Virginia State Parks

We have a new record on the fastest Trail Quest completion… This Master Hiker visited all 40 Virginia State Parks in the Trail Quest program within 48 HOURS‼️ Keep reading to find out how she accomplished this. The Master Hiker Ceremony was held at Hungry Mother State Park where Anita Rhode-Tripp accepted her certificate from Park Manager Kevin McDonald on April 1, 2025. 🗺️ To visit the 40 Virginia State Parks in the Trail Quest program within 48 hours, Anita Rhode-Tripp was a fictional name and this was a joke that had you fooled... Happy April Fools’ Day! We do not recommend rushing through Trail Quest, especially not at that speed. The real hiker posing is our Social Media Manager Haley Rodgers who is working on Trail Quest but has a few more to visit. The fastest record is not actually something we are certain of or track, but one of the fastest was 98 days by Tim Morris. 🥾 Trail Quest is not a race of how fast you can visit Virginia State Parks, but a self-paced program that encourages you to visit them all eventually — rewarding you with milestone pins and a Master Hiker certificate/title upon completion. Some set a 1-year goal, while others take a decade or lifetime. However you want to visit Virginia State Parks, we suggest you take your time exploring them one trail at a time. Log each new park you visit (you can back-log dates if you've visited several but never signed up) online: https://lnkd.in/gQN99sw

Congratulations to this family of new Master Hikers Kelly, Ryan and Griffin Kurtz. 🥾 They began Trail Quest in January of 2023 at Natural Bridge State Park, finished at False Cape State Park last month and are pictured accepting their certificates at Fairy Stone State Park. Trail Quest highlights included: 🪵 Staying in cabins 🐍 Participating in interpretive programs (like Snakes Alive! with Ranger Allison before their ceremony) 🏖️ The visitor centers, playgrounds and beaches Ryan’s (dad) favorite park is Grayson Highlands State Park, Griffin’s (child) is False Cape State Park, and Kelly’s (mom) is Hungry Mother State Park. ⛰️ Find your favorite Virginia state park by visiting them all, one trail at a time with the Trail Quest program, learn more: https://lnkd.in/gQN99sw

We are seeking more applicants for the Virginia State Parks Revenue Manager position, which closes on March 28, 2025. The Revenue Manager is vital to the success, prosperity and efforts of the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) - Division of State Parks. This position will execute and oversee all revenue generating programs, revenue operations and administrative projects related to division revenue. 📍 Location: Eligible to work from any state park (find map here: https://lnkd.in/dVEDGpX) with some travel required to DCR headquarters in Richmond, Virginia. Minimum qualifications: ✅ Significant experience managing outcomes of a large multi-million dollar revenue operation with diverse generating lines across several remote revenue operations. ✅ Familiarity with revenue accounting procedures, procurement of goods, or software systems related to business operations. ✅ High level commitment to provision of consistently high standards of customer service and ability to liaise and communicate effectively with a range of stakeholders. ✅ Experience with financial predictions, market trends, and demonstrated ability to utilize forecasting analysis methods to reach desired financial outcomes. ✅ Demonstrated high level experience and skills in the leadership, management and deployment of multi-disciplined teams. Seem like you'd be a good fit? Check out the listing for full details and apply: https://lnkd.in/eiZt-eB3

Sailor’s Creek Battlefield Historical and High Bridge Trail state parks will both hold 160th battle anniversary events between April 3-7 to showcase how the park lands were utilized in the end of the Civil War. Sailor's Creek Battlefield Historical State Park will commemorate "“Black Thursday" - the decisive battle that helped seal the fate of the Confederacy. 🗓️ April 5, 2025 at 9 a.m. - 9 p.m. ⚔️ Union and Confederate public historians will bring this hallowed ground to life with stirring reenactments and immersive living history experiences. - Bring lawn chairs. - Dress comfortably for rapidly changing weather and wear closed-toe shoes. - Refreshments will be available for purchase. 🆓 All programs are free and open to the public. More details: https://lnkd.in/ejiH_gNY High Bridge Trail State Park will recognize the 160th battle anniversary. 🗓️ *Events on April 3, 5, 6 and 7, 2025 at various times, see below - April 3 at 6 - 8 p.m. 📜 Panel of living historians - "An Examination of the Federal High Command" - April 5 (9 a.m. - 4 p.m.) and April 6 (9 a.m. - 3 p.m.) 📜 Living history programs - "The Civil War at High Bridge" - April 6 at 6 - 7:30 p.m. 📜 Living history program: "In the Footsteps of Fate" - April 7 at 5:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. 🥾 Guided battle walk on High Bridge Trail *There is a $5 parking fee to enter High Bridge Trail State Park. More details: https://lnkd.in/eKqyu4Hn The commemorations will take place rain or shine.

March is prime time for viewing great blue herons as they are rebuilding their nesting colony on Woodstock Pond at York River State Park, in Williamsburg, Virginia. They nest in the tops of trees and create what's called a heronry or heron rookery. 🌲 🪺 Great blue heron lay between two to six eggs in March. The chicks hatch about a month later. Between May and July there is a constant show of adult birds flying in and out of the heronry to feed their noisy youngsters. The croaks and groans of herons is like things heard in a Jurassic Park movie. Yet, this is a very elegant bird as it stalks prey and glides in the air. Want to learn more? Ranger John Gresham wrote a new blog you can read now.: https://lnkd.in/edjcsnai

Happy Spring Equinox! 🌸 Find inspiration to get you out to explore nature’s rebirth at our parks here: https://lnkd.in/gx2zAvb2

As you visit parks this spring, there's a chance you may spot a baby bird on the ground. 🪺 It might be tempting to help it, but sometimes, that's not the best choice. The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources has a great list of steps to take if you find an injured and/or orphaned bird: https://lnkd.in/gMtchNDW

More than 100 seasonal positions now open across Virginia State Parks! Each park listed in this video has 4 or more openings. We even have 3 full-time positions open: 🧰 Maintenance Ranger at Sky Meadows State Park (open until filled): https://lnkd.in/et8A2qSh 📈 Revenue Manager of Virginia State Parks (closes on 3/28/25): https://lnkd.in/eiZt-eB3 🛶 Visitor Experience Specialist of Southwest Virginia State Parks (closes on 3/30/25): https://lnkd.in/eTR4VX76 Find listings and apply here: https://lnkd.in/gi-P3YXX Tell your friends. It's a better job. Naturally! #NowHiring #ParkRanger #ApplyHere #Virginiajob #Greenjob

DCR's Search and Rescue Team is there for state park emergencies.

We are hiring! You could enjoy nature and work to protect it at Virginia State Parks. Jobs in high demand: Maintenance Rangers, see more than 30 listings here: https://lnkd.in/ecj8mEt Including Maintenance Ranger for the future Hayfields State Park.