Needs From: Volunteer East Tennessee

Join us for a volunteer workday focused on removing invasive plant species—such as English ivy and privet—to help native wildflowers thrive at Haw Ridge. Environmental education instructor and author Kris Light, creator of the Haw Ridge Wildflower Guide (available for download at eastennesseewildflowers.com), will join us to help identify wildflower habitats found at Haw Ridge and explain how invasive species threaten these native plants. The event is co-organized between TCWP and the UT Arboretum Society. Participants may choose activities that match their comfort level, from simply enjoying time outdoors to digging vines or removing privet using weed wrenches.

We will meet at 10:00 am in the parking area on Edgemoor Rd. (near the Haw Ridge kiosk) and walk into the area of the peninsula on the west side of the park. The area is rocky in a few sections and could be muddy if there were recent rains, so sturdy shoes are necessary. We will have some tools for participants to use, but you are encouraged to bring your own clippers, loppers, and work gloves. 

Please email Hans Christen at hans_christen@yahoo.com if you plan to attend. This helps with planning and allows us to notify participants of any change

To sign up, click here: https://forms.gle/hyqGdPakca6e9T649

 The Oak Ridge Cedar Barrens will again be the site of exotic invasive plant removal as we conduct our first official Weed Wrangle® of 2026.  Located next to Jefferson Middle School in Oak Ridge, the barrens is a joint project of the City of Oak Ridge, Tennessee Division of Natural Areas, and TCWP. The area is one of just a few cedar barrens in East Tennessee, and provides habitat for three state-listed plants: Torrey's mountain mint, prairie goldenrod, and fewleaf sunflower. It is subject to invasion by bushy lespedeza, leatherleaf viburnum, privet, autumn olive, mimosa, Nepal grass, multiflora rose, and woody plants that threaten the system’s prairie plants. Our efforts help to eliminate invasives and other shade-producing plants that prevent the prairie grasses from getting needed sunlight.   

To sign up, click here: Spring Cedar Barrens Clean-up

On February 14, a day of trail work and hiking will take place on the 2.5-mile section of the Cumberland Trail at the Obed Wild and Scenic River between Nemo Picnic Area and Alley Ford, adopted by TCWP in 1998.  

Participants should dress appropriately for winter weather, wear sturdy shoes or boots, and bring work gloves, loppers, small bow saws or folding saws, shovels, and grubbing tools, as well as a lunch and plenty of water. Cumberland Trail State Park personnel will also make some tools available at the event.

Participants can meet for carpooling in Oak Ridge at the Gold’s Gym/Books-A-Million parking lot (meet at the end close to S. Illinois Avenue, near Salsarita’s) in time to leave Oak Ridge at 9 a.m. Eastern, or can join the crew at Nemo Picnic Area or Rock Creek Campground at 10 a.m.  We expect to return to the trailhead around 3 p.m. (NOTE: If the weather is uncooperative—excessive rain, snow, or ice—we will reschedule for the following Saturday.)

Participants will need to sign a National Park Service volunteer form (parents’ or guardians' signature required for minors). Forms can be requested in advance from TCWP, or NPS representatives will have forms available at the event.

To sign up, click here: https://forms.gle/zpmcJYRMCdzam3ti7

If you RSVP, it helps with planning and allows contact in case of cancellation. The backup date due to bad weather will be February 21. Phone/email: Jimmy Groton, 865-805-9908, groton87@comcast.net.