Volunteer opportunities

Volunteer opportunities Open fires are prohibited throughout the park from midnight to 4 p.m., Feb. 15 through April 30. Volunteering at Virginia State Parks Love your state park and want to give back? Volunteering with Virginia State Parks is a great way to support our parks while also getting outdoors and connecting with your community! Volunteers are the backbone of our parks; we wouldn’t be able to do what we do without them. With 44 parks across the state, our volunteer opportunities are as varied as our biodiversity. Whether you want to get your hands dirty by clearing trails and pulling invasive plants, support our conservation efforts by identifying plants and critters in the park, or take our visitors on a journey through your park’s history, there’s a place for everyone. No matter what your interests and passions are, you are welcome in our parks. The more hours you volunteer, the more rewards you earn. Earn loyalty points when you volunteer and redeem them for discounts on annual passes, camping, and cabin rentals. Learn more about our loyalty program here APPLY NOW Ways to get involved All-Call Workdays Want to try out volunteering with designated project days? Our All-Call volunteer days are perfect for you! These scheduled workdays are open to the public – no application required – with the opportunity to work on impactful projects for the park in big one-day or half-day efforts. Check out our event calendar at the bottom of this page to sign up for opportunities at a park near you. Group Volunteering Have a group you want to volunteer with? Fill out this form or get in touch with the specific park your group would like to work with. We will match your group with a project depending on your interests and time constraints. We also offer alternative break group options for college and university students looking to serve at the parks during school breaks. for more information on qualified groups. Individual Volunteering Ready to jump into volunteering? Whether you’re working once a month or once a week, individual volunteers have the flexibility to choose their schedules and what projects they are interested in. Projects vary by park, but can include: Trail building and maintenance Invasive plant pulls Cultivating bees or oysters Handling educational animals Restoring historic structures Assisting in conservation research efforts Leading historical tours Administrative assistance Running special concerts and festival events Building new park structures Volunteering with Virginia State Parks is also a great way to gain important job experience for a career in parks, wildlife management or environmental conservation. The skills learned in park volunteer programs are great boosts to any conservation-focused resume, and volunteer hours can even be used as job experience when applying for employment with Virginia State Parks or other state government agencies. Are you a student looking for volunteer opportunities? Virginia State Parks provides volunteer opportunities for students seeking to fulfill service-learning requirements for graduation. Many students volunteer part-time during the school year by engaging in events, festivals and special projects, or join the Youth Conservation Corps in the summer. See also our professional development opportunities for college-age students, such as internships and Park Ranger Conservation Corps Friends Groups Looking to get a little more involved in the project management and fundraising efforts of the parks? Most parks have officially organized “Friends of” volunteer groups . These critically important groups organize special events, raise money, schedule workdays and partner with local businesses. They also contact the media and legislature to get the word out on issues important to parks. Contact the Office of Community Engagement and Volunteerism or a specific park's volunteer coordinator for more information about your park’s Friends group. Friends groups operate under the Virginia Association for Parks (VAFP) – the nonprofit umbrella organization for Friends groups. It supports state parks and other parks across the Commonwealth. VAFP actively advocates park issues at the local, regional, state and national levels and offers free technical advice and hands-on help to those who wish to form new Friends groups VAFP also conducts regional conferences with training sessions and networking opportunities. Visit their website for more information and how to join the VAFP. Benefits Volunteers earn loyalty points and other benefits as they accrue hours. Volunteer hours can go towards an annual parking pass and discounts on camping and cabin rentals through our reservation system’s loyalty points program. Hours Served Benefit Earned 50 hours Virginia State Parks Volunteer Polo 100 hours 20,000 loyalty points ($85 discount) (may be redeemed for an annual parking pass) 250 hours 40,000 loyalty points ($170 discount) redeemable for camping or cabin reservations. Accrues every 250 hours served. 