NPLD Site Manager Guide: Promoting
Setting the Stage
Before promoting your event and recruiting volunteers, determine the following answers with the event planning committee:
- How many volunteers can your site accommodate? Consider the limiting factors of parking, tool availability, amount of work, restroom quantity, and adequate square footage at worksite and registration area.
- Determine the number of volunteers needed by first estimating the number of work hours needed (usually slightly more than if professional staff or contractors completed the task) and divide that by the number of hours volunteers will be working during the event. Set your recruitment limit higher than the number of volunteers needed to accommodate for no-shows. The show rate will be specific to your location and depends on date, weather, the number of returning volunteers you expect, and more.
- How will volunteers sign-up for your event?
- Will you accept walk-ins on the day of the event?
- What paperwork is required? Will volunteers acknowledge and sign paperwork onsite or during the registration process?
- Is there a minimum age for your volunteers? NEEF recommends choosing more family-friendly projects for NPLD that can be made safe for all ages with parental supervision and staff assistance!
Most sites have found that pre-registration of volunteers prevents having too many people show up on the day of the event, leaving them with nothing to do. Pre-registration also allows you to collect names and emails of volunteers before the event, which streamlines event check-in, allows for pre-event reminder emails, and expands your email database for future recruitment. However, if you have the staff to also accommodate walk-ins, it can be a great way to improve the accessibility of the event.
With these questions answered, your event planning team have put together the essential framework for the day. You are now ready to post the event and begin creating promotional materials.
With the event details prepared, create an account or sign in to a prior account at https://neefusa.org/npld. Register the event is an important step to expand your reach, ensure your event is considered for potential support, and have your event counted in the national impact report.
This helpful video guide describes event registration:
Consider whether you will post the event on additional websites such as volunteer or event hubs in your area or national volunteer webpages. For federal agencies, consider posting on Volunteer.gov in addition to the NEEF map. Check with agency guidance to ensure your event is logged in all the right places.
Preparing Recruitment Materials
NEEF provides a promotional toolkit to help you brand your event, get a head start on writing social media content, learn about press outreach, and more.
NPLD Promotional Toolkit for Site Managers
Once you have registered your NPLD event on NEEF’s interactive map, it is time to start promoting your event and recruiting volunteers! The NPLD Promotional Toolkit for Site Managers contains materials, tools, and resources to help spread the word, recruit community volunteers, and engage local media.
NPLD Promotional Toolkit for Site Managers contains the following:
- NPLD Logos
Downloadable versions of the official NPLD logo to help promote volunteer efforts. The NPLD logo is available in multiple formats and colors. - Social Media Tools
Sample language for promoting NPLD events through social media channels. - Stay Connected
A list of official NPLD social media channels to provide up-to-date information about all things related to NPLD. - Media Outreach Tools
Tools and resources to assist you with contacting local media outlets about your event.
NPLD Promotional Toolkit for Volunteers
Create opportunities for volunteers to share their experience at your NPLD events by giving them the tools to do so—this includes social media hashtags (#NPLD), on-site signage, and photo opportunities.
By encouraging social media participation through these methods, NPLD volunteers are more likely to engage with each other during the event and to encourage further online interactions sparked by follows, likes, shares, and reposting. This will also help NPLD volunteers connect with fellow event participants, while simultaneously increasing your online presence!
NPLD Promotional Toolkit for Volunteers contains the following:
- Stay Connected
List of official NPLD social media channels to help keep you up-to-date about all things related to NPLD. - Promotional Tools
Fun and interactive tools to help volunteers share their NPLD experience through social media channels. - Proclaim the Day
Tools to help participants secure mayoral and gubernatorial proclamations designated support for NPLD in their city or state.
Reaching New Volunteers
After you’ve outlined your event, posted it on the map, and created your promotional materials, it is time to recruit!
Groups that Provide Volunteers for National Public Lands Day May Include:
- Civic Groups
- Schools and universities
- High school environmental or science clubs
- Local religious groups
- Staffs of elected officials
- Local conservation and fishing/ hunting organizations
- Local businesses such as hotels or utility companies (some employers emphasize volunteer activities and will help recruit volunteers)
Locations to Consider Posting a Flyer:
- Coffeeshops
- Grocery stores
- Local shops and businesses
- Laundromats
- Community Centers or gym message boards
- Neighborhood civic association Facebook groups or NextDoor pages
Note: It is best practice is to share the flyer with the staff or manager before posting a physical flyer. For digital media, we recommend leveraging staff and volunteer contacts so that the information comes from a trusted member.
Deputize Existing Volunteers: Leverage the volunteer promotional toolkit to empower existing volunteers to help recruit volunteers. A social media post, sharing the event to their social media profile, or sending out a few recruitment texts to friends can be perfect ways to engage your existing volunteers in event recruitment. You can also ask existing volunteers to post flyers in their neighborhood’s gathering places.
NPLD Volunteer Fee-Free Coupons
Participating federal land management agencies (Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, US Fish & Wildlife Service, US Forest Service, US Army Corps of Engineers, and Department of Defense), in conjunction with the National Environmental Education Foundation, will present “Fee-Free coupons” to NPLD volunteers in recognition of their invaluable service to our nation’s public lands. Each coupon will entitle the recipient and their family or vehicle companions to one “fee-free” day at any participating federal recreation or visitor site within one calendar year (9/27/2025 – 9/26/2026).
Coupons will be issued to volunteers 16 years of age or older participating in a registered NPLD event. Federal Site Managers should print the volunteer’s name on the coupon and inform them that the coupon is valid for use at any of the participating agencies’ recreation fee sites. If the volunteer intends to use the coupon at an unstaffed US Forest Service recreation fee site (e.g., trailhead, day-use site), the volunteer should use the coupon as one would cash, and exchange it for a daily pass using the established self-registration process at the site. If there is no alternative, the volunteer may fill in the date and place the coupon on the dashboard of their vehicle. The coupons are non-transferable and, if lost, will not be replaced.
Coupon Distribution and Presentation
Coupons will be distributed directly to federal Site Managers by NEEF. Site Managers should note in their records the number of coupons received, as well as the number distributed to NPLD volunteers.
The coupon supply must be requested and managed by a federal NPLD Site Manager or their designee, as non-monetary recognition items must be accurately accounted for and secured. After completion of an NPLD event, any surplus fee-free coupons should be shredded and disposed of properly.
Coupon Redemption
At the time of redemption, the holder of the coupon must surrender it to the appropriate recreation or visitor site staff member, who must then record it as “one coupon redeemed.”
Note: This opportunity is ONLY available to NPLD Site Managers hosting service events on participating federal public lands.
QUESTIONS?
For questions regarding the NPLD volunteer coupons please contact our team at npld@neefusa.org.
Want to Learn More about NPLD Event Promotion?
In this webinar hear from our expert partners from the American Hiking Society, National Park Service, and Riveter Communications. Our panel shares tips and best practices to understand the most effective promotional channels, attract many types of audiences, and drive your NPLD event registration.