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National Volunteer Week honors the individuals who dedicate themselves to taking action and solving problems in their communities. For 2024, National Volunteer Week was observed from Sunday, April 21 through Saturday, April 27. National Park Week is an annual week for celebration and recognition of your National Parks. National Park Week usually coincides with Earth Day (April 22). For 2024, National Park Week was observed from Saturday, April 20 through Sunday, April 28. Earth Day began when a U.S. Senator from Wisconsin, Gaylord Nelson, called for an environmental teach-in in 1969, which was inspired by the teach-ins dealing with the Vietnam War. The first Earth Day was held on April 22, 1970, and drew an estimated 20 million participants. Tens of thousands of people filled New York's Fifth Avenue, Congress adjourned so members could speak across the nation, and at least 2,000 colleges marked the occasion. American Heritage Magazine called the first Earth Day "one of the most remarkable happenings in the history of democracy." Today, Earth Day is celebrated in 174 countries by over a half billion people, making it the most celebrated secular holiday in the world, a day on which people get outdoors, plant trees, clean up trash and lobby for the environment. Your National Parks are living examples of the best this Nation has to offer-our magnificent natural landscapes and our varied yet interrelated heritage. Parks can provide recreational experiences, opportunities to learn and grow, and places of quiet refuge. This year, take a moment, an hour, a day to visit the national parks near you. For a listing of events to be held throughout the National Park Service, visit the official National Volunteer Week and National Park Week pages. While entrance to Point Reyes National Seashore is always free, the opening day of National Park Week—April 20, 2024—entrance to all National Park Service sites was free. The National Park Service also offers a number of other fee-free days throughout the year. 
Beach Cleanup at Drakes BeachDate: Saturday, April 27, 2024 With the elephant seal breeding season being over, volunteers helped to clean-up litter that has washed up on shore over the winter season. Volunteers also learned about the importance of proper waste management and became familiar with diverse wildlife that relies on a healthy shoreline to thrive! The park and PRNSA provided all the trash pick-up tools, but participants were encouraged to bring their own water bottle and snacks and, since the weather in Point Reyes can quickly change throughout the day, to be sure to bring layers and wear closed-toe shoes. This event was open to everyone and no advance registration is required. |
Last updated: April 28, 2024