SAVANNAH, Ga. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Savannah District has opened up registration for individuals and groups to volunteer for the annual Thurmond Lake cleanup campaign on National Public Lands Day, Sept. 27, 2025.
The evet begins at 8 a.m. and ends at noon with check-in at Petersburg Campground, which is located at 3998 Petersburg Road, Appling, Georgia. Volunteers can work on a variety of projects including debris cleanup, brush clearing, and park maintenance in Petersburg Campground.
Volunteers will be required to fill out an individual volunteer agreement or group sign-up form, along with an activity hazard analysis prior to starting work. Additionally, volunteers should wear closed-toed shoes, long pants (planned work could result in potential staining and damage to volunteer clothing) and bring plenty of water. Participants will receive free t-shirts and a one-day pass for free admission to any federal park site, while supplies last.
“We invite scouting groups, civic organizations, sports clubs, church groups, businesses, families and individuals to join in,” said Thurmond Lake Natural Resources Specialist Hannah Sue Hulpke. “Petersburg was selected for cleanup this year because we are trying to get loop A (sites 1-27) reopened for the normal winter camping season. Additionally, volunteers can also let us know if they gather litter along the roadways and shorelines of open parks, and we’ll count that toward Thurmond’s overall National Public Lands Day efforts.”
In the event of severe weather conditions, National Public Lands Day events will be cancelled. Unfortunately, a rain date is not scheduled. National Public Lands Day is a nationwide day of service for volunteering at local, state and federal public lands. The cleanup is also part of Georgia’s statewide Rivers Alive program.
To register, volunteers can email Ranger Hulpke at cesas-op-t@usace.army.mil (Subject: NPLD 2025 Volunteer) or call 864-333-1172 or toll free at 800-533-3478, extension 1172.