Volunteer-In-Parks Program

What is the Volunteer-In-Parks Program?

The Volunteer-In-Parks (VIP) program is a highly respected program of the National Park Service administered locally by the John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor. Through this program, the Heritage Corridor provides program coordination, recruiting, training, and networking opportunities for volunteers that support both for the Heritage Corridor and for any one of our dozens of partners.  There is a strong sense of community and a deep love for the valley in which we operate.   With over 200 volunteers, the Volunteers-In-Parks program is an active part of the fabric of the Blackstone Valley.

On any given day, you might find volunteers in these situations:

  • Welcoming visitors to any number of museums and cultural sites throughout the Valley
  • Conducting river bank clean-ups, helping to eradicate invasive species, or participating in other water-quality related activities
  • Conducting walking tours highlighting the history, geography, flora and fauna of the valley
  • Riding along the Blackstone River Bikeway as bikeway ambassadors, assisting other bicyclists, walkers and rollerbladers along the path
  • Sharing their expertise and knowledge of the Blackstone from a canoe or kayak during an evening paddle as part of the Blackstone Valley Paddle Club
  • Building grassroots support in our communities to preserve and protect the valley
  • Volunteering for the Greenway Challenge, the Blackstone Corridor's key fundraising event, scheduled each year in September.

Volunteer Your Hands

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Please be sure to report your hours each month.

Volunteer Hours Form (PDF document)

You can complete the document in 1 of 2 ways:

  1. Open the document on your computer and type into the form. Then, save the form to your hard drive and email the form to the VIP Program Coordinator at
  2. Or, you can print the document, complete it, and mail to The Depot at One Depot Square, Woonsocket, RI 02895.