With Memorial Day in the rearview mirror, summer is officially upon us—and this year, we're celebrating the Summer of Stewardship!
From now through National Public Lands Day in September, there are many opportunities to get involved with stewardship on our nation's public lands, both large and small. Whether you're clearing debris from the creek in your neighborhood or taking part in this year's Yosemite Facelift, you can help take care of our natural resources, protecting them for your benefit today and making sure that they're still thriving for tomorrow's generations. Here are some upcoming events to mark on your summer calendar!
National Trails Day
The first Saturday in June is National Trails Day, organized by the American Hiking Society since 1993. This year carries extra meaning as it marks the Society’s 50th anniversary and falls during America’s 250th celebration. Events include guided hikes and trail cleanups to hands-on stewardship projects on public lands. The US Forest Service is also waiving recreation fees at all national forests and grasslands on June 6. You can find an event here.
Be a good steward: Take the #NationalTrailsDay pledge to leave every trail better than you found it. Pack out what you pack in, report trail damage, and consider bringing someone who has never hiked before.
Great Outdoors Month
June is Great Outdoors Month, a nationwide celebration of America’s public lands, waterways, and natural spaces. It’s the perfect time to try something new outdoors, whether that’s a first hike, a kayak trip, a beach cleanup, or a fishing trip with someone who’s never held a rod before. With school out and summer just getting started, the barrier to getting outside has never been lower.
Why not try fishing for the first time? Early June is one of the best times of year to try fishing, and many states offer free fishing days, a time you don't need a license to fish on a public body of water. Look for your state on this list, and then if you need ideas for places to go, Take Me Fishing has a nationwide map of waterbodies, boat ramps, marinas, and more. Need a refresher on how to bait a line, or the best techniques to nab a salmon? Tips and guides on fishing can be found here.
Be a good steward: You might be thinking, “that all sounds great—but where does the stewardship come in?” Time spent near the water is a great time to employ practices that will discourage the spread of invasive aquatic species—non-native plants and animals that can take over your favorite watering hole, making fishing and boating more difficult, expensive, or even impossible. Check out our infographic on how to make sure you don't have any stowaways on your boat or gear.
Park and Recreation Month
The whole month of July is Park and Recreation Month, a celebration led by the National Recreation and Park Association. Since 1985, Park and Recreation Month has highlighted the role that parks and recreation play in conservation, health and wellness, and social equity efforts.
Chances are, you live near a local park or other recreational facility—three out of every four Americans are within a 10-minute walk of one of these facilities, and on average, visit them twice a month. A park with just one acre of trees—that's less than the size of a football field!—can absorb the same amount of carbon dioxide (a greenhouse gas) as a car driving around 10,000 miles. Parks don't just improve the air—when large storms arrive, the plants and permeable surfaces available in parks can act as a sponge, absorbing some of the incoming water and reducing the impact of flooding in the community.
This year’s theme, “The Power Of,” recognizes the many ways parks and recreation connect communities, support health and well-being, and provide access to nature for everyone. Join the celebration online using the hashtag #ThePowerOf to share why parks matter to you.
Be a good steward: You can help take care of these vital resources by participating in stewardship activities near you! Contact your city or county park agency to learn more about opportunities to volunteer in a nearby park or waterway. There may be a local friends group or environmental club that you can join for an afternoon of service, giving you a chance to meet fellow stewards!
The National Park Service's Birthday (August 25)
August brings us to the 110th birthday of the National Park Service, which is also a fee-free day, meaning entrance fees are waived at all NPS sites. This celebration commemorates the day in 1916 when President Woodrow Wilson signed the act that created the National Park Service, which was charged with overseeing the 35 already established national parks and monuments. Since then, more than 380 units have been added across the country, and NPS now oversees more than 85 million acres of national parks, national historical parks, national monuments, national recreation areas, national battlefields, and national seashores. There's at least one NPS unit in each of the United States! Want to find one near you? Visit Find Your Park to locate a site you're keen on, and then click the link to visit that unit's page.
Be a good steward: You can also find opportunities of all types at volunteer.gov, which can be filtered to only show National Park Service opportunities.
National Public Lands Day (September 26)
Finally, wrap up the summer of stewardship with the nation's largest single day of service for public lands—National Public Lands Day! Join hundreds of thousands of volunteers across America's public lands, from federal, to state, regional, and local sites in volunteering, recreational, educational, and health and wellness focused activities.
Check out the NPLD event map to find a site near you, or contact your favorite park (we're sure you'll have at least one after this summer!) to find out if they're planning to participate if you don't see them on the map.
Be a good steward: Come out to NPLD! Find a project near you on the NPLD event map , or reach out to your favorite park or nature spot directly to ask about participation. And if your organization or land management agency wants to host an event, NEEF can help you get started.
Stewardship and America's 250th
Every volunteer hour you log this summer is part of something bigger. America Gives — the official volunteer initiative of the U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission is tracking service hours nationwide to make 2026 a record-setting year of giving back. NEEF is proud to be a founding partner of this initiative. Add your hours to the national count here.
Stay Connected Year-Round: Get to Know Your Local Friends Group
National days and annual events are a great entry point, but some of the most consistent and impactful stewardship work happens quietly, week after week, through local friends groups. Most national parks, state parks, forests, wildlife refuges, and urban green spaces have a dedicated nonprofit friends group whose members show up regularly to maintain trails, restore habitat, support education programs, raise funds for improvements, and advocate for the park’s long-term health.
Friends groups welcome volunteers at all levels of commitment — whether you want to join a monthly workday or simply stay informed and spread the word. Many host their own seasonal events independent of national awareness days, giving you more chances to give back on your own schedule.
Be a good steward: To find a friends group near you, visit the NPS Directory of Friends groups, the BLM partners page, or the Conservation Lands Foundation. For state parks, check your state agency's website directly and look for a "Friends of" link, or search volunteer.gov by location. Chances are, a community of fellow stewards is already working nearby and would love to have you.
With that, we hope you enjoy a fun Summer of Stewardship—giving back to the shared spaces and places that mean so much to all of us!
Originally published: June 2019 • Updated
