Opportunities From: Tennessee State Parks

We have partnered with TVA to host a large-scale river clean-up this September!  We'll be doing kayak shoreline clean-ups and walking shoreline clean-ups.  All registered volunteers will receive some fun swag for their assistance!  Please reach out to Interpretive Ranger Rachel via email rachel.boothe@tn.gov or call/text 731-458-7851 for more details.

Please bring a refillable water bottle, sun protection, and sturdy shoes if you plan to walk the shorelines.  Water shoes that strap to your feet are ideal for kayakers.

UPDATE:  This event was rescheduled due to weather.  In the event of inclement weather, we will reschedule this event for September 20, 2025.

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!

Join park staff as we decorate the park for fall! We'll be assembling foddershock at the park entrances and back porch of the visitor center, and a few other spots until we run out!

Dress for the weather with closed-toe shoes or boots. Bring work gloves & a water bottle. Meet at the reception desk by shift start time, come a bit earlier and enjoy a cup of coffee with us!

Families are welcome, but all children under 16 must be working under the supervision of a parent or guardian at all times. 

Join Ranger Johnson at the Park Office and then we will head to Fairview Gullies to clean up the area!

We will be cleaning up the beaver creek area, bring old shoes, clothes, and anything that can get dirty. You will need water and gloves if you want to bring your own. This area needs clean up attention and we appreciate any help we can get.

We'll also do a short hike on the Chickasaw Bluffs Trail afterwards.

Join Park Rangers and the Responsible Stewards for a litter clean-up at the Grundy Lakes! Participants should wear comfortable hiking shoes, wear clothes you can get dirty, bring water and a snack. 

Hosts will provide gloves, trash bags, and trash grabbers. 

Come help make our trails better! We will be working on a new trail that starts at the Visitor’s Center. Tasks will include digging out stumps, cutting back brush, spreading gravel, and other various activities. This trail is only a short distance from the Visitor’s Center, but be sure to bring water and snacks, and wear clothing you don’t mind getting dirty!

Volunteer Day: Spillway Handrail Painting (Second Coat)

Location: Montgomery Bell State Park - We will meet at the Lake Woodhaven Spillway 

Duration: 3:00PM-5:00PM - 2 hours

Description: Lend a helping hand as we improve park infrastructure! Volunteers will spend the day painting the handrails along the Spillway. This is a great opportunity to get outside, support your park, and earn volunteer hours. All painting materials will be provided. Volunteers should wear clothes they don't mind getting paint on and closed toed shoes. If you'd like snacks or water during the event, please bring your own. This program qualifies for Tennessee Promise community service hours. We appreciate your help in keeping Montgomery Bell beautiful!

All volunteers are required to register.

Volunteers under 18 will need to bring a signed parent or guardian consent form.

Volunteers under the age of 15 will need a parent or guardian to be present during the duration of the activity.

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.  

Join First Lady Maria Lee and the Tennessee Serves team in supporting Pickett CCC Memorial State Park. Volunteers will help install a colorblind viewfinder, new early reader trail panels in addition to performing various trail maintenance tasks.

Please wear appropriate clothing and footwear for outdoor work. Lunch, refreshments, and safety equipment will be provided.

Meet near the Recreation Lodge in the Picnic Area at 8:30am CST.

Anyone under the age of 18 must complete a parent or guardian consent form and bring it with them on the day of the event. You can download the consent form here. Families or groups may sign up as a Team to hold spots, but waivers and/or consent forms must be filled out individually and brought with them. 

NEEF’s National Public Lands Day (NPLD): NPLD is the nation's largest single-day volunteer event for public lands. Established in 1994 and held annually on the fourth Saturday in September, this celebration brings together thousands of volunteers to help restore and improve public lands across the country.

Tennessee Serves: First Lady Maria Lee's Tennessee Serves initiative is designed to transform the state through service. Each month, Tennesseans are invited to participate in a service challenge to get involved in supporting their communities. During September, the First Lady is encouraging Tennesseans to work to preserve Tennessee's abundant beauty and natural resources by serving at Tennessee State Parks!   

Join us as we work to clean up our Magnolias! Job tasks for this opportunity will include raking up leaves, weeding, and moving limbs that Rangers cut from the Magnolia trees. 

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 trail forms to mark any issues found while inspecting trails.  

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

Volunteers will help to pickup litter from the annual trunk-or-treat event. Additionally, volunteers will help with the takedown of Halloween decorations around the park. Meet at the Visitor Center.

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.

Tennessee didn't earn the nickname the Volunteer State out of coincidence. Tennesseans are known to volunteer their time in helping war efforts, neighbors, and their parks. Fort Loudoun is looking for volunteers to help clean up the hedge rows around Historic Fort Loudoun.

Our hedge rows of honey locusts have grown up and need weeded and trimmed up. We will be weeding under the honey locusts, trimming back branches, and cleaning and loading up the debris. Honey locusts have very large, sharp thorns, so keep that in mind. 

Please bring gloves, closed toed shoes, and water! All other supplies will be provided.

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.

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!

Join the Rangers for a Volunteer Day at Hidden Lake. We will help clear the Hidden Lake upper and lower loop trails of privet and honeysuckle bushes. Please bring gloves and water.

