Opportunities From: Tennessee State Parks

Join Master Trailbuilders every third Thursday and Saturday for the ongoing quest to fully flush out the trail system at Head of the Crow State Park.  Our current objective is rerouting a treacherous section of the Buggytop Trail to increase its accessibility to our visitors.  From newbies to pros all volunteers are welcome and we will supply all tools, gloves, and eye protection. All you need to bring are snacks, water, closed-toed shoes, and a happy attitude!  Volunteers should expect to hike 3 miles over difficult uneven terrain, work with various hand tools, and leave with a warm sense of fulfillment after a good day's work.  

The Friends of Old Stone Fort will be having a workday starting at 1pm. We will meet at the Museum at Old Stone Fort to begin the day. We will be either removing invasive species, trail work, or working on the boat shed. 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 Master Trailbuilders every third Thursday and Saturday for the ongoing quest to fully flush out the trail system at Head of the Crow State Park.  Our current objective is rerouting a treacherous section of the Buggytop Trail to increase its accessibility to our visitors.  From newbies to pros all volunteers are welcome and we will supply all tools, gloves, and eye protection. All you need to bring are snacks, water, closed-toed shoes, and a happy attitude!  Volunteers should expect to hike 3 miles over difficult uneven terrain, work with various hand tools, and leave with a warm sense of fulfillment after a good day's work.  

Park staff need your help in getting the Wild Yards Garden ready for summer. Come join park staff for a volunteer day in the gardens to help pull weeds. Instructions will be provided on what weeds need to be pulled from the gardens. Some gloves and hand tools will be available to borrow, but if you have your own from home please bring them with you. Volunteers should plan on meeting park staff in the Wild Yards Garden by the main parking lot off of Kelly Lane at 9:00am. Water fountains are located at the bathrooms near the gardens, but volunteers are encouraged to bring water bottles with them. 

If you have any questions regarding this volunteer day please contact Ranger Stephanie at stephanie.mueller@tn.gov or 865-333-8270. 

Memorial Day Weekend is coming soon! We are opening up volunteer opportunities to assist the rangers with parking lot duties such as directing traffic in the lots, placing cones, giving directions to visitors, and helping with trash pick-ups. Once you register for this event,  you will receive an email with more information including what to bring and expect. This opportunity stations you at the Narrows.  If you do not receive a follow up email within 48 hours, please email Ranger Sydnie.

Your assistance will be of great benefit to our visitors on this busy holiday weekend!

Memorial Day Weekend is coming soon! We are opening up volunteer opportunities to assist the rangers with parking lot duties such as directing traffic in the lots, placing cones, giving directions to visitors, and helping with trash pick-ups. Once you register for this event,  you will receive an email with more information including what to bring and expect. This opportunity stations you at Harris Street Bridge.  If you do not receive a follow up email within 48 hours, please email Ranger Sydnie.

Your assistance will be of great benefit to our visitors on this busy holiday weekend!

Memorial Day Weekend is coming soon! We are opening up volunteer opportunities to assist the rangers with parking lot duties such as directing traffic in the lots, placing cones, giving directions to visitors, and helping with trash pick-ups. Once you register for this event,  you will receive an email with more information including what to bring and expect. This opportunity stations you at Highway 70.  If you do not receive a follow up email within 48 hours, please email Ranger Sydnie.

Your assistance will be of great benefit to our visitors on this busy holiday weekend!

Stop by the Visitor Center to pickup gloves, a bucket and litter grabber. Staff will let you know which park areas need attention. This act of service preserves the park for visitors, protects wildlife and our water quality. 

Are you interested in helping maintain one of Frozen Head's remote trails? Then a Volunteer Vacation is the perfect event for you! All camping gear and food will be provided and will be shuttled to the campsite if possible. We will then camp out for 3 nights. We will work from approximately 9AM to 4PM each day, then relax at camp and have fun exploring Frozen Head's remote backcountry. We will focus on the Old Mac loop (North and South Old Mac).

This would be a perfect opportunity for someone looking for more outdoor or job experience, but without the whole summer to commit to an internship. It will also be a great experience to learn about backcountry camping basics and trail maintenance. Anyone is welcome, but spots are limited and must be reserved in advance. Please email Ranger Blake Melancon at blake.melancon@tn.gov with any questions.

