Martinak State Park

Volunteer Opportunities

A man standing outside wiht a drill, putting up a wood duck box. Volunteers are a key resource for the parks of the upper Eastern Shore. Camp Hosts, trail workers and program volunteers help us provide the quality experiences we offer to the visiting public. Many of our volunteers return year after year because they enjoy the friendly atmosphere and beautiful surroundings.

Volunteer Rangers

Become a volunteer ranger and help protect Maryland's natural resources! The volunteer ranger program is for people ages 18 and above who want to assist the Department's regular work force in state parks with operations, programs and public service. Volunteers are trained and provided with uniforms for their jobs once they have completed 40 hours of volunteer service at a state park. Orientation training helps rangers become acclimated to the state park service. Additional training opportunities, that may include CPR, first aid, search and rescue and trail stewardship, are offered on a regional basis. As ambassadors of the state parks, volunteer rangers serve a vital role to the public. Thousands of visitors to Maryland's state parks look to volunteer rangers for guidance and help.

Camp Host

Enjoy meeting your fellow campers? Tuckahoe’s camp hosts receive a free campsite in exchange for working 20 hours per week. The work to be done is generally campground related: welcoming new campers, keeping the campsites clean, keeping the campground in good condition, keeping bathhouses clean and in working order, answering questions asked by campers and letting the campers know what is happening in the park/area over the period of the campers' stay. Camp hosts are asked to make a commitment of 1-month stay.

Special Events Assistance

Want to help at the park, but have limited volunteer time? Volunteering at one of our special events -- Annual Fall Fest, spring fishing derby, Turkey Trot, Santa’s Magic Workshop, Enchanted Campground and more -- could be just what you are looking for. We have lots of opportunities, from sharing tales of nature and history to helping with kids' crafts, from directing traffic to setting up/tearing down, from hanging Christmas lights and pouring cocoa to providing information about the parks. Should be flexible, patient and cheerful, service-oriented and committed to helping guests have the best possible experience at the event. Wear clothing appropriate to the weather, and comfortable/sturdy shoes or boots. Be aware that you may be assigned an indoor or outdoor location, and that you may be standing throughout your shift. Check with event organizer or volunteer coordinator about whether food or water will be available at the event. This is an occasional opportunity and dates and times will be announced well prior to the event.

Friends Group

A man sitting in the back of a car full of wood duck boxes and holding one in his hand. Want to support our parks on an ongoing basis? Then please consider joining the Friends of Martinak, a support group for Martinak State Park. Our members consist of local residents, representatives of the surrounding business community, campers and people like you who care about the park and want to be a part of making a difference for its future. The park needs this outside base of volunteers to maintain the high level of service the community has come to expect. As the Friends, we strive to generate financial support necessary for supplementing the park's budget. All proceeds go directly back into the park. We also provide continuing support for events such as the Annual Fall Fest and the Santa’s Magic Workshop.

Gardener

"One who plants a garden, plants happiness." So get happy and help feed and weed the natural beauty of our butterfly garden for all to enjoy. If you love to garden, or do not have your own garden to cultivate, join us for this Earth-friendly project. The native garden next to the nature center was created by Caroline County school students. The garden helps maintain the natural plant habitat of the park as well as teach us about invasive species. By yourself, with a friend or a group, spend some time between April and September weeding, pruning, watering, planting, mulching and expanding the garden. It is a great way to get in touch with the park’s beauty and enjoy the outdoors with family and friends.

If you are interested in any of these opportunities, please contact the Volunteer Coordinator, Erin Gale, erin.gale@maryland.gov or call (410) 820-1668.