Join us for TN Serves & National Public Lands Day as we work together to improve Rocky Fork’s ADA-accessible backcountry campsite. With your help, we’ll make this special campsite more welcoming and durable for future visitors.

This year’s projects include:

Filling tent pads with rocks

Constructing a boardwalk

Installing handrails and runners

Assisting with general campsite improvements

Some tasks will require heavy lifting, but there will be jobs suitable for all skill levels—everyone can contribute!

What to Bring

Gloves (some will be available)

Water and snacks

Closed-toed shoes

Sun protection

All tools and materials will be provided.

We’ll be working along moderate terrain at the Rocky Fork backcountry campsite.

Important Information:

All participants must sign a waiver.

Any person under 18 must have a waiver signed by a parent or guardian.

Sorry, no pets.

Date: Saturday, September 20

Time: 10:00 AM

Meeting Location: Campfire Interpretive Area

Directions:

From Johnson City/Erwin: Take I-26 South to Exit 43. Follow the brown signs to Lamar Alexander Rocky Fork State Park. Turn right on TN-352 for approximately 6 miles, then turn right on Rocky Fork Road. Continue 0.8 miles to the gravel parking lot.

From Asheville/Mars Hill, NC: Take I-26 North to Exit 50, the first exit in Tennessee. Turn left on Upper Higgins Road (0.6 miles), right on Old Asheville Highway (2.2 miles), then left on Rocky Fork Road (0.8 miles) to the gravel parking lot.

Help keep our beautiful shorelines clean with us at Long Hunter State Park as we clean debris from the shoreline of Percy Priest Lake that was deposited by flood waters this past spring. 

The living history demonstrators will be showcasing their living history skills for the public.  This program focuses on the time period of 1870s and we are looking for individuals who can demonstrate skills during that time period.    We will have tents set up around the log cabin and park office for people to set up.  The event is open to the public.  

Tour guides will assist with leading school groups around to different living history stations.

Trail Maintenance at Gee Creek Campground

Join us as we work to improve the Loop Trail at Gee Creek Campground! We’ll be trimming back overgrown limbs with loppers and removing invasive privet.

Details:

When & Where: Meet at the Gee Creek Visitor Center.

Tools: Provided.

Bring: Work gloves, sturdy closed-toe shoes, and clothing suitable for outdoor work.

Help us keep the trail beautiful and accessible for everyone!

Join us as we celebrate TN serves and National Public lands Day by doing a trail clean up on our Bay Point Loop. The trail is 4.3 miles total and follows the lake edge. We will be working to clean the trail up and have an enjoyable hike along the way. We will be meeting at the trail head parking lot (the back of the marina parking lot). All necessary trail tools will be provided. Please dress for hiking and working outdoors. A snack and water are recommended.

We will hike the 3 mile trail picking up trash and cleaning debris off the trail.

Mark your calendars for 09/20/2025! North Chickamauga Creek Gorge State Park is organizing a volunteer event event to celebrate Tennessee Serves and National Public Lands Day. We'll be focusing on a trash clean up on our Hogskin Loop trail. This is a family-friendly event, so bring the whole crew and spend a day in nature while giving back to the community.

Meet Ranger Lukas Barber at the Main Trailhead at 9 am EST. This event will last from 9 am to 11 am. Please wear closed-toe shoes and appropriate clothing. All necessary tools and instructions will be provided.

Address: 354 Montlake Rd, Soddy-Daisy TN 37379

There are no restroom facilities at North Chickamauga Creek Gorge State Park. The closest restrooms are located at the gas stations along Dayton Pike, approximately 1.5 miles from the Montlake Trailhead. There are no water bottle stations at the park. Please bring your own water and snacks.

Join us on Saturday, September 20th, 2025, at Panther Creek State Park for TN Serves & National Public Lands Day. Together, we will participate in several projects to improve the Panther Creek State Park Group Camp such as removing invasive plants, repairing and staining the picnic benches/tables, tomahawk target maintenance, rebuilding the firepit and other projects.

For TN Serves & National Public Lands Day we will be completing the new bridge on the Pioneer Long Loop trail. Work includes building and installing hand rails and adding additional decking to the bridge.

National Public Lands Day (NPLD) is the largest single-day volunteer effort for America’s public lands. Each year, thousands of volunteers come together in September to help restore, improve, and enjoy public lands around the country.

As a way to recognize NPLD and participate in the TN Serves initiative, help the staff of Cove Lake State Park with maintaining the Volunteer Loop Trail at the park on Saturday, September 27, 2025. Staff and volunteers will roll up their sleeves, get their hands dirty, and work together to pull weeds and clear the trail of invasive species. The weeds can seem overwhelming, but as the saying goes, "Many hands make light work." Bring your family, friends, co-workers, teammates, neighbors, or anyone really that wants to help remove those invasive weeds and improve the trail. Instructions will be provided to all volunteers that participate, and park staff will be available throughout the morning for instructions or clarification/identification of anything. Some tools/gloves will be available for volunteers to use, but if you have your own tools/gloves that you would like to use please bring them along. 