In the event of bad weather (storms, not just rain), this event will be cancelled.

An extra set of hands can be utilized to fold maps and brochures, stamp bags for the gift shop, dust museum cabinets, etc.

Make a difference in a dog's life while enjoying the beauty of nature! Join us for a special event with Lawrence County - Lawrenceburg Animal Shelter. 

You must be able to pick up your assigned dog at the Animal Shelter, you cannot bring your own dog with you to pick up. Be sure to sign up early as limited spots are available.

Meeting Point: Large parking lot past the park restaurant.

What to bring:

This is a great way to help shelter dogs get exercise, socialization, and love.

Reserve your spot Today!

Join us for an educational session about the use of herbicides on our park. Learn how to properly mix, use, and evaluate the effectiveness of herbicides and their use against invasive species. After the learning about herbicides and application methods, get hands-on experience with herbicide use while helping treat our wetland area. This is a perfect opportunity for people looking to build their experience and skills in habitat management.

The Herbicide Workshop will meet at the Wetland Trailhead at 9am on Friday, June 5th. This program will be in coordination with Quail Forever and their habitat management team.

This program requires special eligibility criteria, please visit our website for more information about the program's accessibility needs. Guests will be hiking varied amounts, expect around 1 to 2 miles of hiking.  Guests will need to carry a backpack spray, typically weighing between 20 to 30 lbs.bs when completely full. Accommodations can be made for people unable to carry the backpack sprayer. 

Please wear closed-toed shoes and wear clothing that can get dirty. Please wear long-sleeves and pants. Guests are recommended to bring their own gloves. Any additional safety gear will be provided. 

Participants must register to participate due to liability waiver requirements and a limited number of backpack sprayers.

Join us on the First Saturdays of the Month for volunteer opportunities throughout the park. 

Opportunities include:

Projects will vary depending on need and number of volunteers. 

We will cancel for inclement weather. However, we will work in light rain/snow and temperatures above freezing. 

Please dress appropriately and bring water! We have gloves but you can also bring your own. 

Join us at Old Stone Fort to aid in the improvement of our park through volunteering! Projects range from trail upkeep, invasive plant removal, and park cleanup. Volunteering will help both the local environment as well as everyone who enjoys the park from Manchester to the wider world.

For National Trails volunteer day, we will be conducting invasive plant clearing on the trails or trail work. We will meet at the Park's Museum Rooftop from the listed address.

Please make sure to wear closed-toed shoes and bring water to stay hydrated. Be prepared to hike sections of the Enclosure trail, Forks of the River Trail, and Moat Trails which is a natural dirt and rock path.

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!

This is a monthly volunteer opportunity, that occurs on the first Saturday of every month (barring events or unforeseen circumstances), intended to assist park staff with park projects and tasks. Parks projects and task can include: invasive plant removal, trail work, trash clean-up, storm/weather debris clean-up, gardening. Projects or task vary and will be conducted according to need.

If you need to complete community service or volunteer service hours to fulfill a requirement for scholarships, graduation, fraternity/sorority obligations, etc., let us know. If you just want to come out and help us, we would be happy to have you join us.

Volunteers should plan on meeting Ranger Brian Miller at the visitor center at 10:00am CT. Ranger Miller 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 bottled water with you and wear appropriate footwear/attire for the weather. If you have any questions about this volunteer work day, please contact Ranger Miller at Richard.Miller@tn.gov or 931-272-4777.

Make a difference in a dog's life while enjoying the beauty of nature! Join us for a special event with Lawrence County - Lawrenceburg Animal Shelter. 

You must be able to pick up your assigned dog at the Animal Shelter, you cannot bring your own dog with you to pick up. Be sure to sign up early as limited spots are available.

Meeting Point: Large parking lot past the park restaurant.

What to bring:

This is a great way to help shelter dogs get exercise, socialization, and love.

Reserve your spot Today!

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.

Join us on the First Saturdays of the Month for volunteer opportunities throughout the park. 

Opportunities include:

Projects will vary depending on need and number of volunteers. 

We will cancel for inclement weather. However, we will work in light rain/snow and temperatures above freezing. 

Please dress appropriately and bring water! We have gloves but you can also bring your own. 

