helping hands volunteer program
From campsite rehabilitation, waterfall cleanups, roadside cleanups, and litter removal to watershed protection, invasive species removal, and glade restoration, Helping Hands volunteers help keep high-use areas clean, healthy, and welcoming.
What Is the Helping Hands Program?
The Helping Hands Program is Wild Alabama’s volunteer stewardship program focused on caring for Alabama’s public lands through hands-on projects that protect natural resources and support responsible recreation. These efforts strengthen the health of forests and waterways, reduce human impacts in high-use areas, and help ensure that public lands remain clean, safe, and welcoming for future visitors.
Helping Hands projects include campsite rehabilitation, waterfall cleanups, litter removal, roadside cleanups, and other stewardship efforts in heavily used recreation areas. Volunteers also support watershed protection, invasive species removal, and glade restoration, along with special projects and monitoring activities that help restore impacted sites and guide sustainable management.
The Helping Hands Program is designed to maintain public use areas for future visitors, protect the natural resources by preventing erosion and social trails, and keep watersheds clean by removing trash from the public lands. Wild Alabama holds a volunteer agreement with the Alabama Forest Service in the Talladega National Forest and Bankhead National Forest. Between these two National Forests, Wild Alabama oversees stewardship events on over 200 miles of trail.
Helping Hands Stewardship Events
Cleanup Events
Campsite rehabilitation, waterfall cleanups, litter removal, and other projects in heavily used recreation areas.
Special Projects & Support Activities
Visitor-use monitoring, site improvements, resource protection efforts, and other stewardship projects that help protect public lands and improve the outdoor experience.
Helping Hands Special Projects
Roadside Cleanups
Targeted trash removal along forest roads, trailheads, and access points to help protect watersheds and reduce litter on public lands.
Thompson Trailhead Kiosk (Winter 2022–23)
Wild Alabama partnered with the U.S. Forest Service to build a new kiosk at the Thompson Trailhead in the Sipsey Wilderness, improving visitor information and stewardship messaging.
Want to Get Involved?
No experience is necessary to participate in Helping Hands events—volunteers of all skill levels are welcome. You can sign up through our website calendar or subscribe to our newsletter to stay up-to-date on upcoming projects.