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Public Lands Engagement

Public lands provide the perfect place for connecting to and caring for our shared natural resources

Public Lands, Past and Present

The Key Roles of America’s Federal Land Agencies

US federal land agencies' origins and goals differ, each with its own approach to managing the natural...

Honoring the Indigenous Heritage of Public Lands

Think about your favorite national park. Do you know who named it? And do you know what it was called before...

Are We Loving our Public Lands to Death?

Record visitation to America's parks means being a good steward is more important than ever. On November 18...

Woman hiking on large rock in the west
Free Resources
Public Lands Engagement Guides

NEEF's Engagement Guides, developed with the National Park Service and USDA Forest Service, provide strategies for successful events on public lands of all types, covering environmental education, health and wellness, and accessibility.

Getting Outdoors with Friends and Family

Getting outdoors with friends and family deepens social connection and spending time outside has been shown to have numerous physical and mental health benefits, including reducing stress and improving mood.

dogs in national parks
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Golden Retriever or Yellow Lab walking
Spotlight Story

Explore Public Lands with Your Dog During National Pet Month

May is National Pet Month, the perfect excuse to plan a public lands adventure with your dog. But how to prepa...

Take a Hike with Your Kids on National Trails Day

National Trails Day is June 4, and provides the perfect opportunity to go hiking with your family and share...

How To Reduce the Environmental Impact of Your Outdoor Gear

July is National Park and Recreation Month—a time to celebrate the benefits of your local parks and favorite...

Discover a New Trail for National Take a Hike Day

NEEF's Favorite Hikes Bust out your hiking boots—November 17 is National Take a Hike Day! To commemorate the...

Enjoy the Health Benefits of the Outdoors at Any Age

Seniors can benefit from outdoor activity and it doesn't have to be extreme. Participating in a yoga class in...

Fee Free Days Provide Free Admission to National Parks and More

Several federal land management agencies announced fee-free days for 2023, including National Public Lands Day...

National Public Lands Day
Join us for the 30th Annual NPLD

NPLD is the nation's largest single-day volunteer event for public lands and brings out thousands of volunteers to help restore and improve public lands around the country.

a diverse group of volunteers plants a tree seedling
A woman drills a screw into a new boardwalk as part of an employee engagement activity on National Public Lands Day.
Young woman with gloves smiling and removing weeds

Careers on Public Lands

Outdoor careers such as park rangers, landscape architects, and environmental scientists can offer fulfilling work, opportunities for personal growth, and the chance to positively impact the environment.

Explore Outdoor Careers on Public Lands

Is an Outdoor Career for You? If you have a passion for the environment and want to protect it for the next...

It's Raining Math

NEEF reached out to some of the most math-savvy environmental experts we know—meteorologists! They use math to...

How Lorena Williams' Fire Career Took Her to New Heights

We talk to Lorena Williams, a wildland firefighter about her career path and experiences. She gives K-12...

Volunteering, Learning, and Enjoying Public Lands

Spending time together outdoors fosters a sense of community involvement and stewardship towards the environment, while also providing opportunities for personal growth and education through experiential learning.

How to Find Outdoor Volunteer Opportunities

Have some free time this summer? Get outside and volunteer at the national, state, or community park near you...

Tips for Organizing a Beach Clean-Up

Headed to the beach this summer for some sun and surf? Make sure it's a safe, healthy place to visit by...

How to Host a Successful National Public Lands Day Event

Friends of Herring Run Parks shares ten tips to help organizations host a successful National Public Lands Day...

Community Cleanup Activity Guide

This quick how-to guide will get you started with everything you need to conduct a community cleanup to help...

Teacher and students using a tablet
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Announcement on a phone that has a like
There's an app for that

Apps for Environmental Education and Outdoor Activity

Are you looking for more ways to incorporate technology into your classroom? Project Learning Tree&nbsp...

Amplify your Impact with NEEF

Meaningful, lasting change is possible when we work together. NEEF leverages its National Environmental Education Act (NEEA) appropriation to raise public and private matching funds at a ratio of 3:1, creating value and amplifying the impact of our partners

Public Lands for All

At NEEF, we partner with public lands groups, environmental organizations, local communities, and others who share our mission of making the environment more accessible and enjoyable for everyone.

Showing Pride in our National Parks

In April of 2019, Mikah Meyer became the first person to experience all 419 US National Park Service sites in...

Nature for All: Engaging Underrepresented Communities in the Outdoors

In an effort to diversify the types of audiences engaged during the annual National Public Lands Day...

Increasing Accessibility Makes the Outdoors Open for All

July 26 marks the 31st anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a civil rights law that...

A Guide to Indigenous Land Acknowledgment

Land acknowledgment is a simple, powerful way of showing respect and a step toward correcting the stories and...

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