All 36 Virginia State Parks have volunteer opportunities throughout September in honor of national and regional events promoting volunteerism. Help us beautify our parks, maintain trails, clear shoreline debris as well as other activities.

Amazing what volunteers pull out of Shenandoah River every year
at the Friends River Cleanup

The National Day of Service and Remembrance was started to commemorate the attacks on September 11, 2002 by coming together in service. As public servants and volunteers demonstrated after the attacks, together we are strong. Traditionally these service opportunities are held around September 11, but since it is not a day off for most people a lot of our opportunities will be the weekend following.

Held the fourth Saturday in September, September 26, 2015, National Public Lands Day is the nation’s largest single day volunteer event in support of Public Lands and is coordinated through the National Environmental Education Foundation. This year’s theme is “Helping Hands for America’s Lands.”

York River, Holliday Lake, False Cape and First Landing state parks offer
volunteers the opportunity to participate in the International Coastal Cleanup Day

Day to Serve is a regional event formed by the collaboration of the Governors of Virginia, West Virginia and Maryland and the Mayor of the District of Columbia with the goal of coming together to help people in need and improve communities between September 11 and 28. 

Stewardship Virginia is a statewide initiative held twice annually to help citizens with projects that enhance and conserve Virginia's natural and cultural resources. Volunteers who participate in Stewardship Virginia projects received a certificate of appreciation from the Governor. Fall Stewardship Virginia runs September 1 through October 31 each year. This semi-annual event is coordinated by our own Department of Conservation and Recreation.

You can find an event at a park near you by clicking here. Please read the details carefully as soon events require advance registration.

Volunteers at Sky Meadows collect nuts for future cultivation. Nut collecting is
also a volunteer need at Leesylvania and Shenandoah River state parks.

While one time and group volunteer activities abound, we also have a number of individual and family volunteer opportunities in all our parks and all during the year. You can find out more information about these opportunities on our website. You can register as a volunteer on line and find volunteer opportunities there.