National Public Lands Day

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– Date
– 4th Saturday in September
– 2023: September 23
– 2024: September 28
– 2025: September 27
– 2026: September 26

– Frequency
– Annual
– Signature event of the National Environmental Education Foundation
– First celebrated in 1994
– 170,000 volunteers at 2,000 sites in 2010
– Fee-free day at many federally managed lands

– Participation Growth
– Launched by three federal agencies and 700 volunteers
– Grew to 170,000 volunteers by 2010
– Held at over 2,000 sites across the U.S.
– Participants receive coupons for free entry
– Promotes volunteer conservation of public lands

– Initiatives
– 2008: Planting one million trees
– Honoring the 75th anniversary of the Civilian Conservation Corps
– Popular enjoyment and volunteer conservation promoted
– Encourages volunteerism for public land health
– Celebrated at public lands, parks, and historic sites

– References
– National Public Lands Day. NEEFusa.org
– Helping Hands for Americas Lands. Bureau of Land Management
– Civilian Conservation Corps. PublicLandsDay.org
– Wikimedia Commons has media related to National Public Lands Day.

National Public Lands Day (NPLD) is celebrated annually at public lands in the United States on the fourth Saturday of September. A signature event of the National Environmental Education Foundation, it promotes both popular enjoyment and volunteer conservation of public lands.

National Public Lands Day
Observed byPublic lands at the federal, state, regional and local level within the United States, the District of Columbia and territories of the United States
CelebrationsVolunteer to improve the health of public lands, parks and historic sites.
Date4th Saturday in September
2023 dateSeptember 23  (2023-09-23)
2024 dateSeptember 28  (2024-09-28)
2025 dateSeptember 27  (2025-09-27)
2026 dateSeptember 26  (2026-09-26)
FrequencyAnnual
Volunteers collecting trash for National Public Lands Day 2014

Three federal agencies and 700 volunteers launched the first National Public Lands Day in 1994. By 2010, participation grew to 170,000 volunteers at over 2,000 sites across the country, the District of Columbia and U.S. territories. In addition to National Public Lands Day being a fee-free day (free entry day) at many federally managed lands, volunteers who participate at federal land sites are rewarded with coupons for free entry into their favorite federal public land areas that have entrance fees.

National Public Lands Day 2017

The 2008 event featured an initiative to plant one million trees in honor of the 75th anniversary of the Civilian Conservation Corps.

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