​Preservation in Practice

Combine your vacation with volunteering at a local organization that's working towards keeping the Boone area clean, safe, healthy, and accessible for all. Here are places where volunteers are always appreciated.

Voluntourism Events

• Boone Clean Up Day is April 18 
  • Starting at 9 am, pick up free supplies at Public Works (321 E. King Street)
  • Contact Shannon Isaacs at (828) 268-6231 or shannon.isaacs@boonenc.gov
• NC Litter Sweep with NCDOT & the town of Boone
  • April 11 - 25: Stop by the Appalachian Voices office (164 S. Depot Street) to pick up free supplies to clean up Kraut Creek
• New River Conservancy volunteer events near Boone. RSVP to participate.
  • April 18 - New River Clean Up near Todd & Boone

Voluntourism Opportunities

• ​F.A.R.M. Cafe
  • F.A.R.M. Cafe relies on daily volunteers to carry out its mission to "Feed All Regardless of Means."  A hot meal prepared with locally grown ingredients can be exchanged for just an hour of volunteer work. 
  • Apply to volunteer with the cafe here

• Trashy Tuesdays at RiverGirl Fishing Company
  • Volunteer to pick up trash while floating along the New River on the first Tuesday of the month at 9 am, during the summer. The volunteer who collects the most trash wins a FREE fly fishing lesson. The volunteer who brings back the coolest piece of trash wins a free T-shirt. 
  • Contact (828) 263-7364 or rivergirl2424@gmail.com to sign up

• Help make App State Football Games zero waste with Sustain App
  • Email karstromlr@appstate.edu to sign up to volunteer after an upcoming home game

• ​​​Dirty Thursdays at Rocky Knob Mountain Bike Park
  • Get your hands in the dirt with the Boone Area Cyclists, who host weekly trail maintenance volunteer days at 5:30 pm on Thursdays in Spring and Summer. There are also opportunities to volunteer for various events throughout the year. Contact booneareacyclists@gmail.com for more information

• Volunteer with Mountain True and the New & Watauga Riverkeepers
  • Reach out to emma@mountaintrue.org to sign up.

• Help maintain the Daniel Boone Native Gardens
  • Contact the gardens to find out more about volunteering at admin@danielboonenativegardens.org

• Blue Ridge Parkway regularly schedules volunteers to work in the Highlands District, where Boone and many iconic sights are found on the parkway. Reach out to the volunteer coordinator on the Blue Ridge Parkway's Volunteer page.

More Great Voluntourism opportunities in the area:

• Volunteer with Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture. Learn more and sign up at their website

• Sort & distribute food donations with the Hunger & Health Coalition in Boone

• Cook a meal or distribute food with Casting Bread in Blowing Rock

• Clean, organize, serve, sort, and distribute food with the Hospitality House of NW North Carolina

• Reach out to find volunteer opportunities with the Blue Ridge Conservancy or New River Conservancy

• Find even more great volunteer opportunities with the Town of Boone

• Friends of the Blue Ridge assists communities and organizations throughout the Blue Ridge Mountains on various cultural heritage, environmental stewardship and educational projects. Contact BlueRidgeFriend@gmail.com or visit Friends of the Blue Ridge High Country Chapter for more information on how to volunteer.

If you would like us to list your visitor-friendly volunteering opportunity in the area here, please contact us.