Celebrate National Public Lands Day

Show your support for our redwoods getting outside to celebrate National Public Lands Day on Sept. 28. National Public Lands Day, the largest single-day volunteer effort for America’s public lands, celebrates the connection between people and green space in their community, inspires environmental stewardship, and encourages use of open space for education, recreation, and general health.

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 to trash removal—volunteers of all ages and abilities (kids welcome) 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.

Volunteering on National Public Lands Day is a win-win—it not only benefits your public lands, but it also benefits your mental health and physical well-being. Spending time in nature reduces the effects of stress and anxiety and improves short-term memory, concentration, and creativity.

There are many ways to participate in National Public Lands Day.

• The National Park Service is one of the event’s largest providers of sites and volunteers. Visit a national park for free (see the list of participating California parks below) or take part in a volunteer work project at a national park. If you volunteer on this day, you will receive a fee-free day coupon to be used on a future date. See the list of National Park Service’s National Public Lands Day volunteer events.
• Take part in a volunteer event at a Bureau of Land Management site.
• To find other events near you, visit the National Environmental Education Foundation webpage.
• Have fun and enjoy the health benefits of being outdoors.
• Share your favorite outdoor activity on social media channels with the hashtag  #NPLD and #SavetheRedwoods.
• If you visit a national monument, be sure to also tag your picture with the hashtag #AntiquitiesAct to support our efforts to protect national monuments.

Participating California National Parks:

• Cabrillo National Monument
• Death Valley National Park
• Joshua Tree National Park
• Lassen Volcanic National Park
• Lava Beds National Monument
• Muir Woods National
• Pinnacles National Park
• San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park – Hyde Street Pier historic vessels free of charge
• Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks
• Whiskeytown National Recreation Area
• Yosemite National Park