What We Do

​The Friends of South Cumberland State Park, Inc. is a non-profit group of volunteer citizens dedicated to supporting the South Cumberland State Park.  At 30,837 acres, it is now Tennessee's largest state park.  Although this is great news, more land, and more visitors, creates new and urgent unmet needs for the park. New trails must be built, and existing trails must be maintained or upgraded. New and expanded parking areas, restrooms, camping and picnic facilities, interpretive and directional signage are needed. Invasive pests, like the Hemlock Wooly Adelgid, and invasive plants must be controlled. Guided hikes, seminars and historical re-enactments, including programs for area school children, must be prepared and delivered. And, the work of conserving additional environmentally-significant lands is far from complete.

Use the links below to learn about the various priorities, initiatives, and projects your membership and contributions help address.

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Initiatives

• Conservation and Protection
• Back the Rangers Program
• Tennessee Naturalist Program
• Trail Friends initiative
• CCC Camp Restoration
  
• Visitor Center Renovations
• Telling the Park's story

Events

• Trails and Trilliums Festival
• Goldenrod Gala
• Pioneers of the Park
  
• Friends' Annual Meeting
  and Family Fun day

Outreach

• Hiking Challenges
• Every Child in the Park
• Healthy Horizons
• Discover Together
• Wildlife Programs
  

(Links will each open in a new tab or window, so you can easily get back to this page to explore other topics.)

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Your Friends membership directly supports the park.

• Your membership supports the good work of the Friends of South Cumberland. You will become part of a group working to save great spaces in the South Cumberland and supporting this magnificent park with both funding and volunteer initiatives.
  
• You will receive the quarterly FSC e-newsletter and monthly Trail Tracker emails to keep you updated on Friends and Park issues, events and volunteer opportunities.
• You will be eligible for members-only programs and events, such as the Tennessee Naturalist Program.
• By becoming a member of the Friends, or renewing and upgrading your membership, you can help insure that South Cumberland State Park will always be a safe, protected, well-maintained and amazing place to experience world-class natural beauty!

Friends help
Mountain Goat Trail Alliance

Friends President Naullain Kendrick, right, presents Patrick Dean of the Mountain Goat Trail Alliance with a $10,000 contribution to help fund construction of the MGT between Tracy City and Monteagle, where it will pass both the SCSP Visitor Center and the Grundy Forest trailhead. Click on the image to learn more!

Learn More About Us

Funding for the Friends of South Cumberland is derived from individual and corporate memberships and from private donations. Our tax deductible status was approved in July 1994. As a 501(c)3 non profit public benefit corporation, your membership and gifts may be Federally tax deductible.  A 1993 law passed by the Tennessee General Assembly allows state parks to contract with and receive financial assistance from an organized friends group. As a result, private citizens can be involved with and support the park through both volunteer work and financial support.
Please join us in supporting and protecting the South Cumberland State Park!

Our Mission
To aid and assist the South Cumberland State Park management and staff in meeting its objectives, and to inform, educate, engage, and inspire its members and the public to protect, conserve, and enjoy all the resources of the park.