Volunteers wishing to participate in this volunteer day should plan on arriving at the parking lot located on Bruce Gap Road at 9:00am. The volunteer day will wrap up no later than 12:00pm, but volunteers are not required to stay the entire morning. It is recommended that you bring bottled water with you to stay hydrated, sunscreen, and wear appropriate shoes and clothing for working outside on the trail. If you have any questions regarding this volunteer opportunity please contact Ranger Mark at Mark.Rooker@tn.gov or 423-566-9701.

Rock Island State Park needs your help! Join us as we clean up the Caney Fork River. Tasks will include cleaning up litter along the Caney Fork River Gorge between Twin Falls and Great Falls. This area is fairly strenuous, rocky, and wet so please plan accordingly.

If you need to complete community service or volunteer service hours to fulfill a requirement for scholarships, graduation, fraternity/sorority obligations, etc., this is a great opportunity to get those hours. Volunteers should plan on meeting Rangers at the Downstream Trail Parking Area at the end of Powerhouse Road at 10:00am. Volunteers will be briefed and given trash bags, trash grabbers, and gloves.

Please bring water and snacks if you would like and wear appropriate footwear/attire for the weather.

We honor all TN promise hours. 

If you have any questions about this volunteer workday, please feel free to reach out via email (josh.1.welch@tn.gov) or phone (931-913-6497).

In case of inclement weather, volunteers will be contacted, and the event will be canceled. Please provide a good phone number and email address when registering.

Come serve Tennessee and National Public Lands Day by helping to remove the Tree of Heaven. The tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissima) is a rapidly growing deciduous tree native to China that has become a widespread invasive species across North America. 

9am-12:00 pm at the Head of the Sequatchie, 270 Glyph Parkway, Pikeville TN.

Gloves will be provided.  Please wear closed toe shoes/boots, bring snacks and water.

Meet Ranger Couser at the Parks Visitor to work on removing invasive plants inside the Park. We will be removing Japanese Stiltgrass from the area. Come prepared with good closed toed shoes and plenty of water! 

We have acquired new land that is in desperate need of assistance! Come on out to lend a helping hand removing invasive Japanese privet. Long sleeved shirts and pants and good hiking shoes or work boots are recommended. Please bring drinking water and snacks.

Love Tennessee State Parks? Want to have a positive impact on Burgess Falls?

Then come lend a hand on Sept. 20th at 9:00 am CT to help clean up Burgess Falls Lake! 

The Falling Water River carries all kinds of garbage and debris down to Burgess Falls Lake and we need your help to keep the shore clean! 

Join Ranger Connor at our park office for sign in at 9:00 am CT. Once signed in we will drive out to the back end of Burgess Falls Lake where we will begin our trash and debris removal.

We recommend wearing long pants and closed toed shoes. 

Gloves, bug spray, and water will be provided to participants. 

Want to help the park with a lakeside clean up project?  Join park staff and volunteers for a morning of weed trimming, trash collecting, and limb lopping. 

We will meet at the Lakeview Marina at 8am and work for 2 hours. Please wear appropriate work clothing, outdoor shoes, and feel free to bring water and snacks. Gloves and a hat are also recommended.

Please contact Kaylee at (931) 418-0215 or kaylee.robinson@tn.gov with any questions or concerns.

Support Tennessee State Parks and celebrate National Public Lands Day by volunteering with South Cumberland State Park.

Join Park Ranger Ben to keep our trails beautiful by collecting trash along the Climber's Loop by Foster Falls at the Fiery Gizzard South Trailhead. We will meet in the parking lot located at 498 Foster Falls Rd, Sequatchie, TN 37374 at 9:00am CDT.

Volunteers are asked to wear long pants and shoes that they can get dirty with no sandals/flip flops/open toed shoes.  Be prepared to hike up to 2 miles over steep terrain. Gloves will be provided, but volunteers are encouraged to bring their own if they prefer.

Savage Gulf State Park is hosting a beautification project at Greeter Falls for National Public Lands Day on Friday, September 19th, 2025. This project day will work to improve multiple areas in the Savage West area of the park, from trash clean-ups to removal of invasive species. Volunteers will need to be able to travel through steep and uneven terrain for up to 2.5 miles while carrying trash bags or trail tools as a part of this project. Volunteers will need to bring water, food, boots, and weather appropriate clothing. The meeting area will be the Savage West entrance (located at 550 Greeter Falls Rd, Altamont, TN) at 9:00 AM Central Time. 

Join our team of honorary “trash pandas” to keep our park’s trails clean and wild! On this guided cleanup hike, we’ll provide trash grabbers, gloves, and collection bags. All you need to bring is your energy, your favorite reusable water bottle, and your closed-toed shoes. We’ll explore the trail, collect litter, and leave nature better than we found it. Bonus points if you spot the real raccoons’ favorite hangouts along the way!

