Friend Groups
State parks are big places that offer many amenities and recreational opportunities. It takes a lot of work to keep those offerings available, and many parks rely on friend groups to help out. Friend groups build and maintain trails, manage beautification projects, help staff visitor centers, work on educational outreach programs, and raise funds for park projects and facilities. They also help out at festivals, workshops and other park events. They're usually made up of local park supporters and typically enjoy tax-exempt status. And they're always looking for new members. To learn more about or join a nearby park's friend group, visit the web page of the park you're interested in and click on Other Info on the left side of the page.
Here's a list of parks with friend groups:
- Bear Creek Lake
- Belle Isle
- Caledon
- Chippokes
- Claytor Lake
- Douthat
- Fairy Stone
- False Cape
- First Landing
- Grayson Highlands
- High Bridge Trail
- Holliday Lake
- Hungry Mother
- James River
- Lake Anna
- Leesylvania
- Mason Neck
- Natural Bridge
- Natural Tunnel
- Occoneechee
- Pocahontas
- Powhatan
- Sailor's Creek Battlefield
- Seven Bends
- Shenandoah River
- Sky Meadows
- Smith Mountain Lake
- Southwest Virginia Museum
- Staunton River Battlefield
- Twin Lakes
- Westmoreland
- Wilderness Road
- York River
Those interested in forming a friends group will find useful guidance in DCR's Volunteer Citizen Support Group Manual.