Opportunities From: Delaware State Parks

Help Keep Lums Pond Trails Accessible!

***UPDATED 7/10: The 7/11 Trail Trimming event will begin in the DOG PARK parking lot. The parking lot is at the very end of the Buck Jersey Rd, Bear DE 19701 on the left. Please note that due to the rising heat this event will begin at 8am. Thank you!

Join Lums Pond State Park staff and Friends of Lums Pond members for a Lums Pond Trail Trimming Day!

Help cut back vegetation and remove obstacles on a high-priority trail or trail segment and improve accessibility for hikers, runners, and bike riders. Experience, tools, and gloves are welcome, but they are not required. If you’re interested, we’d love to see you there!

On each Lums Pond Trail Trimming Day, volunteers can:

Learn some of the basics of trail maintenance.Utilize their experience on trails and with maintenance. Become a little more connected to their favorite park. Meet and learn more about the Friends of Lums Pond and other like-minded people from their community. Learn a little about some of the invasive plants encroaching on Lums Pond trails and threatening park ecosystems. Give back while enjoying the great outdoors.

Things for volunteers to know:

Where to park and meet are determined on shift-by-shift basis. The service-event coordinator will contact all registered volunteers to inform them of those locations in advance of the event. Volunteer activity parking passes will be provided to anyone who doesn't have an annual pass or similar. Volunteers do not pay for parking!

Lums Pond State Park is home to over 17 miles of multiuse trail comprised primarily of the Little Jersey Trail and the Swamp Forest Trail. From March through November—primarily April through October—vegetation encroaches considerably on those trails, especially the Swamp Forest Trail and Mile Loop Trail.

Lums Pond Trail Trimming Days are typically scheduled for the second Saturday of each month throughout the season to support park maintenance staff and other volunteers in the efforts maintain accessibility.

If you have any questions, please contact Arden Locker at arden.locker@delaware.gov.

Delaware State Parks is a Local Organizing Partner (LOP) of the Delaware Master Naturalist (DMN) Program.

Lums Pond State Park is an LOP site.

Note: This opportunity is only for registrants in the DMN Program—a certification offered in partnership between the University of Delaware Cooperative Extension and Delaware Nature Society—or certified DMNs.

The DMN Program is a remarkable opportunity for professionals as well as enthusiasts to become a certified Delaware Master Naturalist.

From the website:

The Delaware Master Naturalist Program trains citizens as ambassadors and stewards of Delaware’s natural resources and ecosystems through science-based education and volunteer opportunities.

It requires registrants to complete 40 hours of service time with a Local Organizing Partner (LOP) to achieve certification as well as 40 hours annually afterward to maintain it.

Lums Pond State Park welcomes first-year candidates as well as continuing-service participants. Service projects can be as varied as the volunteer’s interests that align with park priorities. The park may identify service projects that would satisfy the requirements of the certification. DMN candidates and continuing-service volunteers are also welcome to submit proposals for service projects to the park.

Lums Pond State Park welcomes Girl Scouts who are pursuing a Gold Award and Boy Scouts who are pursuing the Eagle Rank!

Delaware State Parks appreciates the long history of Scouts’ service and is familiar with the processes to achieve such Scout honors. The park may identify potential service projects that would satisfy the requirements of a Girl Scout Gold Award or an Eagle Scout Service Project. Scouts are also welcome to submit proposals for service projects to the park.

Requirements:

Contact Lums Pond State Park about your interest in completing a project in service of the park. A simple way to do that: Contact Delaware State Parks. In the form:Select "Lums Pond State Park."Select "Volunteering or campground hosting."Provide your email address (required) and phone number (optional).Describe your interest in doing a project for the park and provide details about your project, including the deadline and/or anticipated completion date. Regularly meet and discuss project proposals, plans, etc., with park personnel. Receive approval of your project, plans, amendments, revisions, etc., from the Superintendent throughout the process.Complete the project by the required deadline.

Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts who enjoy visiting Lums Pond State Park, are passionate about taking care of natural spaces and supporting local ecosystems, and/or are passionate about supporting Delaware State Parks’ mission are excellent candidates to complete a service project at the park for a Girl Scout Gold Award or the Boy Scout Eagle Rank!

Hello! This page is only for current Bluebird Box Monitors to log hours. 

Interested in becoming a Bluebird Box Monitor for 2027? 'Respond' to this opportunity and receive alerts when the 2027 training session will be!

Bluebird monitoring for the 2026 season has begun! This is a private volunteer event for participants that are already assigned their bluebird boxes. By responding to this opportunity, current volunteers will be able to record your volunteer hours for each nest box visit.

In the event there is an issue during your monitoring please contact the park office at 302-368-6989 or email Samantha.Bosserman@delaware.gov 

Thank you for volunteering with Delaware State Parks!

Lums Pond State Park welcomes work, school, and other groups interested in scheduling a service project for their teams, classes, etc. 

A group service project is a great way to provide your organization with an opportunity:

To give back to the community or to learn about the value of service. To promote team building or collaboration. To embrace a new challenge together or to step outside a comfort zone in a safe, fun social setting. To learn about Delaware State Parks operations and to see the impact of the group’s service. To take a break from the office, warehouse, classroom, etc., and enjoy the great outdoors. To accumulate service hours collectively.

The types of service projects available to groups are based on seasonal needs at Lums Pond State Park, progress of the parks’ improvement projects, and other factors. Service projects for school groups may prioritize educational value and are intended to be age-appropriate.