Meet at Nature Trail trailhead at 10am
Provided: Grabbers(limited number available), gloves, trash bags
Bring: Closed-toed shoes, water (BYOB – bring your own bottle)

Join us as we celebrate TN serves and National Public lands Day by doing a trail clean up on our Pilot Knob Trail. The trail is 3 miles total and follows a ridge overlooking Kentucky lake before dropping into a river bottom. We will be working to clean the trail up and have an enjoyable hike along the way. We will be meeting at the Folk Life Center at 9:00 AM. All necessary trail tools will be provided. Please dress for hiking and working outdoors. A snack and water are recommended.

Fort Pillow State Historic Park

September 27th, 2025

National Public Lands Day/TN Serves

          Join the staff of Fort Pillow at 11:00 a.m. as we celebrate National Public Lands Day with a 2.5-mile hike along some of the earthworks built by confederate soldiers in 1861. While we are in route we will discuss the battle, the flora and fauna, as well as pick up any litter or debris that may be encountered along the trail. Be sure to bring water, bug spray, hiking stick if needed, and hiking appropriate attire.

For more information contact the park office at 731-738-5581

Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, Authorization No. 327158, March 2019

Join Big Hill Pond State Park staff in the cleanup of the Dogwood Point Trail on 9/26/2025 from 8:00am to 12:00pm. 

Join us for a day of service on National Public Lands Day! We will be continuing work on our native flower garden beds. This work will including heavy lifting (removing old and placing new boarders) and pulling weeds/vegetation removal. If time permits we will also work on some invasive plant removal.

Join us at the farm House, to remove invasive privet from around the area. This is a new area we are looking evently open to the public. First we have to remove all the privet from around the area, before we can work on the farm house. We will be using tools to pull and spot spray. 

What you need to know:

Starts at 9am and Ends at 12pm

Meet at the Park entrance gate

What you need to bring:

Bring Water & Snacks

Gloves and Safety Glasses: We have some but supplies are limited

Got question contact Park Ranger Lee Chadwell

Join us for a rewarding morning of giving back to the trails we love! We’ll be spending two hours improving and maintaining the Andrew’s Ridge Trail to keep it safe, enjoyable, and beautiful for all park visitors. No experience is necessary—just bring a willingness to help, and we’ll provide the tools and guidance.

This is a great opportunity to meet fellow nature enthusiasts, get some exercise, and make a tangible difference in your park. Whether you’re a seasoned trail volunteer or brand new to helping out, your efforts will leave a lasting impact.

Meet at the Canteen near the West Campground

Please join the Rangers for invasive plant removal at Hidden Lake. All tools will be provided. You are welcome to bring gloves, water, sunscreen and bug spray. 

Sunrise Shoreline Clean-up Volunteer Event Tennessee State Parks Mission: To preserve, protect, and share Tennessee’s natural and cultural resources while providing safe and quality outdoor experiences.

Volunteer Event Description: Reelfoot Lake State Park will host a volunteer kayak clean-up of the lake that includes interpretation and picking up litter along the shoreline or floating in the water.

Volunteer Event Goals: Natural resource management by removing pollutants and improving water quality for our wildlife while interpreting the areas we float by. Goal details explained:

Wildlife Habitat and Water Quality Improvement: Removal of pollutants from the water, bank, and trees. Interpretation: Volunteers will learn about the diverse ecosystem and the importance of protection.

Kayaking: Guests will gain the skill of learning how to kayak and do it safely. Wetland Warriors Volunteer Event Friday, September 19th, 2025

Location: Volunteers will park at the Visitor Center and walk down to the Boat Dock. We will be launching from the boat shed.

Max Volunteers: 9 Volunteers (Age 12 and up) Start Time: 6:30 am End Time: 8:00 am

Total Hours: 1Hr and 30 mins Reelfoot Lake State Park Interpretive Ranger Madlyn Maples Thursday, September 18th Lifejackets and paddles in the boat shed.

Time Task:
6:00 Arrive at the boat shed and check supplies.
6:15 Stage kayaks, lifejackets, and paddles
6:20 Check in Volunteers 6:30 Start Event! Go over water safety, kayak instruction, and target areas of cleanup 8:00 Return to shore, gather trash collected, and get a photo with volunteers!
8:15 Chain up kayaks, return other equipment to the boat shed until it is picked up.

Supplies Provided: - 10 Kayaks - 10 Kayak Paddles - 10 Lifejackets - 10 Water Trash Bags - 10 Trash Tongs - 10 Gloves

Supplies Optional: hat, sunscreen, bug spray, sunglasses, camera, water shoes, moisture wicking clothing, bottled water, snack

National Public Lands Day (NPLD) is the largest single-day volunteer event that brings together thousands of volunteers across the nation to give back to public lands. This year, join us at Roan Mountain State Park on September 27, 2025 for a special volunteer event as part of our statewide Tennessee Serves initiative and National Public Lands Day!

Help us preserve and maintain the Doe River's ecosystem by participating in a combined creek crawl and trail cleanup. Alongside Ranger Andrea, participants will hike the Riverside trail and through the campground to pick up litter and debris. Then, participants can join in on a creek walk in the Doe River to remove rock dams, pick up litter, and test water quality. No experience necessary—just bring your enthusiasm and love for our environment.

