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
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
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
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
10 a.m. July 18
This volunteer day is geared towards team building, construction, trail maintenance and having fun.
