Overlook Adoption

Interested in becoming an Overlook Adopter with the Blue Ridge Parkway? With 272 overlooks, ranging from scenic-pull offs to regularly-used trail heads, Overlook Adopters help to keep the overlooks on the parkway clean, safe and attractive for public use and enjoyment by thousands of appreciative visitors.

An overlook may be adopted by a single individual, family or other group. An adopting individual, family, club, or organized group must be willing to commit to their overlook for a period of at least one year, with a minimum of monthly visits occurring from April-October.

Maintenance tasks for an Overlook Adopter include; picking up litter and debris from parking areas and sidewalks, clearing leaves, twigs and branches from grassy areas, ditches and drainage channels, cleaning overlook signs and any nearby mile markers, and cleaning picnic table(s) and areas where applicable.

By diligently maintaining an overlook, you stand as one of its most important advocates and protectors. Without vigilant attention, an overlook might soon be overrun with unsightly litter and dangerous debris. The Blue Ridge Parkway experience wouldn’t be the same without our dedicated Overlook Adopters!

If you are interested in adopting one of our available overlooks, please read through the Overlook Adoption Handbook and Availability List below, and email our Volunteer Coordinator with the overlook you would like to adopt.

 

 

Overlook Adoption Handbook

Background and Purpose

The National Park Service manages and maintains 272 overlooks on the Blue Ridge Parkway. These overlooks range in use from scenic pull-offs to regularly-used trail heads. Blue Ridge Parkway maintenance staff is officially tasked with cleaning overlooks as their schedules permit, however, the Parkway seeks help from volunteers willing to take on the task.

Therefore, the goals of the Overlook Adoption position includes: (1) improving the function and appearance of overlooks for visitor enjoyment, (2) allowing Park Service maintenance employees to accomplish other tasks requiring a higher level of skill or required training, (3) representing the National Park Service with visitors from all over the country and world who stop at overlooks to enjoy the view by answering questions and providing a level of service that NPS staff alone would struggle to provide, (4) serving as an additional set of “eyes and ears” on the parkway to report issues and concerns that might otherwise go unnoticed due to minimal staffing.

How It Works

• Adoption by Individuals or Groups: An overlook may be adopted by a single individual, family or other group. All individual volunteers or groups should work with the park volunteer coordinator to complete the required Volunteer Service Agreement (OF 301 A) form annually. Volunteer hours are reported online via the Individual VIP Hours Reporting Form.

• Length of Commitment: An adopting individual, family, club, or organized group must be willing to commit to their overlook for a period of at least one year. You will be contacted annually, to request re-signature of your Volunteer Service Agreement if you wish to continue your service. Please do not hesitate to reach out to the Volunteer Coordinator at Blue Ridge Parkway with concerns or questions throughout the year.

Required Forms

• Volunteer Services Agreement (VSA) Form: Each volunteer who works on the parkway must complete and sign a Volunteer Services Agreement (VSA) form annually including the Overlook Adoption Service Description. Additionally, the VSA of any child or youth (18 or younger) must be signed by a parent or guardian.

• Individual VIP Hours Reporting Form: This online reporting form should be submitted after each service event to report all hours of service including travel-time while on the parkway. This form also includes a section to report any issues or concern. This section of the form is not required, but is a good place to report concerns to be raised to the attention of local maintenance or law enforcement.

Maintanence Schedule

Although we encourage volunteers to visit their overlook as often as possible, there are certain times of year that are most critical for maintenance of these areas.

• Monthly: Plan to care for your adopted overlook at least once per month from April through October.

• Spring: Spring maintenance is best done at the end of winter, before the spring rainy season, by the end of April, if possible, and before the overlook receives a lot of visitor traffic. Assessment of work that will need to be done in the future is an important function of the spring visit.

• Summer: The overlook is most in need of attention during the summer, due to normally heavier visitor traffic.

• Fall: One of the best times of the year to clean your overlook is before the leaves have dropped from the trees. This ensures there is no litter under leaf debris during winter months and is good preparation for heavy spring water run-off. The cool weather makes fall an excellent time for maintaining overlooks.

• Winter: Your overlook may or may not be accessible during the winter months, November through March. Be careful if you travel on the Parkway. No extraordinary efforts are required during these months.

• Road Closures: Road closures can happen on the parkway at any time of year. They can be scheduled (due to maintenance, construction of other administrative activities) or unplanned (due to inclement weather, emergency operations or otherwise unsafe conditions). Either instance can make for a frustrating experience when attempting you access your overlook. We are sorry for the inconvenience. We encourage all volunteers to check for road closures in their area ahead of their work day.

Maintanence Tasks

Required Tasks

• Pick up and dispose of litter

• Clear and dispose of leaves, twigs, branches and other debris in grassy area

• Clear leaves, twigs, branches and other debris from ditches and drainage channels

• Clean overlook signs and any nearby mile markers with soapy water

• Sweep sidewalks and parking area

• Clean picnic table(s) where applicable

Optional Tasks

• Level any surface material

• Clear overgrown weeds and brush at the outer perimeter of overlook and around nearby “Overlook Ahead” signs using appropriate tools as described in the safety section below.

• Remove trees that have fallen on the overlook, within its perimeter, and on the parking lot. Move them to the shoulder, if possible, or notify maintenance as needed.

The National Park Service may supply trash bags and gloves. If these items are needed, please contact the Blue Ridge Parkway Volunteer Coordinator at least 1 week prior to your planned work day. No power tools should be used on the Parkway unless proper NPS certification is obtained.

Safety

Safety is our number one priority. It is the most important consideration while volunteering on the parkway. Prior to completing work on the Parkway a review of the Job Hazards is required by all volunteers. In order to operate power tools on the parkway, NPS training is required, even if the tools you use are your own. This includes: string trimmers, leaf blowers, push mowers, and motorized saws of any kind. NO USE OF RIDING LAWN MOWERS WILL BE AUTHORIZED OR PERMITTED BY VOLUNTEERS.Contact the park Volunteer Coordinator about obtaining required training.All volunteers that are working near traffic on the road shoulder or in active overlooks are required to wear ANSI-II Compliant Safety Vests at all times. These may be obtained through local maintenance or through the volunteer coordinator.

You can access a printable PDF version of this handbook here.