Anyone with kids should know the concept of the Booster Club. A booster club is supporters on steroids. There is an element of fundraising to booster clubs but Ithink they are a lot more than that.
In Virginia State Parks, we have booster clubs. We actually call them Citizen Support Organizations or, the term I prefer, Friends Groups. Many of them are 501(c)(3) organizations so they do raise money for the parks they support. But their best role is serving as a bridge between the local community and our parks, their advocacy for our parks, and their commitment to volunteer support.
Nearly all of our parks have a Friends Group and those that do not are looking for good people to help start one up. Friends groups work closely with park staff to support the park in a myriad of ways.
So, if you love Virginia State Parks, look into joining the Friends Group in the state park nearest to you. Or, you can become a member of the Group at your favorite park. The groups welcome supporters, even if they are geographically distant.
Each park’s Friends Group is listed on their web page. You will find it either along the right rail or the very bottom of the page (we are in the process of moving them to the bottom of the main page). If you don’t see one, contact the park or e-mail [email protected]. We will let you know who to contact about the group.
We also have a statewide Booster Club – the Virginia Association for Parks. The VAFP is a proponent of all parkland in Virginia and assists park Friends Groups in their development stages.