Earn a Lifetime Pass to Virginia State Parks by Volunteering

Article compiled by Jamie Leeuwrik, Chief Ranger – Visitor Experience, Mason Neck State Park, FMN Chapter Co-Advisor

Although Lifetime Passes may no longer be purchased to Virginia State Parks, they may be earned through logging volunteer hours. Here is a list of the benefits you may earn by logging hours.

Those interested in volunteering at a State Park may reach out to the park itself for information, or to the volunteerism program.

To start the process of volunteering at a State Park, all volunteers must complete an application and background check. The background check is the same that all non-Law Enforcement park employees must also undergo. The application is available online only, and the background check authorization form can be submitted to the park or to headquarters.

An application may appear complete, but until a background check has been completed and the volunteer officially cleared, they are not able to log into their account to log hours. Here is a copy of the form Mason Neck State Park uses as an example.

Once the volunteer account is complete, volunteers may begin logging hours. Here’s more information.

All the information from above and more is available here.

Volunteers may choose more than one park as a park they are interested in volunteering at. Once a volunteer profile has been completed, it is active for all State Parks, but a “primary” park must be selected and will be the default when logging hours, but can be changed.