Message from the Park Manager
Welcome volunteers. As a volunteer at the South Mountain Recreation Area, you are about to assume an important role in the preservation of 11,000 acres of public land, two national historic monuments, Maryland’s first State Battlefield and one of Maryland’s most popular multi-use recreation parks. Your duties and responsibilities will ensure the safety of and provide a great experience for 680,000 visitors. The success of the operation of the South Mountain Recreation Area is a direct result of our volunteers.
Be safe and enjoy your time and the work you do with us.
Volunteer Opportunities
Camp Hosts
There are many benefits to hosting in a state park in Maryland. By working 25-30 hours a week, you camp for free in a beautiful setting and become part of our family. Water, sewer and electric are all included.
Greenbrier has 165 campsites. We stay very busy during our camping season and there is a lot to do. Duties for hosts include:
- Introducing yourself to each of your campers as they arrive and supplying them with Greenbrier’s camping rules and information about the park and surrounding area.
- Cleaning the campground bathrooms. Although we have a cleaning crew, it will be your job to make sure the bathrooms are clean during the times when the cleaning crew is not here. Also, you will need to inspect the bathrooms for necessary repairs.
- Cleaning the campsites after they are emptied (grills, trash, raking the pads). The fire rings can be heavy, so you should be capable of lifting 20 pounds.
- Organizing weekend activities and programs for the campers.
- Picking up trash throughout the park, especially in the evenings after a busy day.
- Assisting park staff with other aspects of the park’s operation.
- Assisting with special functions or activities.
- Staffing the toll booth or camp office.
- Monitoring the park’s trails so that they stay clean and beautiful for the visitors.
We will provide an orientation/training class to all hosts. A camp host is a very important job. You make people feel welcome. A host can turn a negative experience into a positive one.
Picking Up Trash on the Beach
There is a beautiful white, sandy beach at Greenbrier. Camp hosts are assigned days to pick up trash, including holidays and weekends. We supply you with latex-free gloves, trash-pickers and trash bags. You would just need to bring appropriate footwear for a sandy beach and a desire to pick up all kinds of trash, from cigarette butts to beach toys. The beach is within easy access of the parking lot.
Trail Overseer
With almost 11 miles of trails, Greenbrier State Park can always use volunteers to walk the trails and pick up trash, note fallen trees and other trail maintenance issues, and in general, be an extra pair of eyes and ears in the more remote sections of the park. You would need appropriate footwear (the trails can be very rocky), clothing and gear, including drinking water. We would supply trash latex-free gloves, trash-pickers and trash bags. Most of the trails are classified as moderate to strenuous, so be prepared for some fairly steep hills and rocky terrain. Some training and familiarity of the park would be required.
