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- Last Saturday of September
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National Public Lands Day rallies volunteers and advocates every last Saturday of September to celebrate and improve America’s vast network of public lands. Get involved by finding a local cleanup, planting trees, or simply visiting a national park, forest, or wildlife refuge near you.
Want to sponsor National Public Lands Day? Learn how
Expected National Public Lands Day Deals
National Public Lands Day is primarily a day of service and awareness, focusing on volunteerism rather than commercial deals. Organizations like the National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF), the primary coordinator, partner with agencies such as the National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, and U.S. Forest Service to host cleanup and restoration events nationwide. Many national parks offer free entry on this day, encouraging visitors to explore and appreciate these cherished spaces. Outdoor retailers like REI and Patagonia often promote volunteer opportunities or offer discounts on gear for those participating in conservation efforts. Look for local park foundations and environmental groups to announce specific volunteer drives, donation matching programs, or educational events. We will update this page with confirmed live opportunities as September approaches.
Platform Guide for National Public Lands Day
Tag National Today (linkedin.com/company/nationaltoday) and use #NationalPublicLandsDay. Share how your company supports conservation efforts or encourages employee volunteerism.
Mention National Today (facebook.com/nationaltoday) and use #NationalPublicLandsDay. Post photos from your local cleanup event or highlight the beauty of a nearby public land.
X/Twitter
Mention @NatlToday and use #NationalPublicLandsDay. Share news about conservation initiatives, advocate for land protection, or tweet about your favorite public land experience.
National Public Lands Day Hero
Theodore Roosevelt
National Public Lands Day timeline
BP was hit with one of the largest criminal fines for an environmental violation associated with the 2005 refinery explosion that killed 15 people.
With a goal of reducing greenhouse gases by 250 million metric tons, the nation issued the first greenhouse gas fuel efficiency standards for trucks and buses.
President Obama issued a climate change strategy that prepares agencies for negative climate effects by cutting carbon pollution in the U.S.
The Waters of the U.S Rule is an environmental protection of streams and wetlands that ensures those areas are precisely and accurately defined.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed abolishing the Clean Power Plan citing the regulation goes above and beyond the agency’s statutory authority.
How Businesses Can Celebrate National Public Lands Day
Local businesses can honor National Public Lands Day by organizing a corporate volunteer outing to a nearby park or natural area, encouraging employees to participate in cleanup and restoration efforts. Outdoor gear shops and tour operators can offer special discounts on equipment or guided trips to public lands, promoting responsible recreation. Restaurants might feature locally sourced ingredients, highlighting the connection between healthy lands and sustainable food systems. Consider partnering with a local conservation group for a donation drive or awareness campaign, using your platform to educate customers about the importance of public land stewardship and the benefits of spending time outdoors.
National Public Lands Day FAQs
When is National Public Lands Day?
National Public Lands Day 2026 falls on Saturday, September 26, uniting volunteers across the nation to improve and celebrate America’s natural spaces.
How many acres of public land are in the U.S.?
The United States boasts approximately 640 million acres of public lands, managed by various federal agencies like the National Park Service and the Bureau of Land Management.
How many people volunteer for National Public Lands Day?
National Public Lands Day typically mobilizes over 200,000 volunteers annually across thousands of sites, making it the nation’s largest single-day volunteer effort for public lands.
Is National Public Lands Day a federal holiday?
No, National Public Lands Day is not a federal holiday, but it is widely recognized and celebrated as a day of service and appreciation for America’s natural heritage.
National Public Lands Day Activities
Clear debris from a trail
There’s nothing nicer than an early morning stroll on a neighborhood trail. But when that trail is strewn with bottles and other debris, it distracts you from the healthful benefits of your walk. On National Public Lands Day, do something different and clean the trail as you walk it. You’ll still get the good vibes from the exercise but you’ll also know that you are helping your environment as well as your neighbors.
Plant a tree
Planting a tree is the purest form of loving your environment. Contact someone from a local environmental organization and gather a group of friends to plant a tree in the name of a loved one or a cause. Partner with the American Cancer Society or some other non-profit to find out more.
Work to restore a historic structure
Contact the Army Corps of Engineers or the USDA Forest Service and volunteer to help restore any historic structures that may be in disrepair. There may be a small wood shed in the park that needs a few extra nails and some paint. It’s not much but whatever you can do helps.
5 Crystal Clear Facts About Recycling
It’s an energy powerhouse
Did you know that energy saved from one recycled aluminum can could supply power to your television for almost three hours.
Toilet paper toll
Consider this — it takes 25,000 cut trees in one day just to produce toilet paper.
Re-use that bottle
Since it takes about 4,000 years for a glass bottle to decompose, we could have settlements on Mars and that bottle will still be sitting in a landfill.
It can reduce paper and plastic bags
Grocery stores and supermarkets use up to about 60 million paper bags annually, which is a great argument for why you should bring your own bags to the store.
We’re number one!
The U.S. has the unenviable spot as the number one trash-producing country in the world.
Why We Love National Public Lands Day
It encourages us to appreciate our environment
No matter where you live in America, there's a way to show Mother Nature we love her. Even in congested cities, neighbors bond in community gardens. When life is hectic and work is exhausting, we can always jump in the car or on a bike and feel rejuvenated in the fresh air and beauty of nature. National Public Lands Day helps us to honor the wonderful gift of American parks, waters, and wildlife.
It focuses on a day of volunteer service
Getting out in the Great Outdoors helping to restore our parks, coastlines, and dwellings is a big part of National Public Lands Day. Volunteers come out from all over the country to do their part and help the environment. Even though picking up trash in the neighborhood park may not seem like a big deal, it is when thousands of people join together doing the little things that make a gigantic impact.
It's great exercise
No money for a gym membership? No problem. If you’re a couch potato, get up, grab a sack, and clean up a park. It’s wonderful exercise and you’ll probably meet other like-minded souls like yourself. All it takes is determination and a little elbow grease to do your part on National Public Lands Day .
National Public Lands Day dates
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | September 27 | Saturday |
| 2026 | September 26 | Saturday |
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