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Category "Volunteer Opportunities"Clear results in following blogs.

Celebrate National Trails Day by giving back to the trails at Sky Meadows State Park

By Laura SchliesskePosted June 03, 2025
This year, National Trails Day will be celebrated across the country on June 7. We at Sky Meadows State Park are proud to take part by providing you with the opportunity to roll up your sleeves and get your hands dirty improving one of our trails.
A group of ten people of various ages, genders and races working together to dig a large rock out of the ground.

Comradery on the trail with Girls Who Hike Virginia

By Kim WellsPosted May 27, 2025
Hiking can be more enjoyable with larger groups, and the Girls Who Hike Virginia demonstrated this while completing the Trail Quest program. Achieving Master Hiker status after visiting all the state parks is one of many milestones for this group.
Master Hiker Ceremony at Pocahontas State Park

5 ways to experience High Bridge Trail State Park

By Kim WellsPosted April 30, 2025
High Bridge Trail State Park follows an old railroad bed with little incline which makes it perfect for walking, biking and horseback riding. There are several trailheads to start your journey through numerous towns and across Central Virginia.
Farmville entrance to High Bridge Trail State Park

2024 Volunteer of the Year Awards

By Amy AtwoodPosted April 23, 2025
Virginia State Parks received 221,132 hours of time from more than 8,000 volunteers in 2024. Every year parks have the opportunity to nominate volunteers for the annual Volunteer of the Year awards. Read who won this year and why.
A graphic stating Virginia State Parks 2024 volunteer hours: 221,132 Total hours donated in 2024; 88,655 Camp Host hours; 41,656 Volunteer group hours; 65,257 Individual volunteer hours

Mother and daughter become Virginia Master Hikers and Master Naturalists together in 1 year

By Guest BloggerPosted April 22, 2025
Kelly and her daughter decided to take on Trail Quest with a goal of completing it in one year. Along the way they decided to both become Master Naturalists, too. Learn about their adventurous year, how they planned it out and her recommendations.
Left: Mother and daughter pose with their Master Hiker certificates after completing Trail Quest. Right: Daughter lays in between all their trail maps and car tags from park visits.

6 ways to spend Earth Day

By Haley RodgersPosted March 20, 2025
Get inspired to give back on Earth Day! Virginia State Parks are hosting events across the commonwealth for you to attend.
 Monarch butterfly on butterfly milkweed in Kiptopeke State Park’s Native Plant Garden

What’s new at Sky Meadows State Park?

By Laura SchliesskePosted March 14, 2025
For a park that has been a part of the Virginia State Parks system for more than 40 years and a working farm for more than 200 years, Sky Meadows State Park is keeping things fresh with a new trail and an addition to the campground.
A trail with yellow-orange trees along a stone wall to the left of the trail and an open pastoral vista to the right under blue sky.

5 things to experience at Mason Neck State Park

By Kim WellsPosted March 13, 2025
Located in Northern Virginia with recreational access to the water as well as seasonal programs. This park is perfect for adventure or for a quiet getaway from the daily grind
Aerial view of Mason Neck State Park

A resource management career at Virginia State Parks: Kerry O’Neil

By Amy AtwoodPosted February 11, 2025
Kerry O’Neil serves as the Piedmont Region Resource Specialist with Virginia State Parks. She initially dreamed of various careers but found her passion for resource management through her experiences visiting Virginia State parks.
Kerry O

Volunteering can open doors for the future

By Amy AtwoodPosted January 13, 2025
Many of our park staff began their journey with us as volunteers. Check out some of our rangers' stories and why they chose to volunteer at Virginia State Parks.
Dustin Haymaker

5 ways to spend more time in nature in 2025

By Starr AndersonPosted December 26, 2024
If your New Year’s resolution is to spend more time outside this year, look no further than Virginia State Parks. With 43 unique parks from the Cumberland Gap to the Atlantic Ocean, the opportunities for outdoor adventures are endless.
Douthat State Park

5 things to experience when visiting Holliday Lake State Park

By Kim WellsPosted July 24, 2024
Holliday Lake State Park is a hidden gem in Appomattox that offers a variety of activities and scenery for all to enjoy. Whether you want a self-guided adventure or ranger-led activity, this park is a must visit destination.
Fishing at HL

Birds nesting in unexpected spots at Machicomoco State Park

By Guest BloggerPosted July 10, 2024
Machicomoco State Park provides the perfect location for birding. AmeriCorps member Grayson Nelson shares his experience seeing birds and their nests in unexpected places at the park.
Eastern Bluebird. Photo courtesy of Cornell Lab

A Legacy Fulfilled: Sky Meadows receives funding to make Lost Mountain Trail more sustainable.

By Laura SchliesskePosted January 10, 2024
The Friends of Sky Meadows Trail Legacy Campaign has been an ongoing fundraiser since 2019. We have reached the goal of raising $28,000 to make trail improvements that will reduce erosion so that our trails can be enjoyed by future generations.
Four smiling park rangers showing thumbs up and presenting a sign that reads "Friends of Sky Meadows Trail Legacy Campaign" with a painted picture of a red thermometer topped up at $28,000

Holliday Lake State Park is recognized with Virginia Green Travel All-Star Award

By Kim WellsPosted April 25, 2023
Holliday Lake State Park has been recognized with the prestigious Virginia Green Travel award for its cigarette butt recycling program. It is very important to recycle and eliminate excess waste that ultimately hurts the environment and wildlife.
Meggan Saul at Virginia Green Conference with award presenters

The Rails of Legacy Live On

By Emily PricePosted October 20, 2022
We often think about legacies, the things we will leave behind. Check out the story of Bruce Wingo and the legacy that he left behind for park goers to enjoy.
Norfolk Southern Engine crossing over the High Bridge

Sky Meadows Partners with the Northern Virginia Astronomy Club

By Ryan SelovePosted June 26, 2020
Astronomy for Everyone program at Sky Meadows State Park.
Astronomers set up telescopes at Sky Meadows State Park

Make it a day ON, not a day off! Volunteering in Virginia State Parks

By Jessica BowserPosted February 27, 2020
Volunteering in a Virginia State Park is both challenging as well as rewarding.
Volunteerism develops life skills as well as friendships

Thinking Outside the Box

By Emily PricePosted February 08, 2020
Friends of Smith Mountain Lake State Park members continually think "outside of the box" in order to improve the park.
Jim Gerhart and Friends at Information Table

You Aren’t Born Just Knowing These Things

By Guest BloggerPosted August 24, 2019
Sometimes in life you have to get your hands dirty to learn, as the VSCC Natural Resource Crew for District 3 found out.
District 3 of Virginia State Parks with their trails, natural resources, and volunteer events, we


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