Volunteer with Friends of Shelby
Volunteers breathe life into our mission to preserve, protect, and enhance Shelby Park and Bottoms. Volunteers are at the heart of Friends of Shelby: planting trees, picking up trash, maintaining trails, assisting with special events, and helping with various larger projects.
Check out all the ways to get involved, and sign up today to receive updates on volunteer opportunities.
Keep scrolling to sign up for upcoming events!
Upcoming Volunteer OPPORTUNITIES
10th Annual Cornelia Airpark Concerts
An East Nashville staple of summer, this concert series is one of our most exciting events of the year and volunteers help us run the entire thing! From set-up to tickets, pouring beers and pushing planes, we truly could not put these events on without our community’s support. To say thank you, all volunteers receive a free drink to enjoy before or after their shift, and volunteers working during the event will receive a free event staff t-shirt! Click below to sign up for our final show of the 2025 season.
August 23rd
Just because our concert season is almost over doesn’t mean there isn’t more fun in store! We’re headed right into the next season of Fridays by the River, our weekly pop-up beer garden in partnership with East Nashville Beer Works. Volunteers get a free t-shirt and drink (for those 21+) to say thank you for helping us put on these beloved events! Click the date below that you’d like to sign up. 🍺
September 5th - September 12th - September 19th - September 26th - October 3rd - October 10th
9th Annual Golden Pheasant Triathlon - Sunday, September 28th
We are looking for volunteers to help with setup, registration, refreshments, and race coordination for the 9th Annual Golden Pheasant Triathlon. This race celebrates the mysterious bird, the Golden Pheasant, and takes participants through the forest and on the river (via kayak)! Volunteers working the event will receive a FOS volunteer t-shirt. Please join us for a fun morning of cheering on community members!
Click here to volunteer!
—
Trash Pick Up - THU. August 7th (9-11 AM) and FRI. August 29th (9-11 AM)
Did you know that the Cumberland River supplies the bulk of Nashville’s drinking water? With Shelby Park and Bottoms winding over 4 miles alongside it, it’s important that we keep Shelby free of litter to prevent it from entering the river. We’ve kept nearly 2,000 pounds of trash out of the park so far this year and would love to have you help us grow that number!
Click here to volunteer!
Painting - TUE. August 12th (9-11 AM)
We’ve got a few spots left throughout the park that could use a fresh coat of paint, and we’re crossing our fingers for good weather this time! We’ll work to repaint some safety bollards in Shelby Park to keep drivers, pedestrians, and critters alike all safe in the dark.
Click here to volunteer!
Nature Center Garden Help - THU. August 21st (9:30-11 AM)
The Shelby Bottoms Nature Center’s garden is in full bloom, and they need help keeping it looking its best! You’ll be weeding, watering, trimming, or mulching, so come prepared to get your hands dirty. Sights of happy butterflies and bees are guaranteed!
Click here to volunteer!
SHELBY PARK AMBASSADORS
Do you love Shelby Park and Bottoms? Would you like to be more involved in park events, the community, and Friends of Shelby? Join our Park Ambassador program! Park Ambassadors help achieve our mission of preserving, enhancing and protecting the park by increasing our community outreach via tabling, events, and open houses. In this long-term volunteer program, you will learn all there is to know about the park and FOS and share this valuable information with the public!
For more information, email CD: cd@friendsofshelby.org
Community Group Volunteer Program
Friends of Shelby loves to work with groups. Whether it's your ten-person office or your 100-person church, please reach out and see if we have a project that would suit your goals. Friends of Shelby helps coordinate the project and provides tools, gloves, and work project assignments to match the size and capabilities of any volunteer group. Each volunteer day begins with an orientation including the goals of the park improvement effort, tool training, and general safety rules.
If you are interested in a project for your group, please click the button below and fill out our interest form!
Questions? Email our Community Outreach and Volunteer Leader at cd@friendsofshelby.org.
Thank you to our community partners
We could not do this great work without your help
Funding for the volunteer program provided by the Grateful Daniel Fund of The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee.
