Volunteers help clean a trail at Amistad National Recreation Area. Photo by NP
Saturday, Sept. 28 is a special day when it comes to our National Parks and if you volunteer your time, you will walk away with a free park pass for any day of the year.
The event? National Public Lands Day. This is the largest single-day environmental volunteer program in the nation.
This is a day to appreciate the magnitude of the public lands in America. These are not only lands managed by the National Park Service but also the US Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Environmental Protection Agency, US Army Corps of Engineers and US Fish and Wildlife Service.
The National Park Service alone oversees more than 85 million across in all 50 states, plus American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.
To celebrate this day, all national parks and sites will offer free admission.
But there is more to this celebration than a free pass.
National Public Lands Day attracts massive number of volunteers
Volunteers plant native species at Mount Rainier National Park. Photo by NP
An estimated 100,000 people are expected to show up and volunteer to spruce up our public lands. They will participate in thousands of events nationwide to build trails, clean waterways, remove exotic species, restore national landscapes and basically give land owned by all citizens a major makeover.
"It is always energizing to see people, parks, and communities unite in support of public lands," said National Park Service Deputy Director P. Daniel Smith. "The variety of activities planned in national parks on National Public Lands Day will bring people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds together to help raise awareness of these special places and foster personal connections to public lands."
Volunteers who participate in the cleanup will receive a voucher for a free pass to a national park to be used at a later date.
National Public Lands Day (this is the 26th) is organized by the National Environmental Education Foundation. The foundation focuses on "lifelong environmental learning" and was chartered by Congress in 1990 as a non-profit organization to work with the US Environmental Protection Agency.
Their mission: "To make the environment more accessible, relatable, relevant and connected to the daily lives of all Americans."
Corporations contribute to clean-up
There are an estimated 2,500 events scheduled at national parks, state parks and other areas in 49 states.
One of the more unique events will take place at Yosemite National Park. There climbers will rappel to different sections of El Capitan and Mount Watkins to remove trash and debris left on ledges.
At the El Yunque National Forest in Puerto Rico, the only tropical rain forest in the national system, volunteers will refurbish the El Toro Trail damaged by hurricanes Irma and Maria.
In other parks citizens will restore dunes, refurbish trails, plant trees, rake, shovel and fill trash receptacles.
Various corporations will get involved in the big event as well.
Toyota plans to donate $200,000 to help restore biodiversity and protect habitats across the National Capital Region which includes parts of Washington, DC, Maryland and Virginia.
North Face and Black Diamond clothing companies will team up with the Yosemite Climbing Stewards and Climbing Management Team to assist with their cleanup efforts.
Visit the NEEF website to find events near you. All you have to do is enter your zip code and a list of events nearby will appear.
Every year, all those helping hands make a big difference in protecting our lands. It is estimated their maintenance and restoration efforts amount to $11 million worth of services.
"Volunteers are absolutely vital to parks across the country," said NEEF President and CEO Meri-Margaret Deoudes. "National Public Lands Day connects people to nature through service. It is the perfect opportunity to care for our public lands while spending time with family and friends taking advantage of all the benefits that come from spending time outdoors."