NATIONAL PUBLIC LANDS DAY
National Public Lands Day (NPLD) is the nation’s largest, single-day volunteer effort for public lands.
#PublicLandsDay
This fee-free day in many federally managed lands encourages visitors to volunteer conservation or enjoy hiking, exploring, fishing or camping their favorite public lands. Volunteers give back by repairing trails, collecting trash, or other maintenance needed around the parks.
Our public lands offer outdoor and open spaces for us to explore all year long. Every season, they provide a beautiful bounty of wildlife and nature to explore. We hike the trails, camp, and picnic with family and friends. Some of us have lists of places to visit. There are plenty of vistas to discover all across the country.
It’s important to keep them pristine for generations to come. Whether the beach calls or the mountains, each one requires us to take care of it.
HOW TO OBSERVE PUBLIC LANDS DAY
Visit your favorite public land and volunteer. Join an event near you and show your support. We even have a list of the 7 Best Public Lands in the Country for you to check out. While we know there are more, here are a few you might want to explore.
Find out more about how you can participate by visiting neefusa.org and use #NPLD or #PublicLandsDay to post on social media.
NATIONAL PUBLIC LANDS DAY HISTORY
National Public Lands Day began in 1994 and keeps the promise of the Civilian Conservation Corps, the “tree army” that worked from 1933-1942 to preserve and protect America’s natural heritage.
Public Lands FAQ
Q. What are public lands in the United States?
A. In the United States, public lands are areas owned by the government and part of the public domain.
Q. What is an example of a public land?
A. In the United States, public lands include national and state conservation areas, preserves, parks, forests, refuges, monuments, wilderness, historic sites, memorials, battlefields, seashores, trails, rivers, and recreation areas. An example of a public land in the US is Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore in Alger County, Michigan. Another, the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail traverses 16 states and 4,900 miles.
Q. How many acres are public lands in the United States?
A. The U.S. public land system is composed of about 640 million acres.
DATES:
24 September 2022
23 September 2023
28 September 2024
27 September 2025
26 September 2026
25 September 2027
23 September 2028
22 September 2029
28 September 2030
27 September 2031