All participants should plan to meet Ranger Andrea at 9:00am for sign-in at Picnic Shelter #2 where instructions will be given. Participants should come prepared by bringing clothing suitable to get dirty or wet, sturdy footwear suitable for an easy hike and creek walk, sun protection, and plenty of water. Some pairs of gloves will be provided for participants, but if you have your own please feel free to bring them along.

If you have any questions regarding this volunteer opportunity, please contact Ranger Andrea at andrea.m.price@tn.gov or (423) 972-2825. 

On September 27, 2025, the Big Ridge team will be cleaning up the banks around park property and some of the islands bordering the park. We will be leaving from Blue Mud Boat Launch by kayak. There will also be other cleanups around the lake on the same day. For more information, email info@norrislakeproject.com or call 865-659-2829. 

If you a have canoe or kayak, you are welcome to bring it. Life jackets will be required.

Bags will be provided by the Tennessee Valley Authority at all the locations. Participants are encouraged to bring gloves and wear tennis shoes, boots, or other shoes with tread.  The lake banks will be muddy so please wear appropriate footwear. Each participant will receive a free T-shirt.

All registration must be completed at https://www.norrislakeproject.com/cleanupregistrationform/

Join Indian Mountain State Park and help support National Public Lands Day and TN Serves as we work to remove invasive plants from an area near Shelter 3. The park will provide all necessary tools, but please dress appropriately and bring water.

Come join Ranger Aaron as we continue to harvest and transplant Rivercane Rhizomes along Mill Creek. This event will be on 9/19/25 from 9am to 12pm and will meet at the bathrooms below the Dam. We will be digging rhizomes from a few colonies of established Rivercane and then digging holes and transplanting them along a .25 mile section of Mill Creek. Please be sure to wear clothes you do not mind getting wet/dirty, bring plenty of water, all PPE and equipment will be provided however, feel free to bring your own.

You can be a hero for public lands!
Join us at T.O. Fuller State Park on Saturday, September 27 for a special volunteer event as part of Tennessee Serves and National Public Lands Day! Help us preserve and maintain our beautiful park by participating in a tree planting. Leftover trees from an earlier volunteer event need not go to waste when the park has areas in need of shade trees.

No experience necessary—just bring your enthusiasm and love for our environment. See you there!

Join Ranger Colton on September 20th from 8am-12pm for our National Public Lands Day volunteer event. We will be meeting at the museum to start our hike to the spillway falls. Volunteers are welcome to bring their own loppers for the event, but the park can provide some. We will also be removing down limbs in the area. Please bring water and proper work clothes. 

National Public Lands Day (NPLD) is the largest single-day volunteer effort for America’s public lands. Each year, thousands of volunteers come together in September to help restore, improve, and enjoy public lands around the country.

Join Natchez Trace State Park staff as we work on maintaining our native plant garden located at our Visitor Center! We will work on pulling unwanted weeds and cleaning up the beds. We will also work on cleaning up the surrounding area of the visitor center as well.

Volunteers wishing to participate in this volunteer day should plan on arriving at the visitor center at 8 am. The volunteer day will wrap up no later than 12:00pm, but volunteers are not required to stay the entire morning. It is recommended that you bring bottled water with you to stay hydrated, sunscreen, and wear appropriate shoes and clothing for working outside 

Join us to kick off TN Serves and National Public Lands Day to remove invasive privet from Pickwick Landing State Park.  Stop by the office at 8:00 am to pick up tools and find your assigned location.

Bring a refillable water bottle, wear sturdy shoes, and wear clothing appropriate for yard work.

Support Tennessee State Parks and celebrate National Public Lands Day by volunteering with Bledsoe Creek State Park. 

Scott's Gulf Wilderness staff needs your help! Join us as we work on sections of Virgin Fall main trail for routine trail maintenance. This could include: removing trees, roots, or rocks from the trail, adding water bars or cribbing in high erosion areas, or general trail improvement. This is a strenuous, labor intensive trail day so please plan accordingly.

We honor all TN promise hours. 

If you need to complete community service or volunteer service hours to fulfill a requirement for scholarships, graduation, fraternity/sorority obligations, etc., this is a great opportunity to get those hours. Volunteers should plan on meeting Ranger Allen at the Virgin Falls Trailhead (2080 Scotts Gulf Road, Sparta, TN) at 10:00am. Ranger Allen will brief all volunteers on the location in the park where the work will take place and the project/task to be done.

Please bring water, light lunch, and snacks with you and wear appropriate footwear/attire for the weather.

If you have any questions about this volunteer work day, please feel free to reach out via email (codi.welch@tn.gov) or phone (931-401-2079).

In case of extreme weather, we will cancel. However, we will work in light rain.

Help restore a historic landscape by removing invasive species from a section of the Trail of Tears. In 1838, around 16,000 Cherokees were forcibly removed from their homes by the U.S. Government and made the long and arduous journey west to present-day Oklahoma. That journey was later called the Trail of Tears. The Northern Route, travelled by more than 10,000 Cherokees, passed through Port Royal on a historic road called the Great Western Road. Part of that roadbed exists, preserved, in the park today.