Types of seasonal service projects available to groups include:

Trail maintenance and careControl of invasive plants and vines Playground maintenance (e.g., mulching, raking) Maintenance of recreation sites (e.g., volleyball courts, horseshoe pits, disc golf course) Litter cleanup

Coordinators for group service projects may RESPOND AS TEAM to this opportunity and ask about scheduling a date and time that is compatible with the group’s schedule. Coordinators are also welcome to RESPOND AS TEAM to a scheduled service project if there are enough available shifts.

Note: The project site’s address may differ from the park’s address and will be provided during scheduling of a group service project.

The Friends are making a difference!

From the Friends’ website:

We are the Friends of Lums Pond, where passion meets preservation! We're a nonprofit on a mission to protect and enhance Lums Pond State Park. Learn more about our mission to conserve this natural treasure, the benefits of joining us, and the park's rich history.

The Friends are avid supporters of Lums Pond State Park. They:

Help maintain the park’s trails, including the Swamp Forest Trail and Little Jersey TrailOrganize and participate in service projects such as an annual boathouse cleanupRaise funds and advocate for Lums Pond preservation, conservation, and restoration projectsHold monthly meetings attended by their board of directors and park staff as well as hold an Annual Meeting that is open to the publicAnd more!

Visit the Friends of Lums Pond State Park website to learn more about the Friends and how to become a member or other ways to contribute to this organization and your favorite park.

Thank you for your interest in volunteering at Lums Pond State Park. We are thrilled to have passionate individuals join us in helping preserve and maintain our natural spaces and historical sites throughout the state!

Volunteering at Lums Pond can happen in many ways and can include, but is not limited to: 

Trail maintenanceInvasive species removalTrash/debris pickupGeneral facility maintenanceAnd more!

Please note: 

This post is for single volunteer service events performed, typically, by one individual that does not fall under any initiatives already create. This is NOT for large group events, regularly scheduled events, Citizen Scientist initiatives, etc. 

If you are interested in volunteering at Lums Pond State Park, or have any questions, please contact the Manager of Volunteer Services Arden Locker at arden.locker@delaware.gov

Thank you for all that you do!

Counselor-in-TrainingVolunteer Position Description

Description: Work alongside staff in Delaware State Parks to provide a quality day camp experience for children! CIT’s assist with camp activities and help with setup and cleanup.

Primary Duties:

Leading camp games and craftsSetting up for campBe a role model for campers by maintaining a positive attitudeCleaning up after activities

Requirements:

Must be 14 years old or older.Pleasant and personable. Relates well with people.Enjoys working with children; childcare experience preferred.Responsible; accomplishes tasks on time.Able to assist with both indoor and outdoor activities.Able to perform physical activities and stand or walk for long periods.Follows verbal and written instruction in a timely fashion.

Time Commitment:

1 week (max 2 weeks) of camp, between June – August
Monday – Friday, Full-day (8:30 a.m – 4 p.m)

Benefits:

Receive training from Delaware State ParksResume-building experience with day camps and parks

Direct Supervisor: State Park day-camp staff and directors

Application Procedure:

Submit volunteer application online Interview with camp staffComplete Parental Consent FormAttend CIT training on the scheduled day and time (TBD) Pay $35 Registration Fee

Contact Sam Bosserman (Samantha.Bosserman@delaware.gov) with any questions. Volunteer opportunities for youth aged 18 years and younger are
governed by applicable child labor laws. Volunteers 14 years and
older are placed in volunteer assignments based on volunteer interest areas and ability to meet the position criteria on an individual basis,
determined through a volunteer interview process. Volunteers are not considered State of Delaware employees.

The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control is committed to affirmative action, equal opportunity, and the diversity
of its workforce

Clean Sweep - Solo Litter Pickup

Help keep Lums Pond State Park beautiful and safe by participating in a self-led litter pick-up! Excellent for those looking to volunteer on their own schedule; this program allows you to choose your own time, pace, and area while protecting wildlife, improving trails, and promoting environmental stewardship. 

Please note: 

This is NOT a scheduled or staff lead event - you choose what area you work in and for how long. Simply log your volunteer hours after completing a litter clean-up on your own time. 

Please remember! Do Don't
Wear closed toed-shows and dress for the weather Pick up hazardous waste (large debris, chemicals, etc.) alert park staff if found Use caution when handling sharps - use a pickup tool or leave them in place and alert park staff Approach wildlife or disturb natural habitats Stay hydrated! Take breaks as needed Venture off trails in restricted areas or private property Dispose of trash in park dumpster (map will be sent to you of dumpster location) Leave filled trash bags unattended Wear sunscreen / bugs pray - check for ticks! Work along in remove areas, stick to well-traveled paths Log your hours on Galaxy Digital, include a quick summary of your clean-up areas Go into the pond to retrieve trash - if you can't easily reach it, leave it!

Equipment

It is recommended you bring your own equipment for ease. If need be gloves, trash grabbers, and buckets can be found at the Lums Pond main office for volunteer use. Equipment is available during regular business hours and must be signed out and dropped back off before the main office closes.

Thank you for your time and effort. The care of volunteers helps ensure Lums Pond State Park remains safe, clean, and enjoyable for all!

Updates

6/4/26: From Area 5 (across from the Nature Center) to Area 1 (where Go-Ape is located) along the Swamp Forest Trail has seen an increase in fishing related trash including hooks, bobbers, and broken fishing line. If possible, please pay special attention along the waterline and low hanging branches for abandoned debris. Thank you!