Volunteer at Tremont

Volunteers are essential to the operations at Tremont, and we are so thankful for those who chose to dedicate their time to our work. If you want to support our mission of connecting people to nature, or you simply want a volunteer opportunity that allows you to spend more time in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, we’d love to put your skills to use. Explore our current volunteer needs below, and follow the links in the opportunity descriptions to sign up.

All volunteers must complete a volunteer application prior to their first volunteer shift. If you are interested in an opportunity below, be sure you have filled out the volunteer application before reaching out to our project coordinators and/or signing up!

Current Volunteer Opportunities

Help spread the word about Tremont programs and nature appreciation at community events in and around Knox and Blount County. We need volunteers to help run fun activities for kids and share Tremont with community members.

Upcoming dates:

  • Friday, April 12, 4-7pm – South Knoxville Spring Fling at Dogwood Elementary
  • Saturday, May 18, 10am-3pm – Children’s Festival of Reading at World’s Fair Park (recommending two shifts: 9-12:30, 12-3:30)
  • Sunday, May 19 – 2-6pm – Open Streets Knoxville – throughout Central St, Knoxville

If you’re interested, please contact Erin R. – she’ll be in touch as more opportunities arise.

Lend a hand removing invasive plants from our second campus property to prepare for future programming. This work will be physically demanding, including pulling plants and hauling brush. Volunteers are encouraged to wear close-toed shoes, long sleeves and pants; please bring any water or snacks you’ll need, as well as work gloves if you have them.

We offer group volunteer days based on availability. If you’d prefer to volunteer on your own schedule, Elizabeth will meet you for a training day and then turn you loose to help remove invasives at your own convenience.

Interested? Contact Elizabeth.

We need volunteers to periodically (at least once per season) walk the trails on our second campus and perform minor maintenance to help keep the trails clear. Maintenance may include clearing fallen sticks, pulling saplings, lopping overgrown vegetation, and reporting down trees. Volunteers can choose how often they would like to visit our second campus and on which days, though we ask for folks to commit to at least a year.

Volunteers should feel comfortable hiking solo or should plan to bring a buddy. In addition to hiking rough terrain and inclines, bending, lifting, and overhead work may be required.

Interested? Contact Elizabeth.

We’re looking for a volunteer (or two) to input data from program registration forms into our online database. This task will require training, so we prefer a volunteer who can commit to helping at least once per week, though more often is welcome. All data entry should take place on Tremont’s campus between 8 a.m. and 4:00 p.m, Monday through Friday – within that timeframe, volunteer shifts are flexible. The volunteer should have basic experience using computers, and any prior data entry experience is helpful. Because they will be handling some sensitive information, the volunteer must undergo a background check prior to training.

Interested? Contact Bridget.

Do you have any of these items laying around unused? Consider donating them to Tremont to support our programs and maintenance.

  • We’re also looking for a log splitter to process fallen trees and create firewood for our programs. If you have one that you are willing to donate to support Tremont’s work, please contact Pete.

Interested in volunteering but don’t see a fitting opportunity on the list? Sign up to receive our volunteer emails to be notified of future opportunities. If you fill out a volunteer application, you will automatically receive these emails; you can unsubscribe at any time.

Questions about volunteering? Contact us!

For Current Volunteers

Thank you so much for spending your time with us! To help with our record-keeping and grant funding, it is essential that you log all hours that you volunteer at Tremont. Please input hours after each volunteer activity. Fill out a separate form for each member of your volunteer party, including for younger family members.

We are so grateful for the time and dedication our volunteers contribute to helping us achieve our mission of connecting people to nature. As a small token of our immense gratitude, we offer incentives to volunteers as they reach certain milestones.

Volunteers are responsible for tracking their hours! Questions about the program? Contact us!

As a volunteer you are regarded as a valuable resource to Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont, as well as for our staff. Experienced and knowledgeable volunteers are essential in allowing us to move forward in our mission to connect people with nature.

We extend these rights to our volunteers:

  • To have proper orientation, training, and supervisions to meet the responsibilities of the position.
  • To refuse any task that you feel is beyond your physical limitations or with which you feel uncomfortable.
  • To receive feedback regarding your performance.
  • To contact the Volunteer Coordinator if any difficulties are experienced with any assignment.
  • To make suggestions regarding ways in which we might better accomplish our respective tasks.

Volunteers who accept the responsibility and challenge of our volunteer program are expected:

  • To abide by the policies and procedures of GSMIT.
  • To keep records and health forms up to date.
  • To record the number of hours worked.
  • To report accidents or injuries with the Volunteer Coordinator.
  • To endeavor to be flexible in accepting assignments, perform assigned responsibilities willingly and courteously, to the best of their ability, and accept the guidance of their Tremont supervisor(s).
  • To provide timely notification in the event of absence or adjustment to schedule.
  • To serve as good will ambassador and communicator of the mission of GSMIT within the community.