Department of Tourism
Volunteers to Pitch in at Cumberland Gap Nat'l Park on Sept. 24

MIDDLESBORO, Ky. (Sept. 21, 2005) – On National Public Lands Day, Sept. 24, 2005, volunteers will be assisting park staff at Cumberland Gap National Historical Park in a variety of ways.

Part of a national observation of National Public Lands Day, the volunteers will prove how much they care about the lands they use to hike, bike, climb, fish, explore and picnic. National Public Lands Day has become the largest volunteer hands-on effort of its kind in the country.

At Cumberland Gap National Historical Park, which straddles the Kentucky, Virginia and Tennessee borders near Middlesboro, volunteers will assist park staff in providing tours of Gap Cave and Hensley Settlement; serving as campground hosts and performing campground maintenance; staffing the park visitor center to welcome and orient visitors; and working on exhibits for the Park’s “Wild Mountain Mania” Nature Festival scheduled for October.

Throughout the year, volunteers roll up their sleeves and work side by side with park staff. In 2004, 268 volunteers at Cumberland Gap donated 14,794 hours of their personal time to assist in ensuring the park’s one million visitors had a safe, memorable and enjoyable experience, according to Park Superintendent Mark Woods.

Anyone interested in volunteering at Cumberland Gap should contact Park Ranger Janice Miracle at 606-246-1074 or Janice_miracle@nps.gov.

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