National Public Lands Day

National Public Lands Day: Connecting to Nature through Service 

National Public Lands Day is the largest single-day volunteer effort for America’s public lands. It is also a free entrance day for most national parks, monuments, recreation areas and other participating federal sites.

Each year, hundreds of thousands of volunteers come together on the fourth Saturday in September to assist with various projects designed to restore and enhance public parks, forests, waterways and more. From trail maintenance to tree planting—volunteers of all ages and abilities roll up their sleeves and work side-by-side to care for public lands. The day also features a variety of hikes, bike rides, community festivals, paddling excursions, and other fun outdoor activities—all set on the backdrop of the country’s public lands and waterways.

America’s public lands aren’t the only ones that benefits from National Public Lands Day. Nature offers one of the most reliable boosts to mental and physical well-being. Spending time in the outdoors has been found to improve short-term memory, concentration and creativity—while reducing the effects of stress and anxiety. Volunteering on NPLD is a great opportunity to spend time with family and friends and enjoy the many benefits that come from connecting with nature.

NPLD 2019 took place on September, 28, and brought together over 150,000 volunteers. Check out the video below for highlights from this year's signature site.