750 hours Virginia State Parks Lifetime pass (can only be earned once) 1,000 hours Your name will be engraved on a plaque at your park as a thank you for your dedication to Virginia State Parks 2,000 hours Achievement Recognition Special Apparel Item 3,000 hours Dedicated bench with your name at the park Application Process Ready to get volunteering? Here’s what our application process looks like: Application – Fill out our application form and include which park(s) you're interested in working with. Once your application has been processed, the volunteer coordinator from your chosen park will reach out and get you started. Background Check – We require every employee and volunteer of Virginia State Parks to pass a background check. The form will be sent to you through your volunteer coordinator, and the background checks are good for two years before needing renewal. Volunteer Account – We use YODA as our volunteer management tool, and once your background check comes through, you’ll be all set to start logging hours in your account! Make sure to accurately log your hours in your account to take advantage of our loyalty rewards program. Volunteer Training – Some parks have dedicated volunteer orientations to get you acquainted with the park and walk you through any ongoing project opportunities. Be sure to check with your volunteer coordinator to get all the info! Volunteer Application Current Volunteers YODA Resources Volunteer YODA Login Redeeming Benefits Once your volunteer hours have been issued loyalty points, they can be redeemed for camping, cabin rentals, or annual passes. Check out our Loyalty Point Guide for more information on how to redeem your points and other frequently asked questions. To redeem your points, there are a few options: Call Customer Service at 1-800-933-7275 . You must choose Option 5 to speak to a Virginia State Parks employee to order your annual pass. To reserve a campsite/lodge or purchase an annual pass online: Go to and log into your account. In the header menu, select "Camping and Lodging" or "Passes." Select your purchases. Fill in your information, check the "Terms and Condition" box and click "Continue". In your shopping cart, there is a blue bar across the page where it shows your points balance and a selection to redeem points. Select "Redeem Points". You can select how many points you want to spend. If you purchase an annual pass for $85, use exactly 20,000 points. You can also use your points for a senior pass. Have a question? For information about volunteering at a specific park in the Virginia State Parks system, please call that park and ask for the volunteer coordinator. For corporate volunteering and alternative break options for existing groups, fill in this form For general questions about volunteering with Virginia State Parks, email vspvolunteer@dcr.virginia.gov or call 804-987-3868. Upcoming events False Cape Beach Cleanup False Cape State Park False Cape State Park Visitor Center April 23, 2026. 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Earth Week Projects Pocahontas State Park CCC Field April 23, 2026. 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. False Cape Beach Cleanup False Cape State Park False Cape State Park Visitor Center April 24, 2026. 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Earth Week Projects Pocahontas State Park CCC Field April 24, 2026. 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Earth Day Weekend Claytor Lake State Park Throughout the Park April 24, 2026 3:00 p.m. - April 25, 2026 8:00 p.m. "Restore Our Earth" Wild Bird Survey High Bridge Trail State Park Charley's Waterfront Cafe Parking Lot, Main Street, Farmville, VA April 25, 2026. 8:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. False Cape Beach Cleanup False Cape State Park False Cape State Park Visitor Center April 25, 2026. 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Earth Week Projects Pocahontas State Park CCC Field April 25, 2026. 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Volunteer All Call! Park Day Clean Up Culpeper Battlefields State Park 9465 General Winder Rapidan, VA 22733 April 25, 2026. 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Spring Volunteer Opportunities at Widewater State park Widewater State Park Throughout the Park April 25, 2026. 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Trash to Art Contest Caledon State Park Picnic Shelter April 25, 2026. 9:30 a.m. - 1:30 a.m. Campground Restoration Project Sky Meadows State Park Historic Area April 25, 2026. 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. James River Earth Fest James River State Park Visitor Center April 25, 2026. 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Volunteer Trail Survey Lake Anna State Park Throughout Park April 25, 2026. 10:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Celebrating the Earth Clean Up Twin Lakes State Park The Discovery Area April 25, 2026. 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Leaf It Clean Challenge Smith Mountain Lake State Park Meet at Discovery Center Pavilion April 25, 2026. 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Help Battle Invasive Plants! Powhatan State Park Trailhead/Equestrian Parking Lot April 25, 2026. 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Pollinator Garden Clean-Up Holliday Lake State Park Campfire Circle April 25, 2026. 2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Shoreline Cleanup Claytor Lake State Park Beach Building April 25, 2026. 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Wild about Bats! James River State Park Shelter #4: 244 Amphitheater Ct; Gladstone, VA 24599 April 25, 2026. 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. False Cape Beach Cleanup False Cape State Park False Cape State Park Visitor Center April 26, 2026. 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Earth Week Projects Pocahontas State Park CCC Field April 26, 2026. 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Earth Day: Adopt-a-Trail Volunteer Event Occoneechee State Park Splash Park April 26, 2026. 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Westmoreland Volunteer Appreciation and Orientation Westmoreland State Park Murphy Hall April 26, 2026. 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Friends of York River State Park Meeting York River State Park Visitor Center April 28, 2026. 6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Friends of First Landing State Park General Meeting First Landing State Park Trail Center April 29, 2026. 