What is voluntourism you ask? Voluntourism is a form of tourism in which travelers participate in voluntary work, typically for charity. Earth Day is an exceptionally good time for visitors, and residents, in Johnston County to give back to the open spaces, parks, and trails they use throughout the year to recreate, enjoy nature, and spend time outdoors with family.
The Friends of Johnston County Parks is hosting its sixth annual countywide clean up in honor of Earth Day. The event is a coordinated, countywide litter clean up scheduled for Saturday, April 18th, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
The group is working with local parks and recreation departments as well as county partners, in addition to NCDOT, as part of the North Carolina Litter Sweep program. Friends is organizing and promoting the event, with clean ups happening all across Johnston County. Towns and organizations participating in 2026 include Clayton, Cleveland, Bentonville Battlefield, Princeton, Smithfield, Kenly, and Flower Hill Preserve, with more towns and sites to be announced soon.
Registration is required to participate in the event; the volunteer registration form can be accessed and filled out here. You can select a preferred geographic area of JoCo you’d like to work in as a volunteer on the form. Once the Friends group has confirmed participating towns and sites, participants will be matched to their preferred area. In addition, Friends board members will also be leading clean up efforts at a few unincorporated areas. Bags, gloves, and safety vests may be provided at each location as available, but volunteers are encouraged to bring their own.
Below is footage from a previous year's event.
“We’re excited to be hosting our sixth annual Earth Day County-wide Cleanup, which presents a great opportunity to get outside and make a positive difference. The 2025 event was a great success, with almost 300 volunteers showing up to remove more than 5,000 pounds of litter from parks, trails, roadsides, and schools across Johnston County” said Jessica Meadows Rich, the event organizer and Chair of Friends of Johnston County Parks, “Earth Day is a great reminder that caring for our parks and public spaces is a shared responsibility. We’re proud to partner with communities across the county to make a real impact, and even just a few hours of volunteering can make a visible difference in our parks, roadsides, and natural areas.”
Recap on Event Details:
- Who: Johnston County Citizens and Volunteers
- What: County-wide Earth Day Litter Clean Up
- When: Saturday, April 18th, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
- Where: Designated parks, greenways, open spaces, and roadways across Johnston County
- Why: To clean up litter across JoCo and give back to nature in celebration of Earth Day
- How: Register at this link: https://bit.ly/3OQBC6f
- Facebook Event Page: https://www.facebook.com/events/1589910575616547
The Friends of Johnston County Parks is a 501(c)3 organization with a volunteer board advocating in support of parks, open space, the arts, and recreational opportunities on behalf of all Johnston County citizens and visitors. The group’s four strategic priorities are advocacy, education, recreation, and stewardship. You can learn more at friendsofjohnstoncountyparks.com!