However, the introduction of non-native invasive plant species, like Chinese privet, has altered the landscape. Help us keep invasive species in check with a 2-hour long cleanup, beginning at 10 a.m. Please meet at the Trail of Tears trailhead located across the street from Run-A-Muck Outfitters and Dairy Dog. Restrooms and water are located on the other side of the park, across the river in the parking lot.

Join us for our National Public Lands Day Fall Garden and Farm Cleanup.  We'll take some time to clean up the garden areas from the Summer gardens, harvest any apples from the orchard, and work to keep the farm clean and preserved for the next season, and for our upcoming Farm Field Day.  

Please make sure to bring gardening gloves, water, and wear close-toed shoes for work.  

Come join the Radnor Lake staff for a special volunteer day on September 19th for TN Serves & National Public Lands Day. Volunteers are needed to pick up trash and help clean up new land recently acquired at Radnor Lake a part of our Harris Ridge Trail Project.  We will meet at 2pm at the Church of the Advent Episcopal 5501 Franklin Pike | Nashville, TN 37220. 

Volunteers are asked to wear long pants and shoes that they can get dirty with no sandals/flip flops/open toed shoes.  Be prepared to hike up to 2 miles cleaning up new land recently acquired at Radnor Lake.  Friends of Radnor Lake will provide tools, bottled water, Gatorade and insect repellent. Gloves will be provided also but volunteers are encouraged to bring their own if they prefer. 

Join Park Rangers in efforts to remove Sycamore saplings from the park's prairies and grasslands. We will use hand and power tools, as well as targeted herbicides, to remove this successional species.

Volunteer your time to help us clear some of the small trees and shrubs along the wetland area on the northern part of the pond below the cave. Maintaining a proper riparian buffer along waterways is important for bank stabilization and water quality. It also helps provide habitat for wildlife. In order for healthy trees to grow, some need to be thinned out. Participants will be using hand saws provided by the park.

Grab your gloves, lace up your boots, and answer the call – Chickasaw State Park needs heroes! This National Public Lands Day, we are teaming up to clear and care for our beloved trails. You will help trim back plants from the trail corridor, move fallen trees, and inspect bridges, making the park safer and more beautiful for everyone

When: 9/20 9am-12pm

Where: Main Parking Lot Trail Head

Your Hero Gear: Sturdy closed toe shoes, weather appropriate clothes, and work gloves. We will supply tools and water!

Every hour you give is an act of stewardship that protects the trails we love. Whether you come solo, bring your family, or rally your friends, you will leave knowing you made a real difference for your community and our public lands.

Be a Trail Hero- we will see you out there.

Join Ranger Gibbs at 8:30am on Saturday September 27th at the camp store in the park's campground to remove invasive species from the campground and the trails near camper check in. Please bring water, wear closed toed/closed back shoes and bring gloves if you have them.  Tools and some gloves will be provided if you do not have any. 

Join us on Saturday September 20th at 10:00am at the picnic tables near the Bunkum Cave Loop trailhead for TN Serves and National Public Lands Day

We will be clearing a section of the Storybook trail, maintaining the Storybook signs, and removing invasive species. Equipment will be provided but feel free to bring your own personal protective equipment, pruning shears, or limb loppers. Please find the Essential Eligibility Criteria for this event below.

Please wear closed toe shoes and clothes you don’t mind getting dirty. Don’t forget your water, snacks, and gloves if you have them! Depending on the weather you may also want to bring a hat, bug spray, and sunscreen. 

In the event of inclement weather this program will be cancelled.

Essential Eligibility Criteria

Cordell Hull Birthplace State Historic Park

                                          Trail Work

Program participants will need to be able to do the following independently or with assistance of a companion or adaptive equipment:

·         Understand and follow directions to avoid and/or manage risks.

·         Tolerate the elements including temperature for 1-5 hours (depends on volunteer commitment).

·         Preform self-care including maintaining nutrition and hydration, personal hygiene, and managing existing medical conditions.

·         Be able to identify and recognize environmental risks, including potential hazardous animals, insects, and slippery terrain.

·         Move over uneven, packed soil terrain for 0.50 mile for Storybook trail or 1.25 miles for Bunkum Cave Loop trail.

·         Engage in service-learning projects such as building, digging, lifting, painting, construction, and clean-up for up to 5 (five) hours depending on volunteer commitment.

·         Wear all protective gear recommended or required for the work/service, including but not limited to protective eyewear, face mask or shield, gloves, helmet, footwear.

·         Work responsibly and reliably with minimal supervision and/or on a team.

Join Red Clay rangers and staff at 10 AM on Saturday, September 27th for a park-wide litter round-up!

Nitrile gloves will be available for volunteers. Trash grabbers will be available in limited quantities. 

Meet us at the Visitor Center at 10 AM to get started! Bring water and wear closed-toe shoes. 

We're embracing the spirit of the Volunteer State this September. As a part of Tennessee
Serves and National Public Lands Day, we’re excited to host a volunteer event at our state
park on September 27th! Whether you’re a seasoned volunteer or new to giving back, this is a great
opportunity to make a difference for public lands. We will be building park benches,
and all necessary tools and instructions will be provided. Please wear closed-toe shoes and bring some water. Come out and support your local
park!

Volunteers needed to assist us with hosting the BRAT- Bicycle Race Across Tennessee!

