SOUTHERN UTAH — Offering a day to either play or give back to the country’s public lands, the National Environmental Education Foundation is holding its 23rd annual National Public Lands Day. In an effort to encourage community involvement in and stewardship of public lands, the event includes free entrance Saturday to thousands of parks in the United States.
The fee-free day is open to everyone, whether for recreation or volunteer work. Sites include national parks and forests, wildlife refuges, historic sites, state parks and local and regional parks and gardens.
Volunteers can help with any variety of projects, from tree planting and trail maintenance to trash removal and bird or bat house construction.
Volunteers will receive a voucher for one free day at any federally managed park.
Several projects specific to southern Utah public lands are planned.
Volunteers in Kanab are planning to meet at Jacob Hamblin Park at 8 a.m. for trail reconstruction and Ponderosa Grove Campground repairs.
Three Peaks Recreation Area will host a variety of service projects at the Mountain Bike Trailhead. Volunteers will meet at 8 a.m. to help with clean up, trail signing, trail building and repairs.
Opportunities to serve will also be available at Cedar Breaks National Monument.
To find a volunteer event near you, visit the National Environmental Education Foundation website.
In 2015, approximately 200,000 volunteers worked over 2,520 sites spanning every state.
Participating federal agencies include the Bureau of Land Management, Department of Defense, the Environmental Protection Agency, National Park Service, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the USDA Forest Service. Many sites managed at the state and city level will also participate.
Event details
- What: 23rd annual National Public Lands Day.
- When: Saturday, Sept. 24.
- Where: National parks and forests, wildlife refuges, historic sites, state parks and local and regional parks and gardens.
- Cost: Free.
- Resources: National Environmental Education Foundation website.
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