Your State Parks Want You—Gloves On, Atlanta

Should you love Georgia’s state parks for the apparent causes (waterfalls, shady picnic tables, the truth that your youngsters conk out within the automobile on the way in which house), right here’s the second to return the favor.

Saturday, September 27, 2025 is Your State Parks Day, the most important volunteer push of the 12 months for Buddies of Georgia State Parks. Consider it as a party the place the parks get all of the presents and also you get all of the contemporary air.

This isn’t a photo-op clean-up that vanishes by Monday. Buddies’ service day is an actual workday with an actual impression, unfold throughout almost each Georgia State Park and Historic Web site.

Initiatives are deliberately arrange so everybody—from toddlers in tiny work gloves to grandparents with smart footwear—may also help. The vibe is “Serve, Help & Rejoice,” which interprets to issues like path spruce-ups, litter sweeps, portray picnic tables, pollinator plantings, and different make-it-better jobs that workers can’t at all times get to.

Why it issues (like, really issues):

• Parks run lean. Years of tightened budgets imply the extras we love—ranger-led hikes, living-history demos, live-animal applications—usually exist as a result of Buddies steps in with folks energy and small however mighty {dollars}.

• Volunteers are the engine. On a single latest public-lands day, Buddies rallied hundreds of volunteers who contributed 8,000+ hours. That’s not “good to have.” That’s mission-critical.

• Your donation backs the work. Can’t make it Sept. 27? There’s a give button together with your title on it. These funds assist programming, volunteer gear and coordination, and the training/outreach that retains new of us discovering the parks.

New this 12 months: registration (it’s free—and essential)

Buddies is coordinating at a better degree this 12 months, which implies you’ll register upfront so websites can plan instruments, workers, and security.

How sign-up works (clear and easy):

• Aug 15: Registration opens.
• You select your park or historic website once you register.
• The native Buddies coordinator assigns you to a challenge at that website (path work, portray, plantings, and many others.).
• Capability is per-site, per-project. There’s no statewide cap, however many areas will shut sign-ups as soon as they’re full—primarily based on obtainable instruments and workers. Widespread parks actually do fill, so seize your spot early or decide a neighboring website.

Fast logistics

• When: Saturday, Sept. 27 (instances differ by park)
• The place: Your chosen Georgia State Park or Historic Web site (chosen throughout registration, which opens Aug 15)
• Value: Free to volunteer (some areas should have the usual park parking payment)
• Who: All ages; tasks are designed with accessibility in thoughts
• Should you can’t attend: You may nonetheless donate—these {dollars} instantly assist applications, volunteers, and outreach

What to deliver (be the ready individual)

Water bottle, sunscreen, closed-toe footwear, and work gloves should you’ve acquired them—extras are normally available. Toss in a hat, a snack, and possibly a change of garments for post-project playground time. Nobody’s setting a stopwatch; do what you may, after which go benefit from the park you simply helped.

Make it a really Georgia day

Decide a spot meaning one thing to you—possibly the lake the place you discovered to paddle, the path the place your toddler grew to become a “hiker,” or the historic website you’ve pushed previous 100 instances.

Do the challenge, then stick round: hike a rim path, unfold out a picnic, watch the leaves take into consideration turning. The parks are higher once we present up—on Sept. 27 and on all the times after.

Save the date. Register Aug. 15. Convey your folks, meet your neighbors, and assist Buddies preserve Georgia’s greatest locations trying (and operating) like they deserve.