This ride would not be possible without our volunteers!

 There are daily opportunities such as a volunteering at SAG stops (Support and Gear- aid stations), helping with packet pickup, helping set up basecamp, and more! Sign up by following the link below.

Tennessee State Parks: 2025 BRAT Sign Up

Volunteers needed to assist us with hosting the BRAT- Bicycle Race Across Tennessee!

This ride would not be possible without our volunteers!

 There are daily opportunities such as a volunteering at SAG stops (Support and Gear- aid stations), helping with packet pickup, helping set up basecamp, and more! Sign up by following the link below.

Tennessee State Parks: 2025 BRAT Sign Up

Volunteers needed to assist us with hosting the BRAT- Bicycle Race Across Tennessee!

This ride would not be possible without our volunteers!

 There are daily opportunities such as a volunteering at SAG stops (Support and Gear- aid stations), helping with packet pickup, helping set up basecamp, and more! Sign up by following the link below.

Tennessee State Parks: 2025 BRAT Sign Up

Volunteers needed to assist us with hosting the BRAT- Bicycle Race Across Tennessee!

This ride would not be possible without our volunteers!

 There are daily opportunities such as a volunteering at SAG stops (Support and Gear- aid stations), helping with packet pickup, helping set up basecamp, and more! Sign up by following the link below.

Tennessee State Parks: 2025 BRAT Sign Up

Volunteers needed to assist us with hosting the BRAT- Bicycle Race Across Tennessee!

This ride would not be possible without our volunteers!

 There are daily opportunities such as a volunteering at SAG stops (Support and Gear- aid stations), helping with packet pickup, helping set up basecamp, and more! Sign up by following the link below.

Tennessee State Parks: 2025 BRAT Sign Up

Volunteers needed to assist us with hosting the BRAT- Bicycle Race Across Tennessee!

This ride would not be possible without our volunteers!

 There are daily opportunities such as a volunteering at SAG stops (Support and Gear- aid stations), helping with packet pickup, helping set up basecamp, and more! Sign up by following the link below.

Tennessee State Parks: 2025 BRAT Sign Up

Volunteers needed to assist us with hosting the BRAT- Bicycle Race Across Tennessee!

This ride would not be possible without our volunteers!

 There are daily opportunities such as a volunteering at SAG stops (Support and Gear- aid stations), helping with packet pickup, helping set up basecamp, and more! Sign up by following the link below.

Tennessee State Parks: 2025 BRAT Sign Up

In support of National Public Lands Day, volunteers will board boats and busses at Pebble Isle Marina to clear trash from the shores of Trace Creek. This area was severely impacted by debris from the 2021 Humphreys County Flood. Without cleanup efforts, this flood debris will remain and present an environmental threat to wildlife, degrade into microplastics, and negatively impact the viewshed adjacent Pebble Isle Marina.

All volunteers must register to participate online and complete the liability waiver. On Tuesday, September 23rd meet at Pebble Isle Marina at 2120 Old Johnsonville Rd, New Johnsonville, TN and follow the directional signs to the boat ramp. Volunteer check in will begin at 9:30am. Please wear clothes and footwear that can get wet and dirty. Knee high rubber boots are suggested. While supplies last, event volunteers will receive an event t-shirt, work gloves, bug spray, sunscreen, and snacks. Tennessee State Park Rangers and support staff will serve as volunteer crew leaders. The event will be rain or shine unless of lightning or severe winds. Decision to postpone or cancel event will be made by 5pm Monday, September 22nd.

The Humphreys County River Rescue is made possible with support from these Partners in Conservation:  Tennessee State Parks, Tennessee Department of Transportation, Nobody Trashes Tennessee, Pebble Isle Marina, Tennessee Valley Authority, Chemours, DSV Solutions, Veolia, Ablemarle Foundation, Friends of Johnsonville State Historic Park, XXIII Corps, Keep The Tennessee River Beautiful, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, University of Tennessee Extension Service – Humphreys County, and the Tennessee Naturalist Program.

Johnsonville State Historic Park preserves, protects, and shares the stories of Johnsonville, TN, and the Link Farm State Archeological Area. Enjoy your unique outdoor experience full of fun and adventure at Johnsonville State Historic Park. For more information call 931.535.2789, Find us on Facebook at JSHP71, or visit https://tnstateparks.com/parks/johnsonville .

Volunteer Day: Park Office Shelter Handrail Painting 

Location: Montgomery Bell State Park - We will meet at the visitor center and walk over to the park office shelter area where we will be painting.

  Duration: 8 am-10 am - 2 hours

Description: Celebrate Public Lands Day by helping improve park infrastructure! Volunteers will spend the day painting the handrails along the park office pavilion stairs. This is a great opportunity to get outside, support your park, and earn volunteer hours. All painting materials will be provided. Volunteers should wear clothes they don't mind getting paint on and closed toed shoes. If you'd like snacks or water during the event, please bring your own. This program qualifies for Tennessee Promise community service hours. We appreciate your help in keeping Montgomery Bell beautiful!

All volunteers are required to register.

Volunteers under 18 will need to bring a signed parent or guardian consent form.

