Posted 11 September, 2025
Iowa state parks have set Saturday, Sept. 27 as annual Volunteer Day, when Iowans are invited to lend a hand at several state parks and forests hosting volunteer events. Join park staff to help care for Iowa’s natural areas, freshen up campgrounds and facilities, and spend time outdoors.
Clean-up efforts will be unique for each park depending on needs, and may include litter pick-up, staining or painting buildings, removing invasive species, rebuilding picnic tables, harvesting prairie seeds and more. The state parks and forests participating include:
- Bellevue State Park, Bellevue
- Blackburn State Park, Thurman
- Geode State Park, Danville
- Lake Darling State Park, Brighton
- Lake Macbride State Park, Solon
- Lake Manawa State Park, Council Bluff
- Lake of Three Fires State Park, Bedford
- Ledges State Park, Madrid
- Palisades-Kepler State Park, Mt. Vernon
- Pilot Knob State Park Forest City
- Prairie Rose State Park, Harlan
- Shimek State Forest, Farmington
- Wapsipinicon State Park, Anamosa
- Waubonsie State Park, Hamburg
- Yellow River State Forest, Harpers Ferry
Citizens interested in volunteering can find complete details on times, meeting locations and activities here.