Answering the Call – 2025’s Top Volunteers at Lake James State Park

Groups find volunteer opportunities all year long at Lake James State Park, and 2025 was no exception. 

April welcomed the Quaker Meadows Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, June a large group of young men from the Winston-Salem Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and November environmental biology students from Western Piedmont Community College.

Post-Hurricane Helene clean-up was the top priority, and attractive improvements abounded.

As folks in western North Carolina recovered from the storm, they found more time for recreating; yet in the busy months of July and August, state park staff were without hosts for the Catawba River Campground.

Enter Kim Koenig and Jason Tannenbaum!

This couple from Rock Hill, South Carolina responded to the online ad for volunteers, and despite having never hosted a campground before, they set up their motorhome and instantly became part of the team.

As befits camp hosts, both Kim and Jason truly love the outdoors, and the area’s many hiking options particularly appealed to them. They take their dog Onyx, a black Great Dane mix, on their daily hikes to the Sandy Cliff Overlook, and all three enjoy a swim in the lake on hot summer days. Kim brings to the job a lifetime of camping experience, and avid bass fisherman Jason launches his boat on Lake James whenever he can.

They combine their experience and interests together to welcome campers, helping make their stays more pleasant.

November brought another empty slot to the host calendar, but Kim and Jason agreed to come back a full five months early and fill that void.  They like to meet and help people, and to do so while camping at a lake near the mountains is even better! Coming back as seasoned veterans, they stand ready to pivot at a moment’s notice, comfortable in the knowledge that “everything is fixable.”   

As a result, Lake James State Park staff are pleased to announce that campground hosts Kim Koenig and Jason Tannenbaum are the top volunteers for 2025 with 260 hours each.  They stepped forward twice in one year to help staff, giving the four new rangers time to acclimate to the state park and jump into duties ranging from natural resource management to law enforcement.

Thank you, Kim and Jason!