Thank you for your interest in volunteering at Hammocks Beach State Park. We hope your participation as a volunteer will be an enjoyable and meaningful experience.

Our state park offers a variety of volunteer positions.  Everything from working with park grounds and leading educational workshops to working as a receptionist. No matter how you volunteer, you will play an important role in the mission of the state park system by helping preserve and protect our natural resources while providing for their use and enjoyment by visitors.

Contact the park office at (910) 326-4881 to discuss volunteer opportunities.

Typical Volunteer Positions

Following is a list of Hammocks Beach State Park's most popular volunteer positions.  Not all volunteer positions are listed, and there are many other ways to volunteer. If you have a specific idea for a volunteer position, or to find out what volunteer positions are available, contact the park.

Grounds Worker: Mow grass and trim weeds.

Trails Crew Leader: Providing leadership, technical assistance and supervision to organized volunteer groups improving trails in the park.

Trails Maintenance Worker: Assist in the maintenance of park trails. Trim overgrowth; remove fallen trees and debris from trail paths; construct and maintain trail erosion controls; and maintain trail treadways, and steps.

Park Attendant: Perform custodial grounds maintenance duties. Provide information to visitors at parking areas and other public use areas.

Maintenance Assistant: Make minor repairs to buildings, picnic tables and other park facilities.

Clerk/Typist: Schedule tours and nature programs. Compose and type letters to persons seeking general information about the park. Answer the telephone and provide information to the public about park facilities, rules and regulations.

Historic Site Guide: Conduct special programs and lead guided tours of historic facilities within the park.

Receptionist: Provide information to visitors about park activities, facilities and resources. Operate base station radio. Register campers.

Astronomy Interpreter: Interpret astronomy for night programs at the park. Identify and give interesting information about planets and constellations.

Bird Specialist: Work with groups by leading interpretive hikes and sharing your expertise in birding and bird habitats.

Assistant Volunteer Manager: Discuss park needs with interested volunteers, coordinate time schedules with volunteers and park personnel, and keep records of volunteer work. Maintain contact with volunteer staff and promote the volunteer program.

Natural Resource Interpreter: Conduct specialized programs, nature hikes and evening programs interpreting the natural resource to park visitors. Answer visitor questions.

History of State Park Volunteers

Citizen participation is more important than ever before in the history of the division. Without the help of concerned and dedicated volunteers, we cannot provide the standard of service the public has a right to expect.

Volunteers have carried on a proud tradition in parks all across our nation. Many parks owe their very existence to the efforts and generosity of private citizens. With the establishment of the volunteer program in the North Carolina state park system, we continue this tradition that is so much a part of our nation and state heritage.

As early as the 1930s, school teachers volunteered their time and expertise to give nature programs to youth groups camped at Singletary Lake State Park. And, many private donations of land and money to purchase proposed land for state parks have been made. In fact, more than a tenth of the acreage in the state park system has been obtained through the efforts of private citizens.

As the parks system has grown, however, the need for additional facilities and staff to serve the needs of visitors has grown as well. We are confronted with the task of providing the highest standard of public service despite a budget that has failed to grow at the same pace as our needs.

Statewide, our field staff consists of approximately 220 permanent personnel. More than 10 million people visit our parks and recreation areas every year. In operating these areas, our field staff is responsible for providing educational programs, law enforcement, visitor safety, resource management, search and rescue and fire fighting. Staff must also perform maintenance and administrative duties.

A goal of the Division of Parks and Recreation is to obtain sufficient staffing and funds to maintain park facilities and provide for a safe and enjoyable experience for our visitors. Presently, we are falling far short of this goal; help from volunteers is critically important in order for the division to fulfill even its most basic responsibilities to the public.

In April, 1980, Executive Order 48 established policies concerning the use of volunteers in state agencies. It authorized and encouraged state agencies to recruit, train and accept the services of qualified volunteers to assist in programs administered by state agencies for the benefit of the people of North Carolina.

The volunteer program for North Carolina state parks was formalized in 1988, and volunteer participation has increased each year. Today, every state park and state recreation area has identified specific needs that cannot be met by existing staff. Volunteer position descriptions have been written and job opportunities for volunteers are as varied as the many tasks performed by our permanent staff.