The Friends of Smith Mountain Lake State Park is a friendly, diverse, and talented group. You need not be a nature expert to contribute your talents. Below are some of the many ways you can contribute to the organization.
BOAT TOURS - Jet Lawler
In the summer of 2012, a pilot program was introduced to offer an opportunity for park visitors to experience being on the lake. Our park Interpreter and a Friends Captain conducted excursions using a pontoon boat, providing exploration of the lake, nature and the environment. This successful program was continued during the summer of 2013. The Friends have now purchased the boat which will be officially turned over to the State Park on October 11, 2014. For further details see the Tour Boat link on this site.
TRAIL CLEANUP - Martha Kuon 
Volunteers help maintain the 12 miles of trails monthly on the second and fourth Tuesdays at 9:30. Additional Park trail information is available here.
ADOPT A HIGHWAY
Debi Kingston
In association with the Virginia State Adopt a Highway program the Friends clean a 2 mile stretch of SML Parkway along the Park boundary from the park entrance to the Volunteer Fire & Rescue Station four times a year.
CHILDREN’S READING PROGRAM – Janis Erickson
With the over 100 children staying with their families at the park every week all summer, the Friends of Smith Mountain Lake State Park want to encourage children to read during their visit. The Friends make available used children’s reading books for sale at a very low cost. Campers will find at the Visitors Center, a good selection of used children’s displayed by reading level. Displays remind parents of a child’s need to read. The Friends goal is to keep the children reading during the summer so as to maintain their reading proficiency. Any funds collected from the sale of books will be used to supply more books and help pay for children’s summer interpretive programs. The program began in 2011. By the end of the 2024 season, thousands of books have been put into the hands of children visiting the park!
HAYRIDES - Diana Brennan
Park Naturalists conduct hayrides every Tuesday during the summer. The hayridesare about an hour long, and the Friends provide the tractor driver and usually a person to ride on the hay wagon to assist passengers.
YOUTH PROGRAMS - Jet Lawler
Volunteers assist Jet Lawlor, the Park Interpreter in various seasonal activities focused on children in nature. They work to increase knowledge and awareness of the opportunities and responsibilities in the great outdoors as well as encouraging a love of nature in young and old alike.
LANDSCAPE COMMITTEE- Martha Kuon
This committee is composed mainly of members who are interested in gardening and just wish to help the park and to learn. Hands on experience is the best way to learn and also to pick up gardening tips from other volunteers. The Friends members maintain the gardens surrounding the Discovery Center including winter and spring cleanup days. Mulching, weeding, pruning, and planting are important parts of the maintenance. No set days are set for garden maintenance. When the need arises, the call for help goes out and anyone who is willing and able to help is welcome. It is always lots of fun and very rewarding.
LECTURE SERIES
Friends sponsor a series of four lectures on the first Sunday of each month from January through April. The 2015 lectures include the topics: "The Coyote in Virginia: Non-Native or Naturalized Citizen"; "A Visit to Old Appomattox with County Clerk George Peers"; "Red Clay, Green Hills, Blue Water: A Brief Geologic History of Virginia"; "The World of George C. Marshall". For more detailed information about the Winter Lecture Series click here.
The JUDD'S MUSIC IN THE PARK BLUE GRASS BANDS
AND THE OLD DOMINION CLOGGERS
Volunteers schedule, publicize, and present an interesting variety of bands on the fourth Saturday of the month. An admission fee of $7 per person over age 12 is collected and volunteers sell snacks.
ASPIRING YOUNG ANGLERS TOURNAMENT
This fishing tournament is for ages 14 and under. Trophies are given for different age groups along with prizes donated by various merchants in the area. Park friends volunteer to register the children, weigh the fish, cook the lunch, and help where needed during the tournament.
FISHING CLINIC
The Friends assist Bedford County Parks and Recreation on the first Saturday in June in conducting a Youth Fishing Clinic. Volunteers guide and assist groups of children ages six to thirteen through a series of stations designed to teach the children about the lake and how to fish.
More Ways to Volunteer
We support the Park in matters of legislative interest and assist at special Park events.
Each summer a crew of teenage volunteers work at Smith Mountain Lake State Park under the auspices of the Virginia Youth Conservation Corps (YCC). The Friends host a welcome picnic for the group and sometimes additionally volunteer to host the group at their home.
