7:00 am to 11:00 pm ET
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Washington, DC 20008-2326
United States
National Public Lands Day is September 26!
Last year, more than 900 events and 55,000 volunteers across all 50 states, DC, and Puerto Rico showed what's possible when communities rally around the lands they love. See what we accomplished together in 2025.
This year, there's even more reason to show up. National Public Lands Day (NPLD) falls during a landmark year as America celebrates its 250th anniversary. What better way to mark the occasion than by giving back to the public lands we all share?
This year's theme, Caring for Our Shared America, is an inspiring call to action for a milestone year.
Whether you're planning your first event or building on years of experience, registration is now open.
NPLD 2026 Theme: Caring for our Shared America
National Public Lands Day celebrates an enduring American commitment to conservation. Our parks, trails, forests, and waterways serve as common ground where we share experiences, build memories, and work side by side.
This year’s NPLD theme, Caring for our Shared America, emphasizes that what we share, we must also care for together. National Public Lands Day is a collective act of care that strengthens our connection to the landscape and to each other. Through service and celebration, we acknowledge our place as custodians of these shared treasures, ensuring the American tradition of public lands endures for those who will inherit them.
As we observe America's 250th anniversary as a Founding Partner of America Gives, we recognize that caring for these spaces strengthens not only the landscape itself, but also the bonds between us as stewards of a shared American story, passed down through generations and carried forward into the future.
Keep Track of your Outcomes
The NPLD event period includes events held within two weeks before and two weeks after September 26. NPLD makes a big impact on our public lands, and every event counts toward that collective impact, so be sure yours is included in the overall numbers.
Use this field survey worksheet to record your outcomes on-site and track your volunteer successes as they happen. Then submit your results using our NPLD Post-Event Survey online. The deadline to complete the post-event survey is two weeks after the fourth Saturday in September.
Official Merchandise Store
NEEF has coordinated National Public Lands Day for over 30 years, working with federal, state, and local partners who share a dedication to public lands. This year, our team designed a line of NPLD tees for the volunteers and land stewards who make it all happen. Pick some up and get ready for the big day.
Register Now for a Skill-Building Webinar
Join us Wednesday, July 15 at 3pm ET for a skill-building webinar on turning volunteers into leaders.
Volunteer leaders multiply your mission in ways that are sustainable, scalable, and rooted in community ownership. This session covers practical strategies for identifying, developing, and deploying them, including how they can:
- Lead project teams and mentor fellow volunteers
- Drive community outreach
- Spearhead events and initiatives
Whether you're just beginning to build a volunteer leadership pipeline or looking to strengthen an existing program, this session will equip you with actionable tools and real-world examples to help your organization do more — with and through the people who care most about your cause.