Free Entrance and Volunteer Event at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore on National Public Lands Day

Date: September 20, 2013

One-third of the land in America is yours – public land where one can hike, bike, climb, hunt, swim, explore, picnic, or just simply relax. National Public Lands Day, September 28, 2013, is an opportunity to enjoy and give something back to those places we love. In recognition of this special day, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore (National Lakeshore) will host a beach cleanup from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. No reservations are needed. Simply meet at the Philip A. Hart Visitor Center in Empire at 12:00 p.m. and help clean up the beach! Join thousands of volunteers across the nation who are taking part in the 20th Annual National Public Lands Day.

Entrance fees at the National Lakeshore will be waived in honor of National Public Lands Day and those who participate in the beach cleanup will earn a coupon for a free one-day entrance to public lands any time before September 27, 2014. For example, perhaps you have plans to take that western vacation next year. If so, the voucher earned for volunteer work could be used to obtain free entrance to a National Park of your choice. For the beach cleanup, please come prepared for the weather. National Park Rangers will provide all necessary tools and equipment.

Anyone planning to spend time in the park beyond September 28 will need to purchase an entrance pass for the remainder of their stay, as the entrance fee is waived for only one day. The fee-free designation applies to entrance fees only and does not affect fees for camping, reservations, tours, or use of concessions. Park fee collection stations will be open and have Annual Passes as well as Interagency Senior and Access Passes available.

For more in-depth information about National Public Lands Day events, please go to www.publiclandsday.org/.