This is a monthly volunteer opportunity, that occurs on the first Saturday of every month (barring events or unforeseen circumstances), intended to assist park staff with park projects and tasks. Parks projects and task can include: invasive plant removal, trail work, trash clean-up, storm/weather debris clean-up, gardening. Projects or task vary and will be conducted according to need.

If you need to complete community service or volunteer service hours to fulfill a requirement for scholarships, graduation, fraternity/sorority obligations, etc., let us know. If you just want to come out and help us, we would be happy to have you join us.

Volunteers should plan on meeting Ranger Brian Miller at the visitor center at 10:00am CT. Ranger Miller 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 bottled water with you and wear appropriate footwear/attire for the weather. If you have any questions about this volunteer work day, please contact Ranger Miller at Richard.Miller@tn.gov or 931-272-4777.

Make a difference in a dog's life while enjoying the beauty of nature! Join us for a special event with Lawrence County - Lawrenceburg Animal Shelter. 

You must be able to pick up your assigned dog at the Animal Shelter, you cannot bring your own dog with you to pick up. Be sure to sign up early as limited spots are available.

Meeting Point: Large parking lot past the park restaurant.

What to bring:

This is a great way to help shelter dogs get exercise, socialization, and love.

Reserve your spot Today!

Join us on the First Saturdays of the Month for volunteer opportunities throughout the park. 

Opportunities include:

Projects will vary depending on need and number of volunteers. 

We will cancel for inclement weather. However, we will work in light rain/snow and temperatures above freezing. 

Please dress appropriately and bring water! We have gloves but you can also bring your own. 

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 to us!

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

Join Friends of Short Springs on their workday to clean up our State Natural Area. We will be doing work to the trails so be prepared for all kinds of different things! Please wear sturdy closed toed and closed back shoes, and please bring water with you.  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

Join us for the National Public Lands Day and the first lady's initiative TNServes where she believes that  each Tennessean has the power to transform their community by finding an area they are passionate about and giving of their time, talents and resources, and we do too! So come and help support our beautiful park. 

Projects will vary depending on need and number of volunteers. 

We will cancel for inclement weather. However, we will work in light rain/snow and temperatures above freezing. 

Please dress appropriately and bring water! We have gloves but you can also bring your own. 

Join Standing Stone State Park staff for this years TN Serves and National Public Lands Day event. This year we will be conducting trail maintenance along the Jordan Spur Trail. This will include widening the trail where possible and vegetation management. All equipment and PPE will be provided by the park. Please bring water and snacks and wear clothing appropriate for the weather. 

Join us at Old Stone Fort to aid in the improvement of our park through volunteering! Projects range from trail upkeep, invasive plant removal, and park cleanup. Volunteering will help both the local environment as well as everyone who enjoys the park from Manchester to the wider world.

For National Public Lands volunteer day, we will be conducting invasive plant clearing on the trails or trail work. We will meet at the Park's Museum Rooftop from the listed address.

Please make sure to wear closed-toed shoes and bring water to stay hydrated. Be prepared to hike sections of the Enclosure trail, Forks of the River Trail, and Moat Trails which is a natural dirt and rock path.

The Friends of Old Stone Fort will be having a workday starting at 1pm. We will meet at the Museum at Old Stone Fort to begin the day. We will be either removing invasive species, trail work, or working on the boat shed. 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 us on the First Saturdays of the Month for volunteer opportunities throughout the park. 

Opportunities include:

Projects will vary depending on need and number of volunteers. 

We will cancel for inclement weather. However, we will work in light rain/snow and temperatures above freezing. 

Please dress appropriately and bring water! We have gloves but you can also bring your own. 

Join Friends of Short Springs on their workday to clean up our State Natural Area. We will be doing work to the trails so be prepared for all kinds of different things! Please wear sturdy closed toed and closed back shoes, and please bring water with you.  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

The Friends of Old Stone Fort will be having a workday starting at 1pm. We will meet at the Museum at Old Stone Fort to begin the day. We will be either removing invasive species, trail work, or working on the boat shed. 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 us on the First Saturdays of the Month for volunteer opportunities throughout the park. 

Opportunities include:

Projects will vary depending on need and number of volunteers. 

