A list: UC parks need volunteers for ‘Tennessee Promise Saturday’

The CCC museum at Pickett State Park.
The CCC museum at Pickett State Park.

UPPER CUMBERLAND – Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) Commissioner Bob Martineau, in partnership with Governor Haslam’s Drive to 55 initiative, announced “Tennessee Promise Saturday,” a student volunteer day to be held in all Tennessee State Parks on Saturday, July 18.

The Tennessee Promise, part of Haslam’s Drive to 55 initiative to increase the number of Tennesseans with a post-secondary credential to 55 percent by 2025, provides tuition-free community and technical college to recent high school graduates. All Tennessee Promise students utilizing the program this fall are required to complete eight hours of community service by August 1, 2015.

“Tennessee State Parks are excited to have these students pick parks to honor their volunteer and community service credits,” Martineau said. “Our park staff has chosen various activities from trail clean-ups, landscaping, to even helping build an 18th century cabin at one of the parks. We hope the students find these activities worthwhile and that they learn a little something they didn’t know about Tennessee’s rich history.”

Want to volunteer locally? Below is a list of parks in the Upper Cumberland region, activity description and point of contact. Reservations are required for all participants. Visit http://tnstateparks.com/about/special-event-cards/tn-promise-saturday for more information.
Cordell Hull Birthplace State Park

Pickett County

Bunkum Cave Loop trail cleanup

8 a.m. July 18

Join park staff for a morning of weed eating along the Bunkum Cave Loop Trail. We’ll also install some water bars to help direct rain water away from the trail.

 

Cumberland Mountain State Park

Cumberland County

Bird of Prey Sanctuary

8 a.m. July 18

Volunteers will be working at the park’s bird of prey sanctuary doing a variety of different tasks including staining wood, attaching netting, building perches and more.

 

 

Cummins Falls State Park

Jackson County

Fence building & litter removal

8 a.m. July 18

Head to Cummins Falls on the Cumberland Plateau for your choice of two projects.

 

 

Edgar Evins State Park

DeKalb County

Merritt Ridge Trail work day

8 a.m. July 18

Join park staff to clear as much of the Merritt Ridge Trail as possible. Tools and water will be provided.

 

 

Fall Creek Falls State Park

Van Buren and Bledsoe counties

Base of Fall Creek Falls trail improvement day

9:30 a.m. July 18

Participants will be aiding park staff in an erosion and traffic control problem on one of the most heavily used trails in the state.

 

 

Pickett State Park

Pickett County

Painting historic CCC building

8 a.m. July 18

We will be painting one of our historic CCC buildings and need volunteers to assist us.

 

 

Rock Island State Park

Warren and White counties

Rockin’ Out the Blue Hole Trail

9 a.m. July 18

Volunteers should bring sturdy shoes, work gloves and a strong back for a serious re-route of the Blue Hole Trail.

 

 

Sgt. Alvin C. York State Historic Park

Fentress County

Site restoration and clean up

8 a.m. July 18

Restoration efforts continue at this historic site and we look forward to your help.

 

 

Standing Stone State Park

Overton County

Trail maintenance

10 a.m. July 18

This volunteer day is geared towards team building, construction, trail maintenance and having fun.

 

 

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