September 25, 2021 is National Public Lands Day (NPLD)—an annual celebration, which occurs on the fourth Saturday of September. According to the U.S. Department of the Interior's Bureau of Land Management, NPLD was first celebrated in September of 1979. With the dedication of many volunteers over the years, the event is still going strong over four decades later.
National Public Lands Day is the United States' largest single-day volunteer event for public lands. So how is it celebrated? NPLD is celebrated by thousands of volunteers coming together to conduct clean-ups and restoration projects in places like national parks, state, county, or city parks, estuaries, forests, wildlife sanctuaries, monuments, and other public lands. Another great benefit about NPLD—it is a fee-free day so entrance fees are waived at all national parks and public lands.
The National Environmental Education Foundation coordinates events with partners and public lands across the U.S. There are all kinds of hands-on, fun events planned for this year's celebration. See the NLPD Event Locator and find out what is happening near you.