Great Smokey Mountains National Park Volunteers

The Great Smokey Mountains National Park is not only a wonderful national park but also a fantastic national treasure. It is the only major national park without an entrance fee, and it was founded and established with that feature to remain intact for all perpetuity. Many of our more scenic national parks now charge a fee of $25 per vehicle, not so with the Great Smokey Mountains National Park.

Without the entrance fee, the Park depends on volunteer organizations to help meet the maintenance and operation costs of this year-round park. These volunteer organizations help raise funds and/or provide assistance at the visitor centers.

Two of these outstanding not-for-profit park partner volunteer organizations are the Great Smokey Mountains Association and Friends of the Great Smokey Mountain National Park.

The Great Smokey Mountain Association has been supporting the educational, scientific an historical efforts of the Parks since 1953. In 2011, the Association has planned to provide over $3 million dollars worth of assistance. Some of the projects marked for assistance this year include saving the hemlock trees, historical demonstrations, environmental education, and constructing the Park’s first history museum.

The Friends of the Great Smokey Mountain National Park assists the Park Service by raising funds, public awareness, and providing volunteers for various Park projects. They organized in 1993 and have raised over $20 million dollars for Park programs and projects. These funds help protect the wildlife, improve trails and camp sites, maintain backcountry shelters, support educational programs for school children, and preserve historic park structures.

These volunteer organizations are quite necessary if the Park is to retain and maintain all of its infrastructure, natural resources, and historic structures. If you have an interest in helping or learning more, please visit these sites below.

To join the Great Smokey Mountain Association, visit their web site at: http://www.thegreatsmokymountains.org/

To join Friends of the Great Smokey Mountain National Park, visit their web site at: http://friendsofthesmokies.org/

Campers Glory