General Maintenance Volunteer - Asheville Area - Blue Ridge Parkway

The National Park Service is recruiting General Maintenance Volunteers for the Asheville area of the Blue Ridge Parkway. These volunteers may participate in litter pick-ups, graffiti removal, native gardening projects, and other general maintenance projects as assigned. The volunteers will need to commit to performing at least 16 hours of volunteer per month.

Major Duties 

• Perform minor, non-technical, repairs on structures, picnic tables, signs, milepost markers, fences or other low-risk assets. 

• Clean and paint various surfaces and structures, including signs, mileposts, fences, building exteriors, bridge underpasses and other facilities and structures of similar difficulty/complexity. 

• Remove graffiti with park approved methods. 

• Perform regular campground/picnic area maintenance tasks as needed included but not limited to: removing encroaching brush, raking leaves, cleaning ditches and drainages, emptying fire pits and grills, and leveling tent pads. 

• Remove brush, debris and litter from the sides of the motor road, within designated overlooks, around facilities or in parking areas. May assist with chipping operations in picnic areas, campgrounds and other approved areas after receiving proper training and PPE.

• Clear non-complex small limbs and trees with hand saws. 

• Perform non-complex vegetation removal by trimming, pruning, or weeding. 

• String trimmers, walk behind mowers, backpack blowers and other power tools may be used after receiving proper training, tool certifications and PPE. 

• Chainsaw use will only be permitted if the volunteer has either National Park Service or US Forest Service chainsaw certification.

• Drive or hike to work sites. 

• Assist with Traffic Control

• Repair trail water breaks, walkways, benches, and signage. 

• Move heavy materials by hand or wheelbarrow. 

• Conduct assessments, site reconnaissance, and inventories of maintenance related assets. 

• With Park and NPS Volunteer Supervisor approval, plant or maintain pre-approved vegetative species within prescribed areas.

• Plant and manage Parkway gardens within the scope and scale of approved plans, policies and regulations of the National Park Service.

• Perform basic gardening tasks such as planting, weeding, watering, pruning as well collecting and disposing of trash and debris resulting from garden work. 

• Apply mulch or other materials for the improvement of prescribed areas.