Join Iowa state park and forest staff on Saturday, Sept. 27 for Statewide Volunteer Day, when Iowans are invited to lend a hand and 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.
Thanks for making a difference!
Event information for participating parks and forests:
List items for Volunteer Day 2026 - Event Information
9:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Meeting Location: Butterfly garden parking lot
Park Address: 24668 Hwy 52. Bellevue, Ia. 52031 (Nelson Unit)
Description: Fall Preparation - picking up trash, winterizing the butterfly garden, splitting firewood.
What to Bring: Bring gloves, gardening tools, rakes, shovels, long sleeves, pants and drinks.
Contact: Elli Lineburg, Park Manager, at [email protected], phone 563-872-4019
September 20, 2026 from 1:00 – 4:00 PM
Please note: this event is the week prior to the statewide volunteer day date.
Meeting Location: Blackburn Gazebo
Address: 1291 Cemetery Road, Thurman Iowa
Description: Planting shrubs, staining park infrastructure, general cleanup
What to Bring: Sturdy foot wear, long pants and gloves recommended.
Contact: If you plan to attend, please call in advance to the Park office (712) 326-2786, or email: [email protected]
8:00 AM – Noon
Meeting Location: Campground Check-in Station
Address: 811 146th Avenue, Knoxville, IA 50138
Description: Grab a trash bag at the campground check in station, then hike your favorite trail and pick up and trash along the way. You can leave what you find at campground and staff will take care of the trash.
What to Bring: Sturdy foot wear for hiking and water.
Contact: If you have questions, contact the Park Office at (641) 842-6008.
10:00 AM - Noon
Meeting Location: Park Office
Address: 3333 Racine Ave. Danville, IA 52623
Description: Park pick-up activities led by the Friends of Geode State Park.
What to Bring: Sturdy foot wear, gloves, safety glasses, sunscreen, and water.
Contact: Please call the park office if planning to attend at (319) 392-4601.
10:00 AM - Noon
Meeting Location: Park Office
Address: 3333 Racine Ave. Danville, IA 52623
Description: Park pick-up activities led by the Friends of Geode State Park.
What to Bring: Sturdy foot wear, gloves, safety glasses, sunscreen, and water.
Contact: Please call the park office if planning to attend at (319) 392-4601.
9:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Meeting Location: Main Boat Ramp
Address: 12194 Honey Creek Pl, Moravia, IA 52571
Description: Help paint staircase railing at main Boat Ramp.
What to Bring: Wear clothes suitable for painting.
Contact: Call Park Office at (641) 724-3739 or email: [email protected]
9:00 AM – Noon
Meeting Location: Park Office
Address: 22895 Lacey Trail, Keosauqua, IA 52565
Description: Park clean-up activities such as litter pick-up and natural resource work. Lunch will be provided at noon.
What to Bring: Wear long sleeves and sturdy shoes, dress for the weather.
Contact: Contact park office with questions at [email protected]
9:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Meeting Location: Park Office
Address: 55111 750th St, Anita, IA 50020
Description: Quick trash pickup from beach to south boat ramp along the shoreline. Also pick up trash on silt pond dams and main lake dam. Trash bags will be at the park office. Stop and grab a few and then clean your spot.
What to Bring: Sturdy shoes, dress for the weather.
Contact: [email protected]
9:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Meeting Location: Cottonwood Shelter
Park Address: 111 Lake Darling Rd, Brighton, IA 52540
Project Description: For anyone 12 and older, we will be staining picnic tables and benches at the Cottonwood shelter. For kids under 12, we will have our naturalist lead a trash pickup nearby.
What to Bring: Wear old clothes appropriate for painting. Dress for the weather.
Contact: RSVP attendance in advance by calling the park office (319) 694-2323, or emailing: [email protected]
9:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Meeting Location: Park Office
Park Address: 2720 Keomah Lane, Oskaloosa, IA 52577
Project Description: Cut and remove invasive locust saplings from prairie areas.
What to Bring: Sturdy shoes, long pants, bring loppers or pruners if you have them. Dress for the weather.
Contact: [email protected]
9:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Meeting Location: Spillway Parking: Google Map Location
Address: 3976 Cottage Reserve Rd. Extension, Solon
Project Description: This year we will be joining forces with the Boy Scouts of America on an Eagle Scout project. We will be clearing invasive honeysuckle from a section of shoreline along the Beach to Dam trail near the west end of the trail (closest to the Macbride Dam). There will also be a crew placing riprap armament along the shoreline and adding crushed limestone surface material.
What to Bring: Old clothes, sturdy gloves, loppers or pruners if you have them (we have limited supply to provide to volunteers), water bottle. Snacks will be provided.
Contact: [email protected]
9:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Meeting Location: Park Office
Address: 15356 Campground Road, Drakesville, IA 52552
Project Description: We will be sealing docks, staining picnic tables, and picking up trash.
What to Bring: Appropriate clothing for painting, along with work gloves. Dress for the weather.
Contact: [email protected]
9:00 AM - Noon
Meeting Location: Oak Woods Picnic Area
Park Address: 1515 P Ave. Madrid, IA 50156
Description It is undisputed that the beauty and diversity of the natural resources at Ledges State Park are what make this place so unique. The biggest threat to the forest health at Ledges is the encroachment of invasive species. Please consider helping park staff and the Friends of the Ledges by eradicating some of these non-native forest invaders! At this volunteer event you'll learn more about the threat of invasive species while gaining hands-on experience cutting, dragging, and piling these woody intruders. Not only will you leave with an expanded knowledge of invasive species identification and removal tactics, but you'll gain the satisfaction of seeing real progress in an effort to increase the forest health of one of our most iconic state parks!
What to Bring: All ages are welcome, but please be aware the nature of the project requires participants to use loppers and pruning shears to cut up to 2" diameter woody plant stems and drag cut shrubs that may have small thorns. Please bring drinking water, sunscreen, and bug spray. Please consider wearing long pants, closed toed shoes/boots, long sleeves, and bringing a pair of work gloves. Volunteer liability waivers will need to be completed prior to engagement in any state park volunteer activity. Waivers will be available the day of the project or you can request one in advance by emailing the park at [email protected].
Contact: [email protected]
10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Meeting Location: Stone Shelter
Park Address: 32264 Pikes Peak Rd, McGregor, IA 52157
Description: Adding rock/ lime to myotis trail box steps. This will help preserve the staircase and make it more accessible for all users.
What to Bring: Work clothes, closed toed shoes, and hand tamper if you have one.
Contact: [email protected]
10:00 AM - Noon
Meeting Location: Check in at 9:45 a.m. at Site 48 at the campground
Park Address: 2148 340th Street. Forest City, IA 50436
Description: Cleaning up the campground for winter (picking up sticks, litter clean up, fire ring cleaning) and splitting wood.
What to Bring: Work clothes, closed toed shoes, rakes, and gloves
Contact: Call the park office at 641-581-4835 or email [email protected]
10:00 AM - Noon
Meeting Location: Campground near the north shower building.
Park Address: 22390 Co Rd S56, Eldora, IA 50627
Description: In the spring of 2025, bare-root oak trees were planted and protected with tree tubes. For this volunteer project, we will inspect the tubes, clear surrounding debris, and remove invasive species to support the successful establishment of the trees.
What to Bring: We will be walking in tall grass/ woody areas so please bring work clothes, gloves, water, long pants, close toed shoes.
Contact: [email protected]
10:00 AM - Noon
Meeting Location: Park Office
Park Address: 680 Road M-47. Harlan, IA 51537
Description: Paint picnic tables.
What to Bring: Wear old clothes that you can paint in.
Contact: Park office (712) 773-2701, [email protected]
10:00 AM - Noon
Meeting Location: Campground Gazebo
Park Address: 2437 160th Road, Guthrie Center, IA 50115
Description: Invasive species removal in pollinator lots
What to Bring: Work clothes, pruners or loppers.
Contact: Call Anne Riordan (641) 295-6028 with questions
9:00 AM - Noon
Meeting Location: Equestrian Campground
Park Address: 48546 137th Trail, Lucas, IA 50151
Description: Invasive species removal along roads and around campgrounds in Whitebreast Unit.
What to Bring: Work clothes, sunscreen, long sleeves, loppers.
Contact: Call (641) 774-4559 or email [email protected]
9:00 AM - Noon
Meeting Location: Rotary Lodge, Upper Gravel Parking Lot
Park Address: 21301 County Rd. E35 Anamosa, IA 52205
Description: Clearing honeysuckle along the Vista trail. One group will cut trees, while the other treats stumps with herbicide.
What to Bring: Loppers, long-sleeves if sensitive to weeds, gloves.
Contact: [email protected]