National Public Lands Day Stewardship Event at Ozark National Scenic Riverways

Date: September 9, 2016
Contact: Dena Matteson, 573-323-4814

EMINENCE, MO –On Saturday, September 24, volunteers across the country will visit their favorite parks, rivers, wildlife preserves, or forests to give back to the treasured lands where we play, learn, and relax. Ozark National Scenic Riverways will celebrate National Public Lands Day –the nation's largest, single-day volunteer effort for public lands - with an outdoor stewardship event at Round Spring from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Interested volunteers can join National Park Service staff to assist with trail maintenance, litter collection, river cleanup and minor campground maintenance.

Participants should meet at the Round Spring Campground Amphitheater at 10 a.m. for orientation and to select a project. A brief program will be provided by National Park Service Rangers and representatives from state organizations. Volunteers are encouraged to bring work gloves and a sack lunch, and to wear appropriate clothing and footwear. On Saturday evening at 6 p.m. participants will gather at the Round Spring picnic pavilion for a reception to recognize and appreciate their service for National Public Lands Day. This activity will be a great opportunity for service projects by outdoor clubs and students interested in careers with parks and conservation agencies. Free camping in the Round Spring Campground will be available for all participating groups. The Round Spring Campground is located 12 miles north of Eminence, Missouri, on State Highway 19. 

"I'm pleased that Ozark National Scenic Riverways is participating in this nationwide celebration of our national public lands," stated Larry Johnson, Superintendent. "During the Centennial anniversary of the National Park Service, we are excited to help people connect with the places they love through personal stewardship activities." For more information about National Public Lands Day at Ozark Riverways, contact Ranger Dave Tobey at [phone] or [e-mail]. 

For more information about National Public Lands Day nationwide or to find a volunteer site, go to: www.publiclandsday.org. 

This program is part of a series of activities and events planned at Ozark National Scenic Riverways throughout 2016 to celebrate the centennial of the National Park Service. We invite you to find your park and discover new activities and adventures in your own backyard! 

For more information about the Ozark National Scenic Riverways and upcoming centennial programs, call [phone] from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.;visit the park's Facebook page, or website at www.nps.gov/ozar. 

Ozark National Scenic Riverways preserves the free-flowing Current and Jacks Fork Rivers, the surrounding resources, and the unique cultural heritage of the Ozark people.

-NPS-

About the National Park Service. More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America's 413 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Visit us at www.nps.gov, on Facebook www.facebook.com/nationalparkservice, Twitter www.twitter.com/natlparkservice, and YouTubewww.youtube.com/nationalparkservice.