7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Clean the Bay Day: Shoreline Cleanup Widewater State Park Potomac Picnic Area May 2, 2026. 8:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Clean the Bay Day: Kayak Cleanup Widewater State Park Aquia Creek Paddle Launch May 2, 2026. 8:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Spring Volunteer Opportunities at Widewater State park Widewater State Park Throughout the Park May 2, 2026. 8:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Clean the Bay Day Volunteer Clean Up Douthat State Park Lakeview Camp Store May 2, 2026. 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Litter Patrol Twin Lakes State Park The Discovery Area May 2, 2026. 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Hike & Help the Riverine Forest Powhatan State Park Shelter 3 (near Launch A) May 2, 2026. 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. Bluebell Trail and Shoreline Clean Up Raymond R. "Andy" Guest, Jr. Shenandoah River State Park Bluebell Trailhead (Near Canoe Launch) May 2, 2026. 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Trash Clean Up Leesylvania State Park Visitor Center May 2, 2026. 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Volunteer Beach Cleanup Westmoreland State Park Boathouse May 2, 2026. 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Cedar Creek Watershed Cleanup Natural Bridge State Park Visitor Center May 2, 2026. 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Beach Clean Up Chippokes State Park Visitor Center May 2, 2026. 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Coastal Cleanup Kiptopeke State Park Fishing Pier May 2, 2026. 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Clean the Bay Day at Holliday Lake Holliday Lake State Park Boathouse May 2, 2026. 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Clean the Bay Day Pocahontas State Park CCC Field May 2, 2026. 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Clean the Bay Day Caledon State Park Boyd's Hole May 2, 2026. 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Clean the Bay Day Sailor's Creek Battlefield State Park Visitor Center May 2, 2026. 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Chesapeake Bay Beach & Narrows Beach Volunteer Cleanup First Landing State Park Main Visitor Center and The Narrows at 64th St. May 2, 2026. 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Riverbank Clean-Up James River State Park Canoe Landing May 2, 2026. 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Party in the Pollinator Garden Sweet Run State Park main parking lot, near pollinator garden. May 2, 2026. 9:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. Clean the Bay Day York River State Park Visitor Center May 2, 2026. 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Shoreline Clean up Mason Neck State Park Visitor Center May 2, 2026. 9:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Park Clean Up! Machicomoco State Park West Unit May 2, 2026. 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Bullpasture River Clean-up Hayfields State Park Park Office May 2, 2026. 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Trash Pickup Lake Anna State Park Beach/Lawn area of Visitor Center May 2, 2026. 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Riverbank Clean-Up Seven Bends State Park Lupton Access - Canoe Launch - 1191 Lupton Rd. May 2, 2026. 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Litter Patrol Occoneechee State Park Visitor Center May 2, 2026. 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Spring Volunteer Opportunities at Widewater State park Widewater State Park Throughout the Park May 3, 2026. 9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Friends of Fairy Stone Meeting Fairy Stone State Park Shelter #4 May 3, 2026. 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Southwest Virginia Museum Historical State Park Friend Meetings Southwest Virginia Museum TBD May 4, 2026. 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Monthly Volunteer Workday Douthat State Park Lakeview Camp Store May 9, 2026. 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Volunteer Garden Workday Westmoreland State Park Visitor Center May 9, 2026. 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Timberneck Open House and Dig Day Machicomoco State Park Timberneck House May 9, 2026. 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Widewater State Park Volunteer Orientation Widewater State Park Visitor Center May 10, 2026. 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Bombs Away for Pollinators! Staunton River State Park Visitor Center May 10, 2026. 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Friend's of Widewater State Park Monthly Meeting Widewater State Park Visitor Center May 12, 2026. 6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Walk on the Wild Side Belle Isle State Park Camp Store May 14, 2026. 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Vessel Safety Exam Day Belle Isle State Park Various Locations May 16, 2026. 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Monthly Volunteer Workday: Trails and More Sweet Run State Park main parking lot, near pollinator garden. May 16, 2026. 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Kids to Parks Day Staunton River State Park Visitor Center May 16, 2026. 9:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Virginia Boating Safety Education Classroom Course Belle Isle State Park Visitor Center May 17, 2026. 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Stock Creek Passage Natural Tunnel State Park Stock Creek Recreation Area May 17, 2026. 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Friends of Sailor's Creek Battlefield Meeting Sailor's Creek Battlefield State Park Visitor Center May 18, 2026. 1:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Help the Park, Become an Ambassador Claytor Lake State Park Water's Edge Meeting Facility May 19, 2026. 6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Pollinator Garden Work Day Mason Neck State Park Visitor Center Pollinator Garden May 20, 2026. 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Friends of Twin Lakes State Park Meeting Twin Lakes State Park Cedar Crest Conference Center May 21, 2026. 6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. May Volunteer Workday: Spring BioBlitz Claytor Lake State Park Water's Edge Meeting Facility May 23, 2026. 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Gathering in the Gap Musical Festival Southwest Virginia Museum Railcar Lot May 23, 2026. 11:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m. Junk Slam Dunk Leesylvania State Park Potomac Trail May 23, 2026. 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. Stock Creek Passage Natural Tunnel State Park Stock Creek Recreation Area May 23, 2026. 3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. World Turtle Day Shellebration Fairy Stone State Park Visitor Center May 23, 2026. 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Junk Slam Dunk Leesylvania State Park Potomac Trail May 24, 2026. 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. Junk Slam Dunk Leesylvania State Park Potomac Trail May 25, 2026. 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. Friends of York River State Park Meeting York River State Park Visitor Center May 26, 2026. 6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Friends of High Bridge Trail State Park Meeting High Bridge Trail State Park Barbara Rose Johns Farmville - Prince Edward Community Library, Farmville VA. May 28, 2026. 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Fairy Stone Hunt Site Clean-Up Fairy Stone State Park Shelter #4 May 30, 2026. 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Junk Slam Dunk Leesylvania State Park Potomac Trail May 30, 2026. 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. Stock Creek Passage Natural Tunnel State Park Stock Creek Recreation Area May 30, 2026. 3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Wild about Bats! James River State Park Shelter #4: 244 Amphitheater Ct; Gladstone, VA 24599 May 30, 2026. 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Junk Slam Dunk Leesylvania State Park Potomac Trail May 31, 2026. 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. Hungry Mother Trail Cleanup Hungry Mother State Park Beach June 6, 2026. 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Trail Workday Westmoreland State Park CCC Fountain June 6, 2026. 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Trail Maintenance Volunteer Event Leesylvania State Park Bushey Point Trail June 6, 2026. 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Monthly Volunteer Workday Douthat State Park Lakeview Camp Store June 6, 2026. 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. National Trails Day Pocahontas State Park CCC Field June 6, 2026. 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. National Trails Day Holliday Lake State Park Park Office June 6, 2026. 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Party in the Pollinator Garden Sweet Run State Park main parking lot, near pollinator garden. June 6, 2026. 9:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. Trail Transformation Twin Lakes State Park The Discovery Area June 6, 2026. 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Eco Hero Trail Walk: An Invasive Species Management Project Sky Meadows State Park Historic Area June 6, 2026. 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Leave No Trash Kiptopeke State Park Various Locations June 6, 2026. 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Stewardship Stroll James River State Park Canoe Landing June 6, 2026. 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Help Battle Invasive Plants! Powhatan State Park Shelter 1 (near playground) June 6, 2026. 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Trail Clean Up Staunton River Battlefield State Park Roanoke Station Visitor Center June 6, 2026. 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 a.m. Nature Hike Staunton River State Park Visitor Center June 6, 2026. 1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. Recent blogs about Virginia Association for Parks and Volunteer Opportunities 5 ways to experience Sweet Run State Park Livelihood in the Fort What's new at Culpeper Battlefields State Park 5 ways to spend more time in nature in 2026 Celebrate National Trails Day by giving back to the trails at Sky Meadows State Park More recent blogs about Virginia Association for Parks Volunteer Opportunities Download a booklet about state park amenities. General info Reservations Passes, prices and fees Lodging Programs and events Careers Job openings Media Center Know Before You Go For groups Meeting facilities Host an event Weddings Things to know FAQ Rules and regulations Pet policy Don't move firewood Feature articles Public Safety and Law Enforcement Get Involved Volunteer Friend groups Volunteer Host Youth Conservation Corps Stay connected Blog eNewsletter sign up Partnerships Virginia State Parks are managed by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation 600 E. Main St., 24 th Floor | Richmond, VA 23219 To learn about park offerings and overnight accommodations, email resvs@dcr.virginia.gov or call 800-933-PARK (7275) Address other general inquiries to vastateparks@dcr.virginia.gov Please send website comments to web@dcr.virginia.gov Copyright © 2026, Virginia IT Agency. All rights reserved. Last Modified: Wednesday, 10 December 2025, 03:33:37 PM WAI Level A Compliant ADA Notice