This Saturday, September 26th is National Public Lands Day! Established in 1994 and observed each year on the fourth Saturday in September, National Public Lands Day is a chance to celebrate the incredible resources available to us in our public lands and to join together to help protect and preserve them for the future.
The National Park Service and other participating federal agencies operate this day as a fee-free day. This means that entrance and day-use fees are waived, and some locations will waive certain amenity fees.
The National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF) hosts this event each year and encourage everyone to help celebrate the day in two ways:
- visiting
- volunteering
However, this looks a little different in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. With social distancing requirements still in place, many public lands won’t be able to host the same large, in-person events as before. That said, NEEF is expanding available visiting and volunteering opportunities into the virtual realm.
“More Ways to Connect to Nature”
This is the theme of this year’s National Public Lands Day (NPLD). With that, NEEF has more ways to connect with nature on this day, offering virtual events along with their standard programs. NPLD Site Managers can now host an online event if they’re uncomfortable or unable to host one in-person. Those that wish to host an in-person event can still do so in accordance with local COVID regulations.
With more ways to visit and volunteer comes more ways to connect to nature.
Visit
What better day to explore a new park or forest area than on a fee-free day? Park rangers across the country will be shining their badges and pulling out all the stops to show visitors the best their parks have to offer. From special ranger programs to organized outdoor activities, parks will be offering something for everyone in celebration of this special day.
Pack your camera and hit the trails at Big Bend National Park, Black Canyon of the Gunnison NP, Acadia NP, Glacier NP, Arches NP, Grand Tetons NP, Dry Tortugas NP, and Mammoth Cave NP.
There are plenty of national parks to choose from, but the festivities don’t stop there! Many state and local parks choose to participate — and waive entrance fees — so chances are you don’t have to go far to join in the fun.
Whether packing up the RV to spend the weekend in your favorite NP or packing up a picnic to enjoy with the kids at the neighborhood playground, everyone is encouraged to get out and enjoy public lands. And if you can’t get out and enjoy, we’ve got great news for you — you can stay in and enjoy!
Virtual Visits
As you already know, things are looking a little different this year, but that shouldn’t stop you from celebrating. Take your celebration virtual with NPLD events like:
- virtual tours
- digital citizen science
- volunteer training
- wildlife live streams
- online historical reenactments
The world leaves much to be explored, and if you can explore it from the comfort of your couch, why not?
Volunteer
The main focus of National Public Lands Day is volunteerism, and this year, you can volunteer from the safety of your own home. Anyone with internet access can participate in NEEF’s virtual volunteering.
Last year, over 156,000 volunteers participated at more than 2,000 public land sites across 49 states. From trail building projects to park cleanups, these people did it all. And with virtual volunteering now a viable option this year, who’s to say the impact won’t be even greater?
Virtual Volunteering
Virtual volunteering allows people the option to support public lands without leaving their home or office. With the disruption of the pandemic, it is a great opportunity to still continue to cultivate the community.
Not only can you find events like virtual tours, but some organizations have also launched substantial volunteer programs. If you’re a history enthusiast, you can work with the Smithsonian to create access to historical documents. Avid bird watcher? You can help track bird populations and their migrations. And citizen scientists, you can help count penguins and contribute to other research projects.
Whether you take your volunteer spirit to the public lands or the virtual realm, you’re making a difference. You can find an event near you by searching the NEEF Event Directory or by searching for National Public Lands Day events in your city or state. Or you can organize a local event to improve the grounds of a local school or community park?
Spread the word
Many people have never heard of National Public Lands Day and might miss out on chances to visit and volunteer. Help spread the word by sharing the event with your friends and family, on social media, and by using the hashtag #NPLD in posts about the day.
Public lands are treasures that are easily taken for granted. National Public Lands Day is a chance to show appreciation for how important these areas are and to help ensure that they are preserved for generations to come. Be sure to get out or stay in to visit and volunteer on September 26, and encourage others to do the same.
