Conservation
National Public Lands Day
Connecting Communities to Public Lands Through Service and Learning
Get Ready for National Public Lands Day 2026!
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.
Now it's time to start thinking about what YOU will do this year. This September 26th, National Public Lands Day is part of 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. Whether you're planning your first event or building on years of experience, start mapping out how you'll make your mark. The official launch is coming soon and we can't wait to see what this year brings!
Host an NPLD Event
Register your event, sign into your account, and find tools to organize and promote it.
What is National Public Lands Day?
National Public Lands Day (NPLD) is the nation’s largest single-day volunteer event for public lands, held each year on the fourth Saturday in September.
For more than three decades, NPLD has helped make public lands more accessible to communities nationwide through service and celebration. Coordinated by the National Environmental Education Foundation, NPLD brings together thousands of volunteers—individuals, families, organizations, and agencies—to care for and celebrate America’s public lands through volunteer and community events.
Public lands include national parks, forests, monuments, wildlife refuges, grasslands, marine sanctuaries, lakes, and state, county, and city parks—spaces managed by public agencies or nonprofits and open to all.
As the national coordinator of NPLD, NEEF supports land managers and community organizers by offering:
- Training and tools for volunteer coordination
- Event planning resources
- Grant opportunities
- An online platform to register and promote events
- Distribution of Fee-Free Day coupons for participating federal agency sites
- National impact reporting to highlight collective achievements
NPLD is a day of service as well as an opportunity to give back, build community, and enjoy the public lands that support our health, environment, and well-being.
NEEF and America 250 Unite Volunteers to Care for Public Lands
NEEF is a founding partner of America 250, helping turn the nation’s 250th anniversary into a moment of shared service. Through National Public Lands Day and the America Gives campaign, people across the country can take part by caring for the public lands we all share.
NPLD Event Planning Resources
NPLD Site Manager Guide
This guide supports new and returning site managers in planning and executing successful NPLD events.
National Public Lands Day Site Managers
Register your NPLD event, manage your account, and access tools to organize and promote.
Risk Ready for Outdoor Events
Smart strategies to help volunteer organizers handle safety concerns before they arise.
Día Nacional de Tierras Públicas
El Día Nacional de Tierras Públicas de la Fundación Nacional de Educación Ambiental (NEEF) es el mayor evento...
Public Lands Engagement Guides
NEEF's engagement guides cover key strategies for planning and executing successful environmental education...
Innovative, Low-cost Ways to Maximize Your NPLD Event
Watch an engaging webinar with tips to multiply your resources for hosting a National Public Land Day event.
More Than a Clean Up: Adding Variety to Your NPLD Event
In this webinar, you'll get tips on how to incorporate other stewardship activities into your NPLD event -...
Inspiring Environmental Connection in Youth through Outdoor Exploration and Service
This webinar offers valuable insights on hosting impactful National Public Lands Day events for youth. It...
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...
NPLD Promotional Toolkit
We help you spread the word to draw in volunteers of all ages from your community and engage your local media.
NPLD Educational Activities
NPLD iNaturalist Project
Take part in NEEF's NPLD BioBlitz with the iNaturalist app at your NPLD event.
Outdoor Discoveries: Environmental Education Activities for Volunteer Events
This guide is designed to help you lead environmental education activities that not only enrich our natural...
What is Biodiversity? Activity Guide
This activity guide teaches students about the important role biodiversity plays in the well-being of people...
Where service meets celebration
From majestic mountains to sprawling forests, public lands provide a chance for us to connect with nature, explore our country's rich history, and enjoy endless recreational and educational opportunities. By hosting an NPLD volunteer event, you'll be joining a nationwide effort to preserve and protect our natural spaces ensuring that they remain a vital part of our communities.
NEEF and the USDA Forest Service celebrated National Public Lands Day at the United States Arboretum in Washington, DC.
NEEF joined National Park Service Director Chuck Sams III, NPS staff, and local volunteers for an NPLD Signature Event at Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee.
history of Npld & impact in the last decade
The inaugural National Public Lands Day, originally known as "Public Lands Appreciation Day," took place on July 30, 1994...Read more about the history of National Public Lands Day.
impact on national Public Lands Day
Established in 1994 and held annually on the fourth Saturday in September, this celebration brings out thousands of volunteers to help restore and improve public lands around the country.
In addition to providing support to NPLD event organizers, NEEF conducts surveys and compiles post-event data, resulting in valuable metrics and nationwide impact figures that demonstrate the positive results of NPLD.
On Saturday, September 27, 2025, people across the country—and the globe— joined together to restore and improve America’s public lands as part of the 32nd annual National Public Lands Day (NPLD). More than 55,000 volunteers took part in over 900 NPLD events across all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. State, city, and county parks and preserves showcased the value of community conservation and enjoyment of local public lands close to home.
NPLD Stories
How Lindsay Cordero Brings America’s Public Lands to Life Through Her Art
US Air Force veteran and artist Lindsay Cordero shared how growing up in a military family and her travels...
North America’s Oldest Botanic Garden Will Host Signature Event for 2025 National Public Lands Day
The 2025 National Public Lands Day Signature Event will take place at historic Bartram’s Garden in...
Nature Lovers Say “I Do” to a Wedding on National Public Lands Day
A Virginia couple took their love of volunteering on public lands to the next level by getting married on...
Who participates in NPLD? What do volunteers do? These questions and more are answered.
National Public Lands Federal Partners
Stay Updated
Sign up for our email alerts to stay up to date on National Public Lands Day deadlines and be the first to know about new resources.
invest in public lands
Every September, tens of thousands of volunteers show up for America's public lands. Your sponsorship helps make that happen and demonstrates your organization's commitment to the places and communities that matter most.
Become an Employee Engagement Sponsor
Give your team a hands-on day of service tied directly to your CSR goals.
Become an NPLD Sponsor
Power the nation's largest single-day public lands volunteer event and inspire thousands to get involved.
Make a Donation
Can't give your time? Give your support. Every dollar helps put volunteers on public lands.