Headline News
Nation's Largest One-Day Volunteer Effort
for Public Lands Set for September 26, 2009
Join a corps of volunteers who will grab shovels, pruning sheers, waders and gloves to help improve the nation’s public lands on Sept. 26, 2009, as part of National Public Lands Day. This annual event is held at more than 2,000 sites across the country, so you should be able to find an event near you.
“Wherever Americans go outdoors to explore, hike, fish, paddle, jog or just enjoy nature, that location is likely to be a candidate for a National Public Lands Day event,” said Robb Hampton, director of National Public Lands Day, a program of the National Environmental Education Foundation. “For 2009, we will have a special focus on the connection water has on our public lands.”
Healthy water resources are vital to public lands, and this year opportunities abound to help protect and preserve America’s outdoors by cleaning up and improving waterways, lakes, ponds, recreation areas and wildlife refuges. Volunteers will walk along the shoreline of their favorite beaches or wade the shallows removing unwanted items that clutter the beauty of our favorite areas. National Public Lands Day is an opportunity to become a scientist for a day, testing for water quality, or planting native vegetation along a river or stream to boost wildlife habitat and prevent soil erosion.
The one-day army of volunteers has an immediate positive impact on public lands. Last year, more than 120,000 volunteers planted an estimated 1.6 million trees, fixed hundreds of miles of hiking trails and removed trash at nearly 1,900 sites. Volunteer efforts totaled an estimated $13 million worth of time and in-kind contributions. This year, the number of sites is expected to grow to more than 2,000 with expected contributions over $14 million.
The nation’s public lands benefit from a great variety of volunteer projects each year. This year organizers are expecting a record number of volunteers participating at events all over the nation. Nonprofit organizations, community groups and land management agencies at the local, county, state and federal levels are among the participants in these activities and events.
“The growth of the program and its impact in beautifying and preserving public lands has been tremendous,” Hampton states. “We’re predicting 2009 will be the biggest National Public Lands Day yet.”
Find a National Public Lands Day site in your area by visiting the National Public Lands Day website and using the zip code locator at www.publiclandsday.org.