We will cancel for inclement weather. However, we will work in light rain/snow and temperatures above freezing. 

Please dress appropriately and bring water! We have gloves but you can also bring your own. 

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

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, 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 2,300 acres of parkland surrounded by 8,000 acres of National Forest.  We aim to keep Rocky Fork pristine 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! 

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 dispersal, hanging site tags, cleaning out grills and fire rings, reporting inappropriate activities or potential maintenance hazards, park programming, painting signs, weed whacking, leaf blowing, etc. 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.

Join the Friends of Rocky Fork State Park 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. 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.

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!

Rocky Fork has the cleanest water of any tributary in the Nolichucky River Watershed. With 2,300 acres of parkland surrounded by 8,000 acres of National Forest.  We aim to keep Rocky Fork pristine and would love to have your help!

All ages welcome! We look forward to seeing you! TN Promise Students welcome!

A catch-all for Friends members and community members who attend a Friends monthly meeting.

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

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!

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!

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!

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!

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

This is an ongoing opportunity for community members to volunteer at the park and assist with general park tasks. These tasks may vary from visit to visit depending on the park's needs at the time of volunteering. 

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

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!

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!

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. 

Throughout the year, we need general assistance with a variety of projects, including:

Please come prepared for general outdoor work with sturdy shoes, plenty of water, and weather-appropriate clothing. 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. 

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 Tuesday – Sunday from Memorial Day to Labor Day & on weekends in October. Tours are scheduled each day at 11AM, 1PM, and 2PM. Volunteer schedules can be flexible, but must accommodate the scheduled tour times. 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!

Please leave a note in your initial sign up with your availability to host tours this summer and fall. Sign-ups may be asked to provide previous tour guiding or interpretive experience. If selected, volunteers will be asked to attend select Miller Farmstead Volunteer Days to help prepare the house for the season, receive training and a copy of the tour outline, and practice giving the tour with Ranger Price.

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. 

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

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. 

Before claiming a plot, please sign up for our Miller Farmstead Volunteer Days opportunity to visit the Miller Farmstead with Ranger Price, assist with garden set-up, and establish a plan for your plot. We look forward to gardening with you soon!

Work hours completed on horse trails 

Friends group varies volunteer work 

TN Promise Hours 

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!

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

       This is an ongoing opportunity for park volunteers and Friends Group members as individuals or in organized groups.  This opportunity will be used to record any trail maintenance not associated with clean-up efforts duties including but not limited to the following examples:

 Please contact the site supervisor to schedule your visit and allow a minimum of two weeks to process your request. Once you are scheduled, a waiver will be emailed to you to complete and return or bring with you on your workday. You will not be permitted to work without a signed and dated waiver. No exceptions.

ATTENTION ORGANIZED GROUPS: Your Group contact must make sure each participant has completed the required waiver and collect and present them to the site supervisor on the scheduled workday.  Work is not permitted without these signed and dated waivers.  No exceptions. For Youth groups parent/guardian must complete and sign waivers for each person under 18. Trail work is not recommended for anyone under 13 years old.

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!

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. 

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

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!

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 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. 

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. 

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. 

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. 

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!

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.

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.)

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.

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

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

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

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! 

The Nature Center at Paris Landing State Park is looking for regular volunteers for a variety of roles.  A volunteer can choose to help in the way that best fits your gifts and abilities.  The Center is open to the public on weekends, but volunteering is also needed when closed. (Hours between 9:00am - 4:00pm)

Examples:  Volunteers who enjoy arts and crafts are needed for educational programs.  Volunteers are needed to work outside in the pollinator garden prepping garden beds, pulling weeds and watering plants, keeping hummingbird feeders clean and filled, filling bird feeders, etc.  Animal cages need to be cleaned weekly. 

Training will be provided but some knowledge of the natural world is preferred.  Volunteers must be willing to undergo a back-ground check before they begin.

Volunteering does not mean you will work with birds of prey.  Established permanent volunteers may work into that role.

Please contact Ranger Christa Davidson at christa.davidson@tn.gov to get more information.

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.

General park maintenance, litter pickup, etc.

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!

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

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!

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.

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. 

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!

Gardening, weeding, branch removal. 

