Volunteer Opportunities
With over 18,000 acres and 120 miles of trails, Gunpowder can certainly use your volunteer assistance. If you are interested in any of the opportunities listed below, please contact Gunpowder Falls State Park headquarters at 410-592-2897, or email
gunpowderfalls.statepark@maryland.gov
Individuals and groups (schools, clubs, etc.) are encouraged to participate.
Cleanups
Help make a visible difference in the park! We always have cleanup opportunities. Park staff will lead guided cleanups and provide gloves, pickers and bags. For more information, contact park headquarters at 410-592-2897 or by email.
Gardening
Gunpowder Falls State Park has several volunteer groups whose primary interest is maintaining the gardens throughout the park. If this is something you would like to do, contact park headquarters at 410-592-2897 or by email.
Graham Equestrian Center
Interested in horses and volunteering? The GEC is a nonprofit group who promotes equine educational opportunities. Email
info@grahameq.org or call 410-663-4445 for details. You may also check out their website:
www.grahameq.org.
Living History and Historic Building Preservation
The Friends of Jerusalem Mill (FOJM) is an organized group of volunteers dedicated to restoring, preserving and interpreting the 18th and 19th century Jerusalem Mill Village. FOJM always welcomes new members and volunteers. If you are interested in living history programs or renovating historic structures, this may be a group for you. For more information contact the FOJM at 410-877-3560 or visit jerusalemmill.org.
Maintenance
Do you like to work outside and get your hands dirty? If you are a handyman or woman, volunteer maintenance may be the right fit for you. For more information, contact park headquarters at 410-592-2897 or by email.
Naturalist and Special Programs
We are always looking for qualified people who may be interested in assisting with special programs such as campfires, nature hikes or even arts and crafts. We offer a variety of programs for all seasons. For the safety of our young visitors, all volunteer naturalist candidates are carefully screened and require background checks.
Trail Work
With over 120 miles of trails, trail work is a year-round endeavor. We offer training and guidance in the principles of sustainable trail design for all of our trail volunteers. Due to the sensitive nature of trail work, it is important to work closely with park staff. Please contact Ranger Jen Cashell at jennifer.cashell@maryland.gov if trail work interests you.
Volunteer Mounted Patrol
The Volunteer Mounted Patrol (VMP) are volunteer rangers who perform their duties on horseback. The job responsibilities and training opportunities are similar to volunteer rangers, however, VMP members must have their own horses and access to transportation (Gunpowder does not lease horses). Horses must pass a horse assessment, which consists of various obstacles that may be encountered on trails. For more information, contact Ranger Andrea Bucher at andrea.bucher@maryland.gov.
All Volunteers Must:
- Have interest and enthusiasm for the outdoors and for maintaining the park for the public
- Display a pleasant attitude and interact well with others
- Be able to follow instruction and use safety precautions
Organized Volunteer Groups
Gunpowder also has many organized volunteer groups, located in various areas of the park. These include:
Friends of Jerusalem Mill
jerusalemmill.org / 410-877-3560
Gunpowder United Mountain Bike Operations (GUMBO)
littlegunpowder.com
NCR/Hereford Volunteer Association
ncrtrail.org
Friends of Hart Miller Island
friendsofhartmillerisland.com
North Point State Park Volunteers
northpointstatepark.homestead.com / 410-477-0757
Once again, if you are interested in any of these opportunities, please contact Gunpowder Falls headquarters at 410-592-2897 or email us at
gunpowderfalls.statepark@maryland.gov
Register to become a volunteer by logging into the Maryland State Parks Volunteer Portal at
ec.samaritan.com/custom/1528/
