KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- WBIR reports that the staff at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP) is looking for volunteers to participate in Smokies Service Days on Saturdays during June and July. From 9 a.m. to noon, GSMNP staff will lead volunteers on activities that include campground clean-ups, maintenance and gardening, with tasks suited for all ages available. The service activities are followed by optional ranger-led enrichment activities including hikes, festivals and lectures from noon to 3 p.m. Interested individuals and groups can register by contacting Project Coordinator Logan Boldon at (865) 436-1278 or logan_boldon@partner.nps.gov. A full list of volunteer activities can be found in the WBIR story here.

The mountains of North Carolina suffered catastrophic flooding of historic proportions in recent storms, resulting in numerous closures of trails, campgrounds and roads in parks and national forests throughout the region. A section of the Blue Ridge Parkway near Boone was closed after a crack was discovered, but is now open after stabilization work. Travelers are encouraged to check the real time road map available on the Parkway’s website. The Caldwell Journal reports that Mortimer Campground in the Wilson Creek area of the Pisgah National Forest’s Grandfather Ranger District has reopened after two weeks of repair work, although a number of roads and trails in Pisgah remain closed.

For the full report on the volunteer park clean up and maintenance click here.