Volunteers under the age of 15 will need a parent or guardian to be present during the duration of the activity.

The Friends of Old Stone Fort will be having a workday on October 25th starting at 9am. We will meet at the Museum at Old Stone Fort to begin the day. We will be either removing invasive species or trail work. Please bring gloves, water, and wear sturdy closed toed closed back shoes. Tools will be provided, and groups are welcome! Please visit the Friends Facebook page for updates about upcoming programs and workdays at this link https://www.facebook.com/FriendsOfOldStoneFort. 

Join Friends of Short Springs on their workday to clean up our State Natural Area. We are planning on doing trail maintenance and cleaning up the natural area while doing so. Please wear sturdy closed toed and closed back shoes, and please bring water with you. Snacks will be provided after the workday. Here is a link to the Friends Group's Facebook which will have updates about the event on it:    https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=friends of short springs 

We are working to put the final touches on our Tactile / Vision impaired trail located behind the Nature Center.  We need volunteers to help clean up small trees and brush around the trail and to spread new wood chips and prep for installation of our interpretive signage.  Come join us as we add an exciting new way for visitors to explore the outdoors!

Celebrate National Public Lands Day with a little bit of science and a lot of wet, soggy fun!

Join us on Public Lands Day for a unique citizen science project. A little bit of work, and a lot of wet, soggy fun, can help us better care for the water resources at YOUR State Park! First we’ll use simple test kits to measure water quality. Then we’ll wade into the creek and use nets to catch and get “up close and personal” with creek creatures. Be prepared to get wet & muddy! Wear old clothes and old shoes (please no bare feet in the creek, in case of sharp objects). This will be an official Tennessee Serves/National Public Lands Day event, and a part of an international effort called the EarthEcho Water Challenge. Through EarthEcho, we’ll join a network of citizens from more than 140 countries, and become part of the solution for clean water and healthy waterways worldwide.

Meet at the big parking lot uphill from Park Headquarters (former pool parking lot), and we'll carpool/caravan to the creek.

Come out and give back! Join Ranger Ross for a work day to celebrate National Public Lands Day. We will be meeting at the Park Visitor Center at 9am. We expect to be out of the woods by 3:30pm. Please bring work clothes, hiking boots, a sack lunch and plenty of water. Email aaron.ross@tn.gov if you are interested in attending.

NEEF’s National Public Lands Day:

NPLD is the nation's largest single-day volunteer event for public lands. Established in 1994 and held annually on the fourth Saturday in September, this celebration brings out thousands of volunteers to help restore and improve public lands around the country.

Please Join us to support Tennessee State Parks and Cedars of Lebanon State Park. We will be doing various projects around the park. Please bring water, gloves, and wear appropriate clothing. 

We honor TN Promise Hours as well. 

Hope to see you at the Cedar Forest!

National Public Lands Day (NPLD) is the largest single-day volunteer effort for America’s public lands. Each year, thousands of volunteers come together on the fourth Saturday in September to help restore, improve, and enjoy public lands around the country.

As a way to recognize NPLD and participate in the TN Serves initiative, help the staff of Seven Islands State Birding Park with maintaining the Wild Yards Garden at the park on Saturday, September 20, 2025. Staff and volunteers will roll up their sleeves, get their hands dirty, and work together to pull weeds as part of our late summer maintenance of the gardens. The weeds can seem overwhelming, but as the saying goes, "Many hands make light work." Bring your family, friends, co-workers, teammates, neighbors, or anyone really that wants to help pull those pesky weeds from the beautiful garden area. Instructions will be provided to all volunteers that participate, and park staff will be available throughout the morning too for instructions or clarification/identification of anything. Some tools/gloves will be available for volunteers to use, but if you have your own tools/gloves that you would like to use please bring them along. 

Volunteers wishing to participate in this volunteer day should plan on arriving at the Bluebird Barn at the main entrance to the park off of Kelly Lane starting at 8:00am. The volunteer day will wrap up no later than 12:00pm, but volunteers are not required to stay the entire morning. It is recommended that you bring bottled water with you to stay hydrated, sunscreen, take breaks as needed, and wear appropriate clothing for working outside in a garden. If you have any questions regarding this volunteer opportunity please contact Ranger Stephanie at stephanie.mueller@tn.gov or 865-333-8270 or 865-407-8335.

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 Friends of Short Springs on their workday to clean up our State Natural Area. We are planning on doing trail maintenance and cleaning up the natural area while doing so. Please wear sturdy closed toed and closed back shoes, and please bring water with you. Tools will be provided. Snacks will be provided after the workday.  Here is a link to the Friends Group's Facebook which will have updates about the event on it:    https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=friends of short springs 

WWI Living History event at Sgt. Alvin C. York State Historic Park

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. 

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. 

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

Help us weed our Pollinator Garden! Please contact the site supervisor to schedule your visit.

Every Monday from 9am-11am, join Visitor Center Staff Tina and Caris and a Ranger in an endeavor to clean up by the Mississippi River Boat Ramp on River Road! We will provide trash grabber and bags! We hope to see you there!

Note: This cleanup opportunity is only available on Mondays.

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!