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

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

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

We are excited to offer an ongoing volunteer opportunity at Warriors Path State Park focused on restoring the natural beauty of Duck Island. Volunteers will play a vital role in removing invasive plant species, with a primary focus on Autumn Olive, to help protect native habitats and improve biodiversity. This work will involve using small hand silky saws and manual uprooting techniques—please note that chainsaws and other power tools are not permitted. Participants should be prepared for physical activity, including dragging downed brush and uprooting shrubs, as well as assisting with litter removal along trails and picnic areas. All tools will be provided, and volunteers are encouraged to dress for outdoor work, wear sturdy shoes, and bring water and snacks. This is a great opportunity to make a lasting impact on the park’s ecosystem while enjoying time outdoors and contributing to conservation efforts.

Feel free to contact ranger Ethan Sane at Ethan.Sane@tn.gov or 865-863-0790

The Native Plant Garden behind and in front of the Nature Center will soon be blooming and beautiful again as it emerges from its winter sleep! 

We are looking for a few dedicated volunteers with some gardening experience to:

1. Trim, spruce up and add mulch this lovely garden in March (materials provided!)

2. Add plants, weed and maintaining the garden a few hours each week through the summer.

Is this you?  Perhaps you and a friend may be interested too!  If you would like more information, contact Park Interpretive Ranger Christa Davidson for more details!

James Maurice Taft, known locally as “Judge Taft”, lived a life of service. Taft is remembered as being the “Father of Fall Creek Falls” in recognition of his efforts to set aside land for preservation and conservation in the form of a public park. He was also a dedicated educator, serving as a teacher for many years and as Van Buren County’s first Superintendent of Schools. Throughout his life, he steadfastly advocated for the protection of what is now Fall Creek Falls State Park, while also encouraging the local community on the importance of education. The Friends of Fall Creek Falls State Park are honored to offer this scholarship in memory of Judge Taft’s life and many accomplishments. This award is meant to help deserving students continue their pursuit of education and inspire them to look for ways to effect positive change within their local community.

Judge Taft Memorial Scholarship Presented by The Friends of Fall Creek Falls State Park James Maurice Taft, known locally as “Judge Taft”, lived a life of service. Taft is remembered as being the “Father of Fall Creek Falls” in recognition of his efforts to set aside land for preservation and conservation in the form of a public park. He was also a dedicated educator, serving as a teacher for many years and as Van Buren County’s first Superintendent of Schools. Throughout his life, he steadfastly advocated for the protection of what is now Fall Creek Falls State Park, while also encouraging the local community on the importance of education. The Friends of Fall Creek Falls State Park are honored to offer this scholarship in memory of Judge Taft’s life and many accomplishments. This award is meant to help deserving students continue their pursuit of education and inspire them to look for ways to effect positive change within their local community.  Requirements: Applicant must complete an 800-word essay that focuses on the impact that Fall Creek Falls State Park has made on them and/or within their community. Applicant must complete a minimum of 15 hours of volunteer work at Fall Creek Falls State Park between February 1st - May 1st of 2026. Applicant must have maintained a GPA of 3.5

Help us clean Head of the Crow State Park! Volunteers helping with this opportunity will assist with litter and trash clean-up along the roadside and in portions of the park interior. Clean-up days will be posted on the park's website and social media. Please feel free to contact Ranger Allen to schedule dates and times to volunteer outside of the posted clean-up days. Thank you for your willingness to serve!

This is for anyone interested in volunteering at the park. This includes TN Promise volunteers, community service workers, volunteer groups, etc. When registering, please add what you are needing/looking for. After registering through this interest form, a ranger will reach out and make sure you get signed up for the correct opportunity or schedule your group to volunteer.

Do you love hiking the trails at Big Ridge State Park? Want to give back to your community while spending time outdoors? Join our Volunteer Trail Team and play a hands-on role in maintaining and preserving the park’s beautiful trail system. As a volunteer, you’ll help with essential trail maintenance tasks like clearing debris, trimming overgrowth, improving trail safety, and supporting conservation efforts. Whether you’re an experienced hiker or just enjoy being outside, your time and energy will make a real difference for everyone who visits the park. Come be part of a team that cares about protecting natural spaces and keeping trails safe, accessible, and enjoyable for all!

Private Group