: Easy to Moderate

For more information or concerned about inclement weather that day, please contact Ranger Cory Franklin at cory.franklin@tn.gov or 423-443-6429. Questions may be sent to us through our Rocky Fork State Park Facebook page as well. As always we really appreciate your involvement and help!

We will continue to have an invasive removal day on the second Sunday of each month, so if you can't make it this month, you will have more chances to get involved here at the park!

If you are interested in volunteering with our Birds of Prey, particularly in their care and the care of their aviaries, this is the PERFECT opportunity for YOU!

Any and all things Disc Golf related.

General course maintenance, cleanup, assistance with projects, and support.

The Duck River Disc Golf Club has on-going tasks available to support the park and the creation of a new course behind the park cabins. Please use the email attached for further information. 

This is an ongoing opportunity for those who are volunteering at the park to satisfy their Tn Promise hours outside of specific volunteer events . Work tasks include, but are not limited too: River bank and Road way clean up, Trail work, cleaning, and natural resource management.

 This is an ongoing opportunity for those who are volunteering at the park outside of specific volunteer events for hours towards educational, scholarship, or community service. Work tasks include, but are not limited too: River bank and Road way clean up, Trail work, cleaning, and natural resource management.

Are you interested in helping at Tims Ford State Park?  Your help may be needed with day to day activities around the nature center and the park's programming animals.  Just reach out to us and we can set you up volunteering with a task that fits you just right!

See you soon!

We have a multitude of container and traditional gardens leading up to and surrounding the Miller Farmstead. Over time, we'd like to convert each of these plots into arrangements of native and traditionally-relevant perennial plants that will provide eco-services to local wildlife and be beautiful to look at for our visitors. 

We are currently recruiting regular service volunteers to adopt small garden plots to maintain on a regular basis. Maintenance can be as little as tackling weeds in an existing plot for half an hour twice a month during the growing season, or as much as designing appropriate plantings and working with staff to renew a bed from start to finish.

This is an opportunity where experienced gardeners can work relatively independently, but we are happy to provide training and direction to inexperienced gardeners where needed. Bring your own tools and gloves, or use ours. 

If you'd like a smaller project to manage that will make a big difference and be seen and enjoyed by millions of visitors, we welcome your help. 

Volunteer activities throughout the year such as Christmas lights, Easter egg Hunt, Fishing Rodeo, Frontier Days, Jr. Ranger, etc.  

This event will be held on the first sunday of every month, with the goal of keeping Rocky Fork's trails and creeks free of litter.  Meet Park Ranger Cory Franklin in the campfire interpretive area, from there we will either go along the road or up Rocky Fork trail in search of litter.

Rocky Fork has the cleanest water of any tributary in the Nolichucky River Watershed. With 2,000 acres of park land surrounded by 8,000 acres of National Forest.  We aim to keep Rocky Fork prestine and would love to have your help!

Gloves and trash bags will be provided but feel free to bring your own supplies.  

All ages welcome! 

Interested in history or have experience with historic preservation? Are you needing volunteer hours to receive or maintain a related certification? Roan Mountain State Park is in the process of researching and cataloging holdings into our newly established park archives. We are looking for volunteers to assist with preservation and archival activites.

Shifts are flexible and will be scheduled as volunteers and park staff are available. Activities will include coordinating as a team to carefully move objects (which may be both heavy and delicate), bending, reaching overhead, climbing a step ladder, and more. 

For more information, please respond to this opportunity. Ranger staff will contact you to discuss what you are interested in contributing and to coordinate further. 

This is for individuals to keep track of hours they volunteer on the MTB trail project for days other than organized trail workdays. Individuals who use this registration have obtained approval by Ranger staff

* Volunteers are required to make contact with Ranger Staff prior to working on the trial. If individuals work without contacting Ranger staff, they will be asked to leave. 

Please Contact Ranger Jesse Jewell for further information @ (931) 494-6660 or jesse.jewell@tn.gov

Completing any task such as clean up, new nets, or area management of the course

Do you love State Parks? Do you love giving back to your community? Join us at Big Ridge State Park to make a difference. Big Ridge is always welcoming volunteers for park ground clean ups, trail monitoring, weed eating, and lots more. If you are interested, please contact Big Ridge Park Office at (865)-992-5523 to see how you can help!

TN Promise Hours 

Friends group varies volunteer work 

Work hours completed on horse trails 

The Dave and Louisa Miller family came to Ripshin Mountain in 1870, having leased the land from General John T. Wilder. Over the following 90+ years, 3 generations of Millers lived a subsistence farming lifestyle characteristic of those who populated the lands that now comprise Roan Mountain State Park. Throughout the warmer months, park interpreters offer tours of the Miller Farmstead to share the story of Roan Mountain's pre-park history. 

We are seeking volunteer tour guides who are interested in telling the story of the Miller Farmstead to park visitors. Interested volunteers must be able to:

Tour volunteers have the option of dressing in period clothing, subject to site manager's approval. 

Tours are offered to the public daily through October, and volunteer schedules can be flexible. If you have an interest in helping us fulfill our park's historical mission by hosting tours at the Miller Farmstead, we welcome your assistance!

The Miller Farmstead was built in 1908 and is preserved as a reminder of the communities that populated these mountains in the early 20th century. The farmstead is open for daily tours from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day and weekends through October. Because of staffing limitations, we rely on volunteer service to support our farmstead programs.

We are seeking living history enthusiasts to demonstrate historic crafts, farm work & trade skills at the farmstead. If you have an interest in historical research, costuming, and skills, we'd love to help you develop a living history program to deliver at the Miller Farmstead this summer.

All living history programs at the farmstead are subject to site manager review and should be centered on early 20th century subsistence farming and regional history. 

Are you a farm kid at heart? Want to get your hands dirty for a good cause? Many hands make light work and we need more hands!

The Miller Farmstead is on the National Register of Historic Places because it represents the history of Appalachian subsistence farming. The farm features an early 20th century farmhouse and outbuildings, a (retired) horse, chickens, native and ornamental gardens, orchard, and composting operations. 

We need general assistance with a variety of projects, including:

If you'd like to help with routine maintenance at the farmstead, we'd love to have your help and we will work with you to schedule service hours at your convenience. If you have a specific relevant skill (fencing, landscape design, historic home maintenance) you'd like to offer, please let us know. 

Description/Purpose: We are looking for an enthusiastic individual who is an avid and experienced gardener to help us maintain our historical kitchen and herb garden here at Cordell Hull Birthplace during the summer of 2023! As a volunteer gardener, you will assist in maintaining the historical outdoor kitchen and herb gardens so we can inspire and delight visitors with quality plants and teach them the history of the site through these gardens.

Responsibilities: Work with park rangers and other seasonal staff to maintain our historical kitchen and herb gardens adjacent to the Hull Birthplace Cabin.

Required Skills/Tasks: Watering, weeding, tilling, able-bodied, and willing to teach and learn, willing to take guidance, enjoy being outdoors, advanced gardening knowledge is preferred.

Time Commitment and Schedule Details: We are open seven days a week from 9AM until 5PM, we are flexible on the days you are able to come and the hours you are willing to volunteer. This volunteer opportunity will be ongoing from mid-May until the end of September.

Additional Information: Being flexible and able to work in various gardens. Water, gloves and tools will be provided by the park, but feel free to bring your own if you'd like! Be sure to wear appropriate/comfortable clothing and call the park office at 931-864-3247 if you are interested or have any questions!

Do you have a need to complete community service or volunteer service to fulfill a requirement?  Respond here to show availability so our staff can notify you of upcoming available hours and opportunities.  Projects may include:  trail work, trash clean-up, limb and stick pick-up, playground mulching, and more!

We can always use an extra set of hands around Harrison Bay State Park! If you need volunteer hours for scholarships, graduation, fraternity/sorority obligations, etc. please let us know! Reach out to John.Radford@tn.gov, Matthew.Vawter@tn.gov or Candace.Edwards.Daniels@tn.gov for more information.

Trails need continued maintenance.  Tims Ford State Park has many miles of trails that have to be kept in good shape.  This is an ongoing need.  If you would like to volunteer to do trail maintenance please reach out to the park and we will set you up with a needed trail maintenance task.  Thank you in advance!

Miscellaneous volunteer work tasks including: weeding, invasive species removal, trash pick up, citizen science data collection, or help with special events. 

Contact Ranger Stephanie to volunteer. stephanie.mueller@tn.gov or 865-333-8270