Last updated: January 31, 2023
Article
Celebrating a Successful 2022 National Public Lands Day
NPS/Celeste Morales
National Public Lands Day is the nation's largest single-day volunteer event for public lands. 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.
This year the National Park Service, in partnership with the National Environmental Education Foundation, built on the theme of ‘Giving Back Together with over 100 national park sites hosting a volunteer project.
On National Public Lands Day, hundreds of thousands of volunteers roll up their sleeves to help restore and preserve public lands of all types and sizes—from iconic national parks and rivers to local urban green spaces and everything in between.
Read on about three volunteer projects that demonstrate the impact of National Public Lands Day across the country. All three events were supported by interns in the Community Volunteer Ambassador program.
Mississippi National River and Recreation Area
Written by: Erika Van Krevelen, Community Volunteer Ambassador
NPS/Erika Van Krevelen
Donning fall jackets and knit caps, 40 volunteers gathered on a cool Saturday morning to celebrate National Public Lands Day with the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area alongside park partner Mississippi Park Connection. This river park, which stretches 72 miles through the Minneapolis/St. Paul metropolitan area, provides an oasis for wildlife and humans alike. The park’s forests, however, face multiple pressures from climate change and introduced species like buckthorn and the emerald ash borer, making this tree planting event not only a celebration of our public lands, but also an investment in our future forests.
Volunteers paired up to plant, stake, and tube trees and shrubs of nearly 10 different species, from red-osier dogwoods to redbuds, hawthorns to hackberries. The plants were bare root, a type of tree stock with exposed roots that require special planting instruction. Several crew leaders—who brought with them decades of collective National Park Service volunteer experience—were on hand to help guide veteran volunteers and newcomers alike.
“This has been a very welcoming and encouraging environment for someone with little restoration experience like myself. I learned how to plant a bare root tree!” shared first-time National Public Lands Day volunteer MacKenzie. “I’ll be back again next year.”
By the end of the event, 151 newly planted trees and shrubs graced the wooded landscape. Introducing this diversity strengthens the forest ecosystem, creating a resilient network that will provide myriad benefits like soil stabilization, wildlife habitat, and a shady spot from which visitors can enjoy views of the Mississippi River for years to come.
Catoctin Mountain Park
Written by: Rachel Henson, Community Volunteer Ambassador
NPS/Rachel Henson
Catoctin Mountain Park hosted the annual National Public Lands Day event at Owens Creek Picnic Area on Saturday, September 24th. More than 20 volunteers donated their time assisting to restore this picnic area for all to enjoy.
A Catoctin Mountain Park Volunteer, Katrinka, expressed her thoughts, "I participated in the National Public Lands Day activities at Catoctin Mountain Park. It was a fun day—pulling invasive stilt grass and brushing closed some “not sanctioned” and not wanted social trails. Others mulched trails connecting the various picnic tables and main trail through the area, and cleaned out a culvert that was filled with vegetation and other natural debris. The best part was meeting all the hard-working folks who volunteered to help clean up the Owens Creek Picnic Area. It looked great in a short period of time!”. Everyone who participated in the event assisted in preserving the park's natural resources for
current and future visitors.
Muir Woods National Monument
Written by: Celeste Morales, Community Volunteer Ambassador
NPS/Celeste Morales
What a “flossome” National Public Lands Day it was a Muir Woods National Monument! Volunteers from across the Bay Area gathered to improve the boardwalk that meanders through Muir Woods by “flossing” the deck, meaning volunteers cleared out the organic debris that settled into the grooves of the boardwalk. Flossing a boardwalk helps to maintain the life of the walkway so that visitors can continue to enjoy strolling through the woods for years to come.
Muir Woods has incorporated accessibility within nature, without significant impact to the environment. The raised accessible boardwalk trails weaves between the giant redwood's roots. Redwood roots only go down 10–13 feet but extend sideways up to 100 feet. Redwoods interlace their wide root systems with the roots of other redwoods. With time and weathering, the raised accessible boardwalk on the Muir Woods Main Trail can become damaged if not serviced, as several potholes and cracks will begin to appear due to tree root. Volunteers that participate at this year National Public Lands Day helped maintain the boardwalk, and in doing so, provided opportunities for everyone to explore the last old growth coast redwoods.
Left image
Before Volunteer Service at Muir Woods National Monument.
Credit: NPS/Celeste Morales
Right image
After Volunteer Service at Muir Woods National Monument.
Thank you to all who rolled up their sleeves to help restore and preserve public lands of all types and sizes.
Become a volunteer:
You can make our great places better. Become a VIP and volunteer with us today!
The National Park Service offers many volunteer opportunities for individuals and groups as part of the Volunteers-In-Parks program. Work behind the scenes or on the front line in positions ranging from a one-time service project or volunteer event to a longer-term position, serving alongside park employees or with one of our many partner organizations. Opportunities are available at park locations throughout the United States, including the territories in the Pacific and the Caribbean.
Some positions require specialized talents, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as a background check. Other positions only require a desire and willingness to volunteer.
Find a list of available opportunities at Volunteer.gov, search for a volunteer event, or contact a national park near you.
