Friends of Old Stone Fort
Friends of Old Stone Fort
Working to preserve "The most spectacularly sited area of its period..."
Volunteer Project Gallery
2020 Volunteer Events
June 20, 2020, Bicycle Rodeo and Parade
Friends Group President Brian Wofford poses with Seasonal Interpretive Ranger Sydnie Hale. Mr. Wofford utilized grant money awarded to the Friends of Old Stone Fort through the Jeff Roth Cycling Foundation to purchase several bicycles, helmets, and other bicycle safety equipment. These items were awarded to participants who completed the bicycle rodeo event held at the Manchester Recreation Complex. Kids and adults alike learned the ins and outs of bicycle safety and learned how to bicycle safely in the city. Also present at this event was volunteer Joe Capeza of Highland Rim Bicycle Club, Manchester Police Department, Manchester Fire Department, Coffee County EMS, Coffee County Rescue Squad volunteers, Coffee County Sherrif's Deputies, Tennessee State Parks staff and Manchester Recreation Complex staff.
June 2020, Junior Ranger Camp
Volunteer Stephen Arnold, Hydrogeologist at Arnold Air Force Base, took the day to teach Old Stone Fort's campers about geology and fossils at Junior Ranger camp. Campers practiced safe social distancing while fossil hunting in the river and identifying the mysterious plants and animals that inhabited the park long before the arrival of the first Indigenous People.
Friends Group President Brian Wofford held his annual canoe float of the Duck for the Junior Rangers to conclude this week long camp.
2019 Volunteer Events
4/5 October 2019, Knap-In Festival
Friends of OSF Members Ken and Peggy Delaney stationed a booth at the park's annual Knap-In Festival. The Knap-In is a fall festival bringing together artists from across the Southeast to showcase their skill at flint knapping, or the art of carving stone. Ken and Peggy sold Native American style fry bread to benefit future projects at the park. They also successfully recruited the Friends Group first dues paying member at this event.
28 September 2019, National Public Lands Day and Tennessee Serves Volunteer Day
Friends of OSF Vice President Shawn Wolfe volunteered to lead a group of Girl Scouts for their service project during National Public Lands Day/ TN Serves Volunteer Day. In total 121 Girl Scouts, Troop Leaders, and Adult Volunteers participated in the event. Along with invasive species removal and trail maintenance, the scouts also painted park benches to remove/cover graffiti. We appreciate Shawn, the Girl Scouts of Middle Tennessee, and our many other volunteers who dedicated their time to this event.
23 August 2019, High School Ecology Partnership Program
Friends of OSF President Brian Wofford volunteered for the park to help lead a group of High School students in an exploratory study of the Duck River. In total, 90 students participated in this ecology event and programmers and volunteers from across the state were enlisted to assist in leading them through their projects, including volunteers from the Tennessee Aquarium, TN Division of Natural Areas, and TN Division of Water Resources.
28 June 2019, JR Ranger Camp Canoe Float
Friends of OSF President Brian Wofford volunteered his time, experience and canoes for two canoe floats down the Big Duck River for Old Stone Fort's annual Junior Ranger Camp. Brian shared safety and paddling tips with the campers before leading this river canoe float.
21 June 2019, TN Promise Volunteer Day
Ken Delaney, FoOSF At Large Member, came out to volunteer with us on TN Promise Volunteer Day along with two Tennessee Promise Students. TN Promise is a scholarship and mentorship program created to help college students pay for their college tuition. In exchange for this funding, students are required to complete 8 hours of community service. For this event volunteers worked on clearing the Garrison Road Trail of overgrowth and debris.
2 March 2019, Weed Wrangle
Friends members Peggy and Ken Delaney along with local volunteers worked to clean up Chinese Privet from the historic Garrison Road Trail. These volunteer efforts were in conjunction with Weed Wrangle, a state wide initiative to remove invasive plants from Tennessee's public spaces.