National Public Land Day September 26 2022- Updated

National Public Land Day is coming, September 26, 2022. This year’s theme is “More Ways to Connect with Nature.” While there are some additional considerations to make this year around security, there are still a number of personal events across the country.

For more information on events near you, visit https://www.neefusa.org/event-locator

Since 1994, National Public Land Day has brought together communities, state and local governments, agencies, and organizations to learn about, provide services, and play on public lands. This fourth Saturday of September takes place this learning and volunteering day, one of the largest one-day volunteer efforts in the country. In 2019, 156,000 volunteers went out to 2,100 sites to volunteer 624,000 hours of their time on public land, an estimated value of $ 15.9 million. We hope you help us make this year even better.

Although this year it may be difficult for some individuals and families to access their native national forests, there are still many virtual events online. One of these virtual events sponsored by the National Foundation for Environmental Education will feature guest speakers, a “virtual road trip” and musical performances on some of the most beautiful public lands in America.

For those individuals and families planning to visit their national forests, make sure you know this before you go. This means checking that the desired destination is in the national forests and that the roads to them are open.

Also, practice the principles of restoring responsibility while visiting public lands. This means practising social distancing, planning ahead, playing it safe, exploring locally, without a trace, and building an inclusive outdoor space. For more information, visit the National Forest Foundation.

How to Celebrate National Public Lands Day

Visit your favourite public land and volunteer. Join an event near you and show your support. We even have a list of the 7 best public lands in the country for you to review. While we know there’s more, here’s a few you might want to explore.

Find out more about how to get involved by visiting neefusa.org and use #NPLD or #PublicLandsDay to post on social media.

History of National Day of Public Land

National Public Land Day began in 1994 and upholds the promise of the Civilian Preservation Corps, the “Army of Trees” that operated from 1933 to 1942 to preserve and protect America’s natural heritage.