Once a year, Georgia State Parks and Historic Sites offers free admission to raise awareness of the importance of volunteerism in celebration of National Public Lands Day. Known as Your State Parks Day, volunteers are encouraged to mark Saturday, September 25, on their calendars and prepare for a fun day helping with a variety of projects such as cleaning and clearing branches, debris and more.
Your State Parks Day encourages participants to enjoy and treasure their home state’s natural wonders. So, while this may be an awesome day to sneak into a park for free and take in its view, volunteer a few hours to help preserve the land you love.
Volunteers can expect many popular participating parks and sites; stay updated with a list of participating locations here. Parks like the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area and Cumberland Island National Seashore will not charge parking or admission, so travelers don’t have to worry about any hidden fees – only bringing their gardening gloves!
Help at the Pickett’s Mill Battlefield Historic Site in Dallas where volunteers will improve park trails with ground maintenance by picking up sticks and other debris. Outdoor enthusiasts will enjoy helping where there will be plenty of friends, families and delicious food. At Cartersville’s Etowah Indian Mounds Historic Site, volunteers can learn about invasive plants and weed removal. Make sure to keep an eye out for poison ivy!
Georgia State Parks and Historic Sites also offer other free admission days:
- August 4: Great American Outdoors Act Celebration
- August 25: National Park Service’s birthday
- November 11: Veterans Day
The state of Georgia is known for its exceptional state park system where visitors can enjoy camping, hiking, fishing, boating, geocaching, picnicking, golfing and numerous other activities. Many of the parks also offer overnight accommodations including cabins, campgrounds, yurts and lodges, which let visitors take short getaways or longer vacations within the parks, putting hiking trails and fishing lakes right outside their “front doors.”
Volunteers and hikers alike must keep in mind a few crucial outdoor safety tips while plunging into nature – never travel alone, carry a whistle, never climb on wet rocks, stay on marked trails and pack plenty of water and an emergency kit. Safety comes first whether at a volunteer site or on a hike with friends.
Guarantee a safe and beautiful Georgia by participating in Your State Parks Day. Find local sites by visiting www.explore.gastateparks.org or follow on social media @gastateparks.