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Mark your calendars! Saturday, September 24, 2011, is National Public Lands Day! What could that mean for you? Free entrance into Big Bend National Park, a chance to join with others to support public lands, and have a fun-filled weekend! National Public Lands Day is born out of a commitment to protect and preserve our natural treasures. It is an opportunity for all Americans to celebrate the majesty of our open spaces and contribute a direct effort in the work of conserving our public lands. In the 18th year of this event more than 175,000 Americans will pitch in for National Public Lands Day 2011 at more than 2,000 sites nation-wide. In celebration, the National Park Service has designated September 24, 2011,as a fee-free day, allowing all visitors to Big Bend National Park, or any national park, to enter for free. Big Bend National Parkwill host a special volunteer project on September 24 to help with grasslands restoration. We will continue work that was performed this summer in a fuel reduction project to protect park facilities in the event of a wild fire. The brush from this project is now being recycled in a long-term effort to help control erosion and re-establish grasses in historically heavily impacted areas. We need your help; there is a lot of brush to spread over a large area. This brush will keep the native grass seed from washing away and serve as a bit of shade to allow these seedlings to become established. It will be very rewarding to watch your grasses over the coming years. The project is free and open to the public. Please call Jane Brown or Natasha Moore at 432-477-1196 or e-mail e-mail us for more information and to reserve your spot. National Public Lands Day is sponsored by the National Environmental Education Foundation. For other information and events check out their website at http://www.publiclandsday.org/. |
Last updated: February 24, 2015