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 event information
Bellevue State Park
9:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Meeting Location: Butterfly garden parking lot
Address: 24668 Hwy 52. Bellevue, Ia. 52031 (Nelson Unit)
Description: Fall Preparation - picking up trash, staining tables, winterizing the butterfly garden, splitting firewood, removing invasive species and woody shrubs.
What to Bring: Bring gloves, gardening tools, rakes, shovels, long sleeves, pants and drinks.
Contact: Elli Lineburg, Park Manager, at bellevue@dnr.iowa.gov, phone 563-872-4019
Blackburn State Park
Please note: this event is the week prior to the statewide volunteer day date.
September 21, 2025 from 1:00 – 5:00 PM
Meeting Location: Blackburn Gazebo
Address: 1291 Cemetery Road, Thurman Iowa
Description: Stain new railings on boardwalk and gazebo. Plant native trees and shrubs throughout property. Other activities will be available depending on attendance.
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: Matt.Moles@dnr.iowa.gov
Geode State Park
9:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Meeting Location: Park Office
Address: 3333 Racine Ave. Danville, IA 52623
Description: Painting picnic table frames and stain picnic table boards
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.
Lake Darling State Park
9:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Meeting Location: Park Office
Address: 111 Lake Darling Rd, Brighton, IA 52540
Project Description: Removal of invasive and unwanted shrubs and trees from various areas of the park.
What to Bring: Wear old clothes and light gloves.
Contact: RSVP attendance in advance by calling the park office 319-694-2323, or emailing: Nick.Young@dnr.iowa.gov
Lake Macbride State Park
9:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Meeting Location: Primitive Campground
Address: 3976 Cottage Reserve Rd. Extension, Solon
Project Description: Removal of invasive brush and understory thinning of shade tolerant saplings near our primitive campground
What to Bring: Old clothes, sturdy gloves, loppers or pruners if you have them, water bottle.
Contact: Lake_Macbride@dnr.iowa.gov
Lake Manawa State Park
Please note this event is taking place on a different day than the statewide Volunteer Day.
Sunday, September 28, 2025 from 10:00 AM – Noon
Meeting Location: Dreamland Playground
Address: 1100 South Shore Dr. Council Bluffs, IA 51501
Project Description: Lake Manawa cleanup day, to pick up trash and debris, sponsored by the Friends of Lake Manawa.
What to Bring: Appropriate clothing for walking in the park, closed toe shoes, gardening /work type gloves, personal water bottle. If volunteers have trash grabbers they would be encouraged to bring them but these are not required.
Contact: Lake_Manawa@dnr.iowa.gov
Lake of Three Fires State Park
10:00 AM - Noon
Meeting Location: Main Campground
Address: 2303 Lake Rd. Bedford, IA 50833
Description: Lake of Three Fires will be staining picnic tables. We have about 40 picnic tables and 100 sign posts throughout the park that could use a fresh coat of stain.
What to Bring: Please bring clothing that would be appropriate for painting and staining. Closed toe shoes are encouraged. Water, bug spray, sun screen and snacks.
Contact: Three_Fires@dnr.iowa.gov
Ledges State Park
10:00 AM - Noon
Meeting Location: Lost Lake Trail parking lot
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! As an added BONUS for all you geocachers out there, an official CITO designation has been added to this event!
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 1.5" 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.
Contact: Ledges@dnr.iowa.gov
Palisades-Kepler State Park
9:00 AM - Noon
Meeting Location: Park Office
Address: 700 Kepler Dr, Mt Vernon, IA 52314
Description: Refurbishing picnic tables
What to Bring: Closed-toe shoes and appropriate clothing, water bottles. Gloves and garbage bags will be provided.
Contact: Palisades_kepler@dnr.iowa.gov
Pilot Knob State Park
10:00 AM - Noon
Meeting Location: Site 48 at the Campground
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 pilot_knob@dnr.iowa.gov
Prairie Rose State Park
10:15 AM - Noon
Meeting Location: Extra vehicle parking lot at the bottom row of the east campground
Address: 680 Road M-47. Harlan, IA 51537
Description: Remove invasive/ unwanted woody species (some with thorns) from areas around the campground and shoreline
What to Bring: Work clothes, closed toed shoes, loppers and gloves
Contact: Park office (712) 773-2701, Prairie_Rose@dnr.iowa.gov
Shimek State Forest
10:00 AM - Noon
Meeting Location: Lower campground
Address: 33653 Route J56 Farmington, IA 52626
Description: Campgrounds clean up, trail tree removal, damaged stall board replacement, campground beautification.
What to Bring: Work clothes, dress for the weather.
Contact: Shimek_forest@dnr.iowa.gov or (319) 931-7805
Wapsipinicon State Park
9:00 AM - Noon
Meeting Location: Wapsipinicon State Park Office
Address: 21301 County Rd. E35 Anamosa, IA 52205
Description: Picnic table restoration project. All skill levels welcome to come out for a fun volunteer day to disassemble/reassemble, repair/replace broken or rotten boards, sand, paint/stain.
What to Bring: Wear clothing that can get stained or dirty, water bottle, closed-toe shoes, sunscreen.
Contact: Wapsipinicon@dnr.iowa.gov
Waubonsie State Park
9:00 AM - Noon
Meeting Location: Waubonsie Equestrian Campground Check-in Station
Address: 2585 Waubonsie Park Rd. Hamburg, IA 51640
Description: Stain and repair picnic tables in the Equestrian Campground. We will apply new lumber to 20 picnic tables, and scrape and apply stain to an additional 20+ tables.
What to Bring: Wear clothing that can get stained and dirty, water bottle, closed-toe shoes, sunscreen.
Contact: Waubonsie@dnr.iowa.gov, RSVP attendance by text or call to: 712-350-0873.
Yellow River State Forest
8:00 AM - Noon
Meeting Location: Sawmill office
Address: YRSF, 729 State Forest Rd. Harpers Ferry, IA 52146
Description: The Friends of YRSF will be hosting this event. First action will be to prepare firewood for sale. Selling firewood is our largest fundraiser. Second, we will clean roadsides and campgrounds of litter. Third, people and time permitting, we will mulch memorial trees to prepare for winter.
What to Bring: Sturdy boots and appropriate clothes for handling firewood. Bring water bottle and gloves. Tools will be provided.
Contact: YellowRiverForest@dnr.iowa.gov