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What is National Public Lands Day?

National Public Lands Day (NPLD) is the nation's largest, single-day volunteer event for public lands in the United States. In 2012, NPLD will be held on September 29, 2012. Registration for 2012 will be open soon. 

NPLD began in 1994 with three sites and 700 volunteers. It proved to be a huge success and NPLD became a yearly tradition, typically held on the last Saturday in September.  Since the first NPLD, the event has grown by leaps and bounds. 

In 2011, 180,000 volunteers worked at over 2,060 sites in every state, the District of Columbia and in many U.S. territories. NPLD volunteers:

• Removed an estimated 500 tons of trash
• Collected an estimated 23,000 pounds of invasive plants
• Built and maintained an estimated 1,500 miles of trails
• Planted an estimated 100,000 trees, shrubs and other native plants
• Contributed an estimated $17 million to improve public lands across the country

Eight federal agencies, nonprofits and state, regional and local governments participate in the annual day of caring for shared lands.

National Public Lands Day keeps the promise of the Civilian Conservation Corps, the "tree army" that worked from 1933-1942 to preserve and protect America's natural heritage. 

Why is National Public Lands Day Important?

• NPLD educates Americans about critical environmental and natural resource issues and the need for shared stewardship of these valued, irreplaceable lands;
• NPLD builds partnerships between the public sector and the local community based upon mutual interests in the enhancement and restoration of America's public lands; and
• NPLD improves public lands for outdoor recreation, with volunteers assisting land managers in hands-on work.

Interested in National Public Lands Day?  Contact the staff.