News Release
NPS
News Release Date: September 22, 2022
Contact: NewsMedia@nps.gov
WASHINGTON – Thousands of people will celebrate National Public Lands Day (NPLD) in national parks on September 24. All national parks will be free to enter and a range of programs, activities and volunteer work projects will promote shared stewardship of public lands.
“Each of us has an obligation to care for the land,” said National Park Service Director Chuck Sams. “The variety of NPLD events offered encourage people of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds to come together to advance the care and appreciation of public lands. It is energizing to see people unite in action to support and improve these green spaces that are vital to our personal and collective wellbeing.”
Organized by the National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF) and held annually on the fourth Saturday of September, NPLD is the nation's largest single-day environmental volunteer effort. More than 100,000 people are expected to participate in thousands of events hosted by local, state, and national parks across the country.
In national parks, there are more than 100 volunteer projects scheduled. They include coastal and river cleanups, trail restoration, invasive plant eradication, native seed planting, campground, and picnic area improvements, and graffiti removal. Please visit NPS.gov for more details. Volunteers who participate in work projects will receive a voucher for free entrance to a national park on a day of their choosing.
Last year on NPLD, nearly 10,000 people volunteered in national parks, contributing nearly 40,000 hours of service valued at $1.1 million. Their accomplishments included restoring nine miles of trails, collecting 1,000 pounds of trash, planting 500 plants or trees, and repairing 10 buildings.
NPLD is coordinated by NEEF in partnership with seven federal agencies and dozens of nonprofit organizations and state, regional, and local governments. The federal partners within the Department of the Interior are the National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The Department of Defense, Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the U.S. Forest Service are also partners.
About the National Park Service. More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America's 423 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Learn more at www.nps.gov, and on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.
Last